About Us
Our staff & volunteers
Tell people about the amazing people on your team.
Our history
Founded by award-winning filmmaker, workforce development professional, and community advocate J. Swain, The Dirk Swain Foundation was originally established to create opportunities for youth through mentorship, media training, leadership development, and community engagement.
Inspired by the legacy of Jason’s brother, Dirk Swain, the foundation has spent over a decade supporting underserved youth through filmmaking workshops, on-set training, mentorship, digital media education, community events, and workforce readiness initiatives.
Programs such as M.R.A.T.T. (Makin’ Room at the Top™) helped introduce young people to real-world opportunities in media, storytelling, entrepreneurship, and career development while building confidence and practical life skills.
Today, as a renewed 501(c)(3) nonprofit, The Dirk Swain Foundation enters a new chapter — expanding its mission to include youth and people with disabilities, workforce development, AI career tools, media training, entrepreneurship, and meaningful employment pathways.
Our vision remains the same:
Teach Skills. Build Confidence. Create Opportunity. Change Lives.
Our mission
The Dirk Swain Foundation is a renewed 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth and people with disabilities through workforce development, media training, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and career readiness. Through programs like M.R.A.T.T. (Makin’ Room at the Top™), we help individuals build confidence, develop real-world skills, and create meaningful pathways to employment, creativity, and opportunity.