As a board member and graphic designer, I'm super excited to share my journey with the Graphic Artists Guild, and the incredible work this organization does for us, the members.
I've been involved with the Guild for quite some time, and my experience has been nothing short of transformative. I've had the opportunity to serve on the Executive Board as National Treasurer and was later appointed President of the organization.
The Guild has always been my go-to place for support and encouragement. The Guild is always there to help graphic artists understand how to make money with our skills. The Guild produces awesome resources that make our lives better and our careers more enjoyable.
Throughout my career, I've seen the Guild's impact on many levels. It's like having a group of amazing friends who understand your work and always have your back. The Guild connects graphic artists from all over the world, fostering a community that's all about creativity, collaboration, and support.
The Guild's workshops and webinars are fantastic! The Guild keep us in the loop with the latest trends and tech, ensuring we're always ahead of the game.
As a volunteer, I've had the honor of contributing to the 15th and 16th editions of the Graphic Artists Guild’s Handbook: Pricing and Ethical Guidelines, a must-have reference book for professional graphic artists and agencies. A friend sent me a photo of a page with my name on it saying how grateful she was for the book and I was in shock. We had all volunteered so much of our time, for so long that by the time it was actually published, I completely forgot how hard we had worked lol. But that's what the Guild is all about—coming together to make an impact in the industry for the better.
So, if you're a graphic artist looking for a supportive community, invaluable resources, and opportunities for professional growth, look no further than the Graphic Artists Guild. Together, we continue to shape the future of our industry and empower the next generation of graphic artists.
Review from Guidestar
What the Guild offers besides guidance and community...is heart. People that truly care and want to make change for designers, illustrators and creators alike. The Graphic Artists Guild puts out the definitive handbook for creatives on pricing and ethical guidelines and lobbies for laws that protect the people who make art. Without the Guild, many people would have no where to turn for support and protection. The small amount to become a member pays for itself 10 times over.
Review from Guidestar
I started as a regular member and volunteer in 2018 and have since served all the way through to a 2 yr term as president. The dedication of the volunteers and staff at this institution inspired me to keep serving. They uphold the mission of the Graphic Artists Guild through their tireless work on projects such as advocating for small artists' rights on Capitol Hill, lobbying on state bills, organizing social media campaigns to bring awareness to ethical issues within industry-wide practices, and working to bridge the diversity gap in industry leadership. I've spent most of my career working with Not for Profits and sitting on boards and I can easily say this is the most inspiring group of individuals. They have worked to keep the organization current and ethical, and have welcomed new blood and new ideas into the leadership to keep pushing the mission forward. I'm honored to have served with this Guild.
Review from Guidestar
Overhead costs exceed revenue from membership dues and other generated income. The bulk of funding actually supporting the organization comes from reprographic royalties, which are fees for the reproduction of copyrighted material, collected overseas and distributed to arts-related groups in the U.S. This money is specifically to be used for programs benefiting writers, designers, artists, and the arts community; however, Form-990 returns and the publicly available LM-2 financial reports filed with the Department of Labor/OLMS show that a significant portion of its operations are in fact funded by reprographic rights money, and little is spent on directly beneficial programs. The Graphic Artists Guild is registered as a 501(c)(5) labor union, but has made no effort in recent years to actually represent workers, and has not adequately informed its own members about labor law and their rights to participate in the organization's governance.
Having served as a board member for one year, (2012-2013) my first-hand experience with the Graphic Artists Guild's management is that there is a critical lack of accountability at all levels. Officer elections are irregularly scheduled and generally uncontested; financial information provided by the executive committee to the board of directors is grossly inadequate; and the board of directors has not effectively exercised its duty to oversee the organization's finances or the activities of its officers and committees.
Review from Guidestar