A new era in marketing is here. The Effie LIONS Foundation, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to building a more inclusive, creative, and effective marketing industry, has officially launched, and it’s making waves from day one.
Born from the powerful merger between Effie and LIONS earlier this year, the Foundation is on a mission to reshape the future of marketing by opening doors for fresh, diverse talent across the globe. With innovation and access at its core, the Effie LIONS Foundation is set to equip aspiring marketers with the real-world skills, resources, and experiences they need to thrive in today’s fast-evolving industry.
Global non-profit aims to futureproof the industry through access and innovation
Empowering the Next Generation of Marketing Trailblazers
At the center of the Foundation’s work is the Effie Collegiate program, an experiential marketing challenge that connects students directly with top brands and agencies to solve real business problems. Already active in the United States, Latin America, and South Africa, the program is poised for global expansion, giving students hands-on exposure to campaign development, strategy, and creativity.
Students participating in Effie Collegiate will gain exclusive access to an impressive suite of educational tools provided by LIONS, including:
- LIONS Learning and LIONS Intelligence
- Effie Fundamentals: A deep dive into marketing effectiveness and insight-led strategy
- Contagious IQ: A marketing intelligence platform
- Contagious Creative Accelerator: A fast-paced certificate program built on real-world briefs
- The Work: A searchable archive of 200,000+ Cannes Lions-awarded campaigns
- LIONS Creative MBA: A digital course designed to boost early-stage marketing careers
These resources are carefully curated to blend theory with real-world application, nurturing students to become the visionary marketers of tomorrow.
Leadership Backed by Industry Excellence
Led by CEO Allison Knapp Womack, a seasoned expert in both marketing and nonprofit strategy, the Foundation’s leadership is as bold and visionary as its mission. The board includes industry powerhouses such as:
- Jae Goodman – CEO, Superconnector Studios; Board Chair, Effie Worldwide
- Traci Alford – Global CEO, Effie
- Philip Thomas – Chief Creative Officer, Informa PLC & Chair, LIONS
- Other thought leaders including Dr. Marcus Collins, Lara Balazs, and Vineet Mehra
Each brings unmatched expertise and influence from the worlds of advertising, entertainment, technology, and education.
Opening Doors. Creating Impact.
“The Effie LIONS Foundation exists to open doors and create opportunities—for the students who’ve never imagined a place for themselves in marketing, and for the industry that urgently needs their ideas, perspectives, and creativity,” says Allison Knapp Womack. “We believe that is the path to a more effective industry, and we’re here to make that future possible.”
Echoing this vision, Jae Goodman, Board Chair and CEO of Superconnector Studios adds, “We are combining the marketing effectiveness of Effie, the creative force of LIONS, and the energy of rising talent from around the world. That’s a powerful mix. The Foundation is ready to deliver transformative value to the next generation of marketers with the access, insight, and inspiration that will fuel the industry for years to come.”
About the Effie LIONS Foundation
Headquartered in New York City, the Effie LIONS Foundation is committed to building a more diverse, creative, and results-driven marketing industry. Through partnerships with leading educational institutions and global brands, the Foundation offers students transformative experiences and resources to break barriers and build their careers.