Shannon Loftis Elected Chair of IGDA Foundation Board of Directors

The International Game Developers Association Foundation (IGDA-F) has appointed industry veteran Shannon Loftis as the new Chair of its Board of Directors, according to an announcement made. This leadership change comes as the organization continues its work on initiatives like the Diverse Game Developers Fund (DGDF), a significant program created in partnership with Grant for the Web that will distribute more than $300,000 to marginalized game developers and students worldwide.

The DGDF aims to help developers explore alternative monetization options with global applicability, moving beyond traditional revenue models that have been primarily built by and for Western audiences. The fund will provide at least $200,000 directly to independent developers and studios for prototype expansion, with an additional $50,000 designated for academic scholarships and the remaining funds allocated as prizes for game jams.

Applications for prototype funding and academic scholarships opened recently, with decisions being overseen by a distinguished steering committee. The committee includes prominent industry figures such as former Microsoft game publishing VP Edward Fries, Vlambeer co-founder Rami Ismail, WINGS Interactive CEO Cassia Curran, and several other notable professionals from gaming and related industries.

“This collaboration with IGDA-F really shows there’s potential to decentralize privilege in creative industries like gaming,” said Briana Marbury, executive director of the Interledger Foundation which runs Grant for the Web. Nika Nour, executive director of IGDA-F, highlighted the significance of the initiative: “In a world where traditional investment funding isn’t equally available to all, this initiative will allow us to support marginalized game developers around the globe while educating the community on alternative monetization models they may not have considered.”

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