The Non-Profit Empowering Aspiring Game Developers Worldwide

The IGDA Foundation expands its reach at the world’s largest video game event, while navigating funding challenges for supporting underrepresented developers

By Alyssa Mercante, Thu 9 Oct 2025 15:53 BST

Gamescom, the annual video game convention held in Cologne, Germany, is a unique event. Each year, it attracts hundreds of thousands of players, filling vast convention halls, while also serving as a hub for industry professionals. It offers developers the chance to showcase their games to fans and provides aspiring industry professionals an opportunity to submit résumés directly to established developers. For those outside the United States, Gamescom is the most significant event of the year.

This year marks the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) Foundation’s first participation, and executive director Alyssa Walles expresses her excitement.

The IGDA Foundation focuses on professional development for underrepresented and marginalized individuals aiming to enter the video game industry—a crucial mission considering the significant barriers faced by aspiring producers, developers, and writers. Although Walles joined the foundation three years ago, she is a veteran of the video game industry and deeply understands the importance of supporting those without privileged backgrounds, who may lack the resources to travel internationally or pursue formal education in computer design or coding.

“I was part of the launch team for PlayStation in Europe, and I was often the only woman in the room,” Walles recalls. “It’s rewarding to see the industry gradually change.” Still, she emphasizes that much work remains.

Initially, the IGDA Foundation funded travel for a select group of developers to attend the annual Game Developers Conference in San Francisco—a costly endeavor that often excluded hundreds from marginalized communities or remote regions. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted in-person events, the foundation innovated. Former executive director Nika Nour introduced the Virtual Exchange, a six-week online program pairing grantees with experienced industry mentors. From hundreds of annual applications, the foundation selects participants from three main categories: career professionals seeking senior roles, individuals transitioning into the gaming industry, and recent graduates.

“One standout participant from our cohort is a young man from Nigeria,” Walles shares. “He’s a home builder and project manager by day, but he also codes. He hopes to leverage his project management experience to become a video game producer.”

For Walles and other veteran industry mentors, the focus is on using their experience to foster a strong, diverse future for the gaming sector.

“I’m 65, and I’m proud to give back at this stage of my career,” she says.

However, like many initiatives promoting equity in the video game and tech industries, the IGDA Foundation has faced funding challenges in recent years. Following a period of rapid growth during the pandemic, the industry has experienced record layoffs. Companies sometimes claim they cannot allocate funds to the foundation, a stance Walles finds hard to accept. While the IGDA Foundation does not receive government funding, political and corporate actions have occasionally undermined diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, prompting the organization to rethink how it markets its programs and approaches potential donors.

“Several nonprofits in our field have had to close,” Walles admits. “We’re not there yet, but it’s a daily concern. My challenge is reaching those who have prospered in video games and want to support the next generation.”

Despite these obstacles, Walles remains resourceful. Inspired by a newsletter story about a solo developer earning significant revenue from a single downloadable content (DLC) sale on Steam, she mobilized the IGDA Foundation’s alumni network. This initiative led to Download for Charity, a May event featuring 24 games that raised $24,000. She has also organized collaborative game jams and a porting initiative to help developers bring their games to Android devices.

This relentless pursuit of funding demonstrates Walles’ commitment to the foundation and the marginalized communities it serves. Her vision for the IGDA Foundation is simple and clear:

“We aim to secure enough funding to sustain these programs for the people who need them worldwide.”

source : The Guardian

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