The Brad Sousa Impact Fund offers financial grants to people, social programs, and partner organizations utilizing audiovisual technology to positively transform communities and create change in the world
The Fund honors the profound legacy of the late Brad Sousa, Chief Technology Officer of AVI Systems and member of the AVIXA Board of Directors. Brad lived a life loving not just with words or speech, but with actions and in truth. He was known to say, “Influence is the counterfeit of impact.” Brad was committed to making a difference in all his pursuits, whether personal or professional.
With this lesson in mind, the Fund supports the AVIXA Foundation’s mission through impact investing and partnerships, with a key focus on developing audiovisual and digital transformation professionals and their understanding of each other's overlapping needs. Through digital transformation, organizations and communities embed technologies across society to drive impact and fundamental change.
What We Fund – Our Three Pillars of Impact
- People – in pursuit of educational and vocational outcomes
- Programs – with social consciousness and purpose, impacting society/community/culture
- Partnerships – that amplify missions of associations, community and nonprofit organizations.
Our Giving Process
- The Foundation screens for impact a gift might have on creating synergies between the worlds of audiovisual technology and digital transformation.
- The Foundation prioritizes grants in the form of program support, scholarship, and innovation where appropriate.
- Applicants meeting our Eligibility Requirements pass to a formal investment approval process and receive funding
- Ongoing review of the Fund’s impact with recipients continues annually.
We Do Not Fund
- Multi-year grants
- Individuals (stipends, personal scholarships, personal assistance)
- Loans of money for any purpose
- Technology for individual users
- Projects or events already completed
- Endowment campaigns
- Capital campaigns or building funds
- Organizations that discriminate by race, color, creed, gender identity, religion, veteran status or national origin, age and disability
- Political campaigns or causes, nor legislation
- Organizations engaged exclusively in political activities or lobbying
- Activities that affect 501(c)(3) status of the AVIXA Foundation in any way.
Amplify Our Impact
Applications are open!
APPLY
Help us amplify how technology and digital transformation create positive change in the world.
DONATE
Give By Check:
Donations via USA-based check, made payable to “AVIXA Foundation” with a note indicating the Brad Sousa Impact Fund.
Mail to:
11242 Waples Mill Road, Suite 200,
Fairfax, VA 22030.
Donations via ACH or Wire:
Please email AVIXA at [email protected] for payment instructions.
- Demonstrates innovation and creativity in leveraging audiovisual technology and digital transformation to address societal challenges.
- Supports the development of audiovisual and digital transformation professionals and their understanding of each other’s overlapping needs.
- Represents underserved or underestimated communities.
- Addresses societal challenges.
- Improves public education through scholarship and other support for individuals interested in the audiovisual (AV) provision
- Improves digital literacy and job skills, enhancing employability of new generation AV professionals
- Promotes discoverability of AV and digital transformation careers through hands-on experiences, apprenticeships, and on-the-job practicum to reduce current and future skills gaps
- Shows potential for scalability and replicability to extend impact beyond initial implementation.
- Provides measurable outcomes and clear indicators of success, including metrics for assessing impact on communities, individuals, or organizations.
- Demonstrates financial sustainability and responsible stewardship of resources to maximize long-term effectiveness.
- Aligns with the values and mission of the AVIXA Foundation, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the audiovisual and digital transformation sectors.
- Complies with all legal and regulatory requirements, including those related to data privacy, intellectual property, and nonprofit governance.
- Initiative is not related to any political campaign, government activity or influence legislation of any kind.
- Activities of the initiative must not affect The AVIXA Foundation’s 501(c)(3) status in any way.
About the AVIXA Foundation
The AVIXA Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization focused on cultivating a growing workforce on behalf of the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association (AVIXA). The Foundation does so by creating awareness of careers in the global AV industry; enabling potential and emerging professionals through skills training, scholarships, and scholastic support; and developing a bridge between the industry and those who want to become AV professionals. With the help of AVIXA members and the entire industry, the Foundation helps build a future with a diverse, skilled workforce eager to take on the challenge of creating integrated AV experiences around the world. More information is available at avixa.org/foundation.
