photo by Richard Koek

Michelle Byrd is a veteran non-profit executive. She is currently Co-President of Games for Change, a community of those who support and make social impact games.

As Co-President, Michelle leads on institutional relationship and partnership efforts, along with fundraising, business affairs, financial management, and communications strategy. She co-leads on the strategic vision of the organization and oversight of all programmatic initiatives.

Prior to joining Games for Change she was President of Run It By Byrd, Inc, a New York-based strategic consulting agency working with non-profits, corporations and government agencies such as Telefilm Canada.

Michelle also served for 12 years as the Executive Director of the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), the oldest and largest organization of independent filmmakers in the US. During her tenure she raised more than $15 million, oversaw a staff of 15, tripled the membership to 10,000, and established programs to annually support and mentor 300 projects in development. Her track record includes executive producing high quality, celebrity-attended events for broadcast and online, including IFP’s Gotham Independent Film Awards. She was also responsible for a diversity of new strategic partnerships including those with the United Nations Department of Public Information and the founding of the Envision documentary film forum to address global issues, as well as relationships with The New York Times and the Sundance Institute.

Michelle has served as a juror and panelist for numerous awards and festivals, including the Sundance Film Festival (documentary competition), USA Fellows, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

She has also been awarded the “Made in New York” career tribute by Mayor Bloomberg and appeared on both Variety’s Annual “Indie Impact List: 50 Who Made a Difference” and The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment “Power 100” List.

Michelle currently sits on the board of nonprofit artist supporting organization the Adrienne Shelly Foundation.