[1][2] As demand for workshops, advice and support for teachers grew, NSFI/L.A's Board of Directors expanded the activities of the organization to include workshops for teachers, equipment loans, and support for filmmaking programs in schools.
[3] Prominent members of the film, television and animation industry came to support NSFI and its endeavors.
On a corporate level involvement came from CBS, NBC, ABC, the Directors Guild, Amblin Entertainment, Warner Brothers, Universal, Lucasfilm and others.
Individuals from the film, television and animation industry who would serve on the Board of Advisors (and in other capacities) were: Steve Allen, Ralph Bakshi, Ray Bradbury*, Lloyd Bridges, Charles Champlin*, Jackie Cooper*, Bill Cosby, June Foray, Sharon Gless*, Tom Hatten, Arthur Hiller*, Cal Howard, Ollie Johnston, Chuck Jones*, Fay Kanin, Kathleen Kennedy*, Walter Lantz, Jack Lemmon, Bill Littlejohn, Lynne Littman, Leonard Maltin, Delbert Mann*, Walter Matthau, Bill Melendez, Lee Mishkin, Grim Natwick*, Daphne Maxwell Reid*, Tim Reid*, Joan Rivers, George Schaefer*, Frank Thomas, Arthur Wilde and Robert Wise.
The award was named after the institute's first honorary chairperson, Grim Natwick, the creator of Betty Boop.