Stonewall Community Foundation’s Post

Today, on #TransgenderDayofVisibility, we honor the progress made towards ensuring that transgender community members can live in safety and dignity, and acknowledge the considerable work that remains on the path to equality. Last year, a record number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills limited the rights and freedoms of trans people in the U.S. and continue to pose a direct threat to their safety today. Just as each of us has a role to play in protecting trans community members, funders must commit to investing in organizations that defend their rights and livelihood. We recently joined Funders for LGBTQ Issues to deepen our understanding of this work. In this opinion piece, the collaborative's Executive Director, M. Saida Agostini Bostic, and Elizabeth Barajas-Román from Women's Funding Network offer funders a roadmap to supporting these organizations. They powerfully state: "These investments are more important than ever and should be replicated by women’s funds across the country—and all foundations that value equal rights and justice." Learn more about how funders can help create a world where trans people live safely, freely and authentically:

🌈 One of the country’s largest LGBTQ funders, The Gill Foundation, is giving $4.3 million to democracy nonprofits in the lead-up to the 2024 election. This is the latest example of a key, cause-focused philanthropy embracing broader civic engagement work. 🔍 Dawn Wolfe reports on this significant move and the impact it aims to have on our democratic processes. Check out the full article on Inside Philanthropy for more details! #LGBTQ #ProDemocracy #SocialImpact #GillFoundation #InsidePhilanthropy #CivicEngagement #DemocracyReform #SocialJustice #InclusiveDemocracy #EquitableSociety #SystemicChange

BREAKING: Republican leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives has proposed cutting non-profit community project funding. Not allowing non-profits to apply for these U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants will create an almost $1 billion shortfall for community programs across the country. Join Equitas Health, Human Service Chamber of Franklin County, The Center for Community Solutions, and others, and tell the US House Committee on Appropriations that these cuts will hurt our communities. To take action, call (202)-225-2771. To learn more, click the link below. https://lnkd.in/eX7W2_Xg #LGBT #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #LGBTQIAPlus #Federal #Government #GovernmentAffairs #PublicPolicy #PublicAffairs #CurrentAffairs #Funding #Appropriations #Revenue #Housing #UrbanDevelopment #Grants #Congress #DC #Washington #NonProfit #Community #CommunityDevelopment #CommunityEngagement #Resources #SocialServices #CommunitySupport #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #DEI #DiversityEquityInclusion #DEIB #DiversityEquityInclusionBelonging

As #Pride month comes to a close, this blog post from Center for Effective Philanthropy written by Kevin Bolduc and Elizabeth Kelley Sohn highlights the experiences of LGBTQ+ grantees and how funders can commit to implementing safe approaches that invite LGBTQ+ grantees to be visible, to understanding their needs, and to closing the gap in their experiences as grantees. "Part protest, part commemoration, and part celebration, Pride Month joyfully invites us all to see the rich and diverse lives of queer folks — and to recognize that as far as we’ve come (at least here in the U.S.), we still have a long way to go to achieve a world in which LGBTQ+ people are fully seen, safe, loved, and liberated.1 Philanthropy has a role in achieving that goal, but it, too, has a long way to go in better supporting LGBTQ+ communities. Right now, most funders don’t consider themselves to be LGBTQ+ focused funders. That might be because, according to the most recent tracking report from Funders for LGBTQ Issues, LGBTQ+ communities and issues are specifically targeted for only a small fraction of philanthropic giving. The reality, however, is that nearly every funder is building relationships with queer grantees and often supporting organizations led by LGBTQ+ people, whether they know it or not. And, for any funder that focuses on historically marginalized populations or has intentionally centered equity as a value in their grantmaking, the experiences of queer populations should be part of the conversation. Each aspect of our identities affects our experience, and often the challenges facing marginalized groups can compound one another. So, every funder should be concerned that LGBTQ+ identified grant recipients have significantly less positive experiences with and perceptions of their funders than their straight peers do — at least as measured through response to CEP’s Grantee Perception Report (GPR) surveys."

As Pride Month concludes, this recent article from Kevin Bolduc and and Elizabeth Kelley Sohn highlights critical issues in LGBTQ+ philanthropy: Center for Effective Philanthropy's research reveals LGBTQ+ grantees have less positive experiences with funders compared to their peers. Key findings include: 📊 Only 11% of surveyed grantees identify as LGBTQ+ 📊 LGBTQ+ grantees report lower ratings for funders' understanding of their work and contexts 📊 LGBTQ+ grantees have less positive relationships with funders YouthTruth, an initiative of Center for Effective Philanthropy, agrees that as philanthropists and leaders, we must step up to counter regressive movements and ensure LGBTQ+ individuals are seen, safe, and supported in all aspects of society. Read more from our own call to action for funders here–https://lnkd.in/gCcc_niF. As Jimmy Simpson, Jr. and Jennifer de Forest found, the cry from students is very clear: 🔊 Value our history! Value our identities! Value our lives! So, what can #funders do? 🎯 Implement safe approaches to increase LGBTQ+ grantee visibility 🎯 Understand and address the unique needs of LGBTQ+ grantees 🎯 Support initiatives that amplify LGBTQ+ youth voices in schools 🎯 Invest in schools as incubators for an inclusive civic society What steps is your organization taking to better support LGBTQ+ communities? Let's discuss in the comments! #Pride #Philanthropy #LGBTQ #InclusiveGiving #YouthEmpowerment

To secure full equality for #LGBTQ Americans, we must have a functioning #democracy. As The Gill Foundation evaluated our grant-making entering 2024, it was clear that protecting democratic institutions and strengthening civic engagement were critical prerequisites to advancing our mission. Alongside our network of OutGivers, this year we’ve already directed $4.3 million to nonpartisan efforts to expand #voter participation, fortify democratic institutions, counter disinformation, and protect LGTBQ rights in 2025 and beyond. These investments complement our core grant-making, which remains focused on protecting as many LGBTQ Americans as possible, as quickly as possible. We continue to invest in advancing administrative protections, resourcing litigation efforts, supporting state equality organizations, and reshaping the national narrative around the LGBTQ community, particularly #transgender youth. Our country is at a critical juncture. But I believe together we will protect our democracy and continue our march toward full #equality.

Help Us Connect with LGBTQ+ Non-Profits for a Community Capacity Needs Assessment! 🌈 For my internship this summer, I'm working on an important project under the guidance of John Pachankis: conducting a community capacity needs assessment focused on LGBTQ+ non-profits in the Tri-State Area (NY, NJ, CT). To make this project a success, I need your help! If you know of any LGBTQ+ non-profits in the Tri-State Area, I would love to hear your recommendations on community stakeholders and organizations I can interview for this project! Your input will help us identify crucial organizations and understand the needs and gaps in services for the LGBTQ+ community. 📍 What We Need: Names and contact information for community stakeholders at LGBTQ+ non-profits in NY, NJ, or CT. Your suggestions will directly contribute to a publicly accessible report and help shape future collaborations, ensuring we make a meaningful impact together. Please share your recommendations in the comments below, message me directly, or fill out this quick form: https://lnkd.in/e-uuHXMZ Additionally, feel free to pass this along to others or share within your own networks! Thank you for your support in helping us understand the needs of LGBTQ+ organizations in the Tri-State Area! #LGBTQ #NonProfits #CommunityHealth #NeedsAssessment #YSPH #Collaboration #SupportLocal #TriStateArea #NonProfitOrganizations #CommunitySupport #LGBTQSupport #LGBTQCommunity #NYNonprofits #NJNonprofits #CTNonprofits #NonProfitWork #StudentEngagement

I wanted to highlight a few things I've been doing in addition to helping HubSpot customers, because there is a lot going on in the world that is really tough on people. Work and the corporate world are only a few of those things causing people to struggle. Last year, I started working with Equality Kansas, and became the chairperson for the Central Plains area. I've been working with local LGBTQ+ people and our allies to learn what we can do to make life easier for the LGBTQ+ community. I live in a city of 25,000 in eastern Kansas, and we're a good little city. Statistically, there are around 1600 people here that are queer (trans, gay, bi or pan, gender non-conforming). In my role as chairperson, I've worked with the state level organization to fight against bills in legislature that harm LGBTQ+ people, and so far, we've been winning that fight. That work is extremely important to me, and I'm in it for the long haul. In addition to that, during the meet and greets we had with the local community, we found that a lot of parents of trans kids were scared for their kids and the bullying they were receiving at school and around town. So we created a youth organization for trans and non-binary teens, with leadership composed of trans and non-binary adults that are happy and successful in their lives, and we host our group every week in a safe location, where the kids have an instant connection with each other and have built some very strong friendships. We've managed to turn the lives of at least a few of those kids around, with parents telling us that their kid has an entirely new outlook on life with the support and love they now have. Having that support is instrumental in growth. In our work, we found that the internet has caused the LGBTQ+ community locally to not have the cohesion it used to. While we spend a lot of time meeting online, groups are very siloed and we don't have a lot of Third Spaces to visit to get to know new people. So with that in mind, I've created my city's first Queer Drop-in Center. We open once a week, in space graciously provided by the local United Methodist Church, while I am working on getting the 501c3 approved. That can take months, and until then, we have no way of raising money or taking donations. So, we rely on the help of the church and local people who want to donate food and drinks, entertainment, etc. and build this small scale until we get that approval. The LGBTQ+ community is under attack, and I'm doing what I can to give people space to be themselves, build friendships, grow in their truth, and fight for their right to do so. So I'm keeping myself busy. It's hard, it's emotional, but it is so incredibly worth it!

Why It Matters

In a 2020 article for YPulse, I warned about the pitfalls of “rainbow-washing” during Pride Month, emphasizing that Gen Z and young LGBTQ+ consumers demand real action over empty gestures. Fast forward to 2024, and we see that the call for authenticity is louder than ever. This April, Lime launched its largest-ever global Pride campaign, decking out their vehicles in vibrant Pride wraps. But they didn’t stop at aesthetics; they focused on creating safe pathways for the LGBTQ+ community to access their cherished third spaces—those vital sanctuaries where self-expression thrives. In June, Lime took another step by implementing a "no go zone" around a Progress Pride flag mural in Spokane, WA, to protect it from (further) vandalism. This move showcases Lime's commitment to creating not just a safe, but a respectful environment. It's clear that third spaces have become critical for Gen Z. With the decline of traditional workplaces and the impact of the pandemic, the need for external social hubs has intensified. These spaces aren't just physical locations—they are lifelines for connection and community. Lime’s actions resonate deeply with this generation's values. By safeguarding spaces for expression and community, they’re not just marketing inclusivity—they’re embodying it. This is the level of commitment that today’s youth expects: actionable, transparent, and genuinely supportive. The takeaway? Brands must evolve from performative allyship to authentic engagement. Gen Z is searching for their third place, and they’ll gravitate towards those who help create and protect these essential spaces. Let’s move beyond the rainbows and promises and build communities where everyone feels seen, safe, and celebrated. #GenZ #LGBTQ #PrideMonth #ThirdPlaces #Authenticity #CommunityBuilding #BrandStrategy