Lighthouse Foundation of Chicagoland

Meet Gregory Van Hyfte, our new Senior Development Consultant! Joining the Lighthouse Foundation team in January of 2024, Gregory provides strategic advising on fundraising, program development, and grant writing. With a Master of Arts in Social Service Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Health Administration and Policy from the University of Chicago, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Spanish, and The Creative Self from the University of Redlands, he brings a rich academic and professional background. A certified yoga teacher, spiritual counselor, and shamanic practitioner, Gregory is passionate about lifelong learning and holding space for transformation and growth. In his free time, they enjoy traveling, spending time in nature, writing, dream interpretation, and adventures with his boyfriend. Welcome, Gregory!

Lighthouse Foundation is hiring! 🚨 We're excited to announce three part-time contract positions: ✊🏾 Black LGBT(Q)+ Caucus Leader: A motivated self-starter to help grow our Black Queer Caucus (BQC). This role involves monthly trainings and event planning. 💪 CARE Leader: Assist in project management, event planning, and advocacy initiatives, working closely with internal and external partners within our network. 💻 Communications Generalist: Support the communications efforts of the Executive Director and the entire organization. The deadline to apply for all positions is Friday, September 13, with special consideration given to early applicants. Don't miss this chance to make an impact! Learn more and apply: bit.ly/LF-Jobs #ChicagoJobs #NowHiring #NonprofitJobs #LGBTQJobs #BlackLGBTQ #ChicagoCareers #JobOpportunity #PartTimeJobs #JoinOurTeam

We are thrilled to welcome two exceptional leaders to Lighthouse Foundation's board! Leslie Ramyk brings her extensive experience in philanthropy and community advocacy, having served as the Executive Director of Conant Family Foundation since 2015. Leslie has been instrumental in developing participatory grantmaking programs and is passionate about shifting decision-making power towards those most impacted by the issues. Svjetlana "Lana" Grbic, our new Board Treasurer, brings over a decade of finance expertise. With an MBA in Finance from UIC, Lana has held key positions in Fortune 500 companies and is dedicated to maximizing Lighthouse Foundation’s impact. We are excited for the incredible value they will bring to our mission! Welcome, Leslie and Svjetlana!

We are excited to share highlights from our first annual Black Queer Equity Index (#BQEI) Convening, which took place earlier this month. The event was organized and led by Dr. Allen Thomas, our Senior Consultant of Research and Evaluation. The gathering brought together CEOs and key staff members from the inaugural BQEI cohort organizations: AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Center on Halsted, Chicago House and Social Service Agency, and Howard Brown Health. During the convening, we discussed the first annual BQEI grades and collaborated on actionable strategies that focus on Black LGBTQ+ employees and board members, which will benefit everyone in these organizations. We thank the first cohort of BQEI surveyed organizations for their commitment to co-creating tangible equity.

BIG NEWS! 🚨 We're excited to announce the launch of our Racial Equity Accomplice Partnership (REAP)! This initiative partners Lighthouse Foundation with businesses dedicated to racial and LGBTQ+ equity, offering essential racial equity training, a seal of approval, and increased marketing visibility. Discover how embracing equity can benefit your business and contribute positively to the community. Learn more about becoming REAP-certified, the benefits it brings, and how to join this transformative movement by visiting lightfoundchi.org/reap. Let's work together to make a real difference! #chicagobusiness #shoplocal #chicagosmallbusiness

We’re honored to be highlighted by the MacArthur Foundation in their Funders for LGBTQ Issues spotlight! MacArthur Foundation has been a tremendous supporter of our work; their commitment to racial equity and participatory grantmaking in Chicago has been pivotal to growing the reach of initiatives like our Black Queer Equity Index. Read more about their work here: https://lnkd.in/d3-P77Kf. Thank you, MacArthur Foundation, for amplifying our mission!

Happy five years of Lighthouse Foundation (LF)! 🎉🎂We celebrated at Meeting House Tavern this past weekend with Glitter & Giving, our 5-Year Anniversary Drag Bingo Fundraiser. With dazzling drag performances from Kenya J Sanchez and drag bingo hosted by the hilarious Olaysia, the energy was unmatched! We also had the honor of hearing inspiring remarks from CARE member, Pastor Rebecca Anderson of Gilead Church, and our very own LF staffers, Marcus Payne II, Dr. Allen Thomas, and Hannah Pewee. Together, we celebrated five years of justice, equity, and empowerment. Thank you to everyone who joined us! We are committed to many more years of uplifting Black LGBTQ+ Chicagoans.

We are excited to announce that Lighthouse Foundation has been awarded a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation Inc to support our CARE initiative! CARE brings together individuals and faith organizations to foster equity and justice for Black LGBTQ+ individuals in Chicago. This generous grant will help us expand our efforts to engage LGBTQ+ affirmation from a religious and spiritual perspective in the public square through programs like the National Coming Out Sunday Joint Sermon Series. We’re grateful for the support of the Henry Luce Foundation; together, we’re enriching public discourse and amplifying diverse voices. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/daKnhqBH

Thank you to Howard Brown Health for sponsoring Glitter & Giving, our 5-Year Anniversary Fundraiser! Your generous support helps us continue our mission to uplift and empower the Black LGBTQ+ community in Chicagoland and beyond. It's not too late to get tickets for this weekend! Enjoy drag bingo, drag performances, and more in Andersonville from 12 - 2 PM. Secure your spot now at bit.ly/LF5Fund.

Today's highlight! ⭐️ Lighthouse Foundation's Executive Director, Jamie Frazier, will be participating in the "Faith, Family, and Community Engagement Roundtable" panel today as part of the Power Up series organized by the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans and Discovery Education. Date: Wednesday, June 12 Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Location: Malcolm X College, 1900 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60612 Join us as Jamie and other esteemed panelists explore the crucial roles of family, faith, and community in empowering and uplifting Black Americans. Listen to an insightful discussion on strategies for fostering strong family engagement, strengthening communities through faith leadership, and supporting thriving communities through community organizing. Register now: https://cvent.me/35NDyD