The IGDA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable non profit corporation assisting the IGDA in its mission, “To advance the careers and enhance the lives of game developers by connecting members with their peers, promoting professional development, and advocating on issues that affect the developer community” through educational, scientific and charitable works. Some examples of the Charitable, Scholarly and Educations works of the IGDA Foundation are the following:

IGDA SIG Scholarships

The IGDA has numerous Special Interest Groups (“SIG”) representing the many different interests of its members. Subject areas are self-selected by the members and include, but are not limited to, Programming of Artificial Intelligence, Game Preservation, Education, Quality Assurance, Women in Games and Game Writing. There are several professional conferences such as the Game Developers Conference, the attendance at which significantly enhances the professional development of attendees. The Foundation SIG Scholarships program will provide a vehicle through which these SIGs can select and sponsor and student or other worthy individual so that they can attend one of the conferences at a reduced cost or fully funded basis.

Candidates will be selected from a pool based on their perceived ability to benefit from attendance at the conference and need by a Selection Committee of the SIG. The Foundation will then review and approve the selection and fund the scholarship. These scholarships will be funded through contributions from the SIG members and others, as well as in kind contributions from conference presenters. Individuals related to the SIG selection committee, the IGDA Board or the Foundation Board are ineligible.

More information on the first IGDA Foundation Scholarship recipient here.

Game Industry Related Research

Contributions to the Foundation will be used to fund academic statistically valid research into areas that support the goals and objective of the IGDA. Research into game developers’ employment including Quality of Life, Credit Standards, Salary Ranges and the industry “Life Span” of developers are areas of research presently under consideration. In addition, members may either directly or through the many IGDA Special Interest Groups, suggest areas which may become targets for specific rigorous research projects by the Foundation. These research project will be accomplished through grants to the individuals and institutions conducting the research.

IGDA Foundation eJournal

The Foundation will fund and operate an eJournal for the publication of scholarly and educational works from IGDA members and others in the game development community. The Foundation eJournal will be comprised of articles of interest to its members and to the larger game development and education community. Initially relying on the IGDA members and Special Interest Groups as a source, the eJournal articles will be vetted and selected by an Editorial Board selected by the Foundation Board of Trustees. With the assistance of this volunteer Editorial Board the eJournal will be distributed free of charge throughout the IGDA and the game development community, as well as, in educational institutions with game development related programs.