The VII Foundation

The VII Foundation is a Media and Educational Organization 

 VII Foundation is a charitable non-profit media and educational organization that funds and produces original documentary work, an educational fellowship, and a mentor partnership initiative for aspiring young creative artists that demonstrate their commitment to advancing social, economic, environmental, and human rights issues through media-related storytelling and documentary projects.

 Co-founded by Ron Haviv and Gary Knight in 2001, both photographers previously co-founded the VII Photo Agency . VII foundation’s and VII Photo Agency’s roots in photojournalism and documentary storytelling guide funding and support of selected projects.

The foundation is actively involved in developing documentary work that addresses complex human rights issues on the topics of peace, war, poverty, and health. These projects include photo essays, documentary films, exhibitions, books, and educational programs to promote advocacy and awareness of these issues.

Along with the opportunities that VII Foundation’s fellowship program extends to promising young artists, the program’s aim is structured around supporting communities that are underrepresented in the current media landscape.

To this end, the foundation structures the two-year fellowship program to select fellows from a diverse cross-section of political, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Pairing these individuals with leading educators, filmmakers, and other creative experts is an invaluable resource for students to refine their media and storytelling skills. Opportunities for career advancement include personal networking, collaboration, and exposure to leading professionals in the creative fields.

  Blue Chip Foundation and VII Foundation collaborate on documentary projects including a book and five short films produced during the final year of the   Millennium Villages Project  (MVP) that also includes an exhibition of selected photographs featured at the United Nations and throughout the rest of the United States. Blue Chip is also providing funding for an upcoming VII Foundation documentary undertaking entitled, “   The Peace Project  .” Jennifer Gross serves on VII Foundation’s Board of Trustees.