This new accelerator fund was established by GAMA’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee to help historically underrepresented publishers and retailers, based on (but not limited to) race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and ability, create a greater footprint in the tabletop games industry. The fund is open to businesses that are at least 51% owned and/or operated by members of historically underrepresented communities, and they can apply in one of four categories:
- A prospective publisher in the process of creating a tabletop game or starting a tabletop game publishing business.
- New publishers already producing tabletop games.
- Prospective retailer in the process of opening a tabletop game retail business.
- Newly established retailer currently engaged in the sale of tabletop games to end consumers.
Applicants selected for the Fellowship will receive monthly one-on-one coaching sessions with mentors and peer coaches, a one-year complimentary membership in GAMA, a $1,000 grant for business or operational expenses, free admission to GAMA Expo 2022 with complimentary hotel stay, complimentary booth space at GAMA Expo 2022, a complimentary GAMA Expo 2022 retailer box, and reimbursement of up to $1,000 for travel related expenses to GAMA Expo 2022. Additionally, one publisher and one retailer will receive a $5000 grant after the completion of their Fellowship. The first cohort for this fellowship with launch on October 2021 and end at GAMA Expo 2022; eligible publishers and retailers can apply online starting July 26 (see the GAMA website for more details).
Recently, publisher members GAMA made a historic vote (see "GAMA Publishers Give Up Control of Organization").