The Effie LIONS Foundation, a global non-profit organization, has officially launched following the January 2025 partnership between Effie and LIONS.
The Foundation’s goal is to expand access and provide practical experience for marketing students through collaborations with educational institutions and brands.
At the core of its initiatives is the Effie Collegiate program, a marketing challenge that connects students with brands and agencies to develop real-world campaign strategies. The program currently operates in the US, Latin America, and South Africa, with plans for broader international growth.
LIONS will provide participating students with access to educational resources including LIONS Learning, LIONS Intelligence, and platforms such as Effie Fundamentals, Contagious IQ, Contagious Creative Accelerator, and The Work. Graduates will also be eligible for the LIONS Creative MBA digital course.
The Foundation is led by CEO Allison Knapp Womack and chaired by Jae Goodman, CEO of Superconnector Studios and Board Chair of Effie Worldwide. Other board members include Traci Alford, Global CEO of Effie; Philip Thomas, Chief Creative Officer, Global Brands, Informa PLC and Chair, LIONS; Dr. Marcus Collins, marketing professor at the University of Michigan; Lara Balazs, CMO and EVP, Global Marketing at Adobe; and Vineet Mehra, CMO at Chime.
Leadership roles at the Foundation include Caitlin Moses Bowser as Head of Programs and Partnerships, Tiffani Gautier as Head of Program Delivery, and Nneka Norville as Head of Marketing and Communications.
“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. We believe that is the path to a more effective industry, and we’re here to make that future possible,” said Allison Knapp Womack, CEO, Effie LIONS Foundation.
“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,” said Jae Goodman, Board Chair of the Effie LIONS Foundation and CEO of Superconnector Studios.
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