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Celebrating 30 years of mobilizing philanthropic resources for the LGBTQ community.
1982-2012
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Announcing Funders for LGBTQ Issues 2011 Annual Report on LGBTQ Grantmaking
2011 REPORT SHOWS 27% GAIN IN LGBTQ FUNDING
U.S. foundation giving to LGBTQ communities and issues grew significantly in 2011, from $97.2 million to $123 million, an increase of 27%. Particularly high levels of growth were found for international organizations and for transgender communities. For the first time, funding to LGBTQ communities surpassed a quarter of a percent of all foundation grantmaking, but still remains fairly modest at only 0.26%. (Download the report here)
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A Message from Our New President: Seizing the Momentum
I feel extraordinarily lucky to be stepping into the role of President of Funders for LGBTQ Issues at such an exciting time for our movement. Like so many of us, I felt inspired this past November when, for the first time, we won four victories for marriage equality at the ballot box. The way that we won was just as inspiring: through smart, data-driven strategy; through coalition-building and intersectional work with communities of color, immigrants, and organized labor; and through old-school, grassroots organizing to win the hearts and minds of our neighbors... (Click here to read the full message from Ben.)
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Qnotes Profile: Program Officer Luna Yasui on the Ford Foundation's New LGBT Initiative
 The second in a series of occasional interviews with LGBTQ grantmakers.
Luna Yasui is a new program officer at the Ford Foundation, which recently announced a new five-year, $50 million LGBT initiative. At Ford, she works on gender and equality issues for the foundation, and is responsible for its work to advance LGBT rights. Before joining Ford, Luna worked at the Open Society Foundations, where she managed a portfolio focused on gender justice, LGBT rights and the rights of lower-wage workers...
You're relatively new to Ford, though you've worked in philanthropy for a number of years on a range of issues that intersect with LGBTQ justice. What excites you most about your new home?
I've been struck by the enthusiasm around the Advancing LGBT rights initiative from my colleagues across the foundation. So many people have already reached out to learn about and explore collaborations with the LGBT rights initiative. The level of expertise and excitement amongst my colleagues motivates me to think of innovative ways to collaborate both within the foundation and beyond.
What Ford just held a convening of LGBT leaders and allies, Out for Change, at which an investment of $50 million over the next five years to support the fight for the basic rights of the LGBT community was announced. Can you tell us a little about the day?
What an electric day! Out for Change was an opportunity to pause and reflect on how far we've come as a movement, but also to plan for the next stage. We brought leaders from the LGBT community together with other social justice leaders for a day of discussion about the future. We were also pleased to have so many of our funder colleagues participate, some of whom helped pave the way for our own funding efforts. The day allowed all of us to grapple with some big questions: How do we ensure a strong and vibrant future for LGBT rights? How can we deepen our alliances within the social justice movement? How can we support arts and culture that reflect the stories of LGBT people...
[Click here to read the full interview with Luna, including strategies and priorities for funding and how they view Ford's role in broadening philanthropic support for LGBT issues and communities.]
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A Farewell to Richard Burns
Richard Burns leaves Funders for LGBTQ Issues (Funders) this month after serving as interim executive director since June. Drawing on his extensive experience in the LGBTQ movement and philanthropy, Richard stewarded the organization steadily during the transition period. "On behalf of the board of directors, I want to extend my gratitude to Richard for his work on our behalf in 2012. Funders benefited tremendously from his wisdom and good humor as we navigated transition," said Andrew Lane, Executive Director of the Johnson Family Foundation and Board Chair of Funders. During his six-month tenure, Richard worked closely with both board and staff, strengthening our internal operations and facilitating a smooth and effective transition. ( Read the full article here.)
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Save the Date:
2013 Grantmakers Retreat
Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort, Santa Ana Pueblo, NM
March 13 - 16, 2013
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At the gathering our GBTQ Men and Boys of Color Symposium this past October, we premiered our series of video portraits of GBTQ men and boys of color from around the country, adding a personal dimension to our work on this marginalized population. Below is the second of the videos we will feature in Qnotes over the next few months.
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PFUND Foundation Requests Proposals for LGBT Aging Initiative
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Out for Change: The Future of LGBT Rights
On November 28, 2012, the Ford Foundation brought together LGBT leaders and allies, artists, journalists, technologists, policymakers and funders to explore what are the next opportunities for progress for the LGBT movement, how social justice can be inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity, and how to engage broad communities in securing basic right for LGBT people. Click here for highlights of the day, including information on the speakers, and descriptions and video of the sessions. Also, learn more about the new initiative, Advancing LGBT Rights, here. |
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Philanthropy Beyond Grantmaking
 John Larsen, Minneapolis architect, philanthropist, and member of Funders for LGBTQ Issues, talks about philanthropy beyond grantmaking in an interview in The Line, a Twin Cities online publication. John is the winner of the 2010 Engaged Philanthropist Award from the Minnesota Community Foundation and Social Venture Partners. "My passion is also around LGBT rights-which is something my whole family shares. Maybe half of our grantmaking goes to LGBT issues now, but also to the arts, education, and early childhood issues. As for my giving with [life partner] Mike, LGBT issues are important to us, and so is environmentalism." Read the interview here. |
 Wealthy LGBT voices heard on 'fiscal cliff'
As reported in The Washington Post on December 6th, "an unprecedented letter from wealthy gay and lesbian Americans dropped on the congressional leadership in both parties calling on them to "work with President Obama to avoid the fiscal cliff with a balanced approach, and to preserve the middle class tax cuts while allowing tax cuts for millionaires like us expire."... The letter to Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi from 24 gay and lesbian 1-percenters highlights the negative economic impact going over the fiscal cliff would have on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) households." Click here to read the letter which was in part based on Caught in the Budget Battle, a report by the Center for American Progress on the potential negative impact of a sequestration process on the federal budget. |
Survey on global LGBTI issues The Global Philanthropy Project (GPP) was established in 2009 to increase funding for human rights of LGBT people globally. GPP is currently conducting a survey to gain input from friends and colleagues regarding their interests pertaining to global LGBTI issues as they build their educational programs.The 5 - 10 minute survey is open until January 4th. Click here for more information, or click here to take the survey now. |
Lead April 4-6, 2013. Chicago, IL Registration is open for the 2013 Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) National Conference and affordable early bird rates are available through December 31. Proposals are also being accepted for sessions through Sunday, December 23. This year's theme: Lead. Click here for more information. |
MAP 2012 National LGBT Movement Report
The National LGBT Movement Report, published annually by MAP, examines revenue and expenses, fundraising and fundraising efficiency, other indicators of financial health, and staff and boards for LGBT social justice advocacy, issue, legal, research and public education organizations. This year, participating organizations report increased revenue (up 17% in 2011 from 2010), strong projections for 2012 budgets, and increased fundraising success. The staff of organizations are diverse - generally representative of the broader U.S. population. Visit here to download the publication.
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New housing fund gives life to Hayes Valley LGBT housing projects
Slated to be the largest low-income housing site in the nation that is welcoming to LGBT seniors, the long-stalled project to bring housing for low-income seniors in Hayes Valley received a boost when San Francisco announced it will provide $6.1 million from the newly created Housing Trust Fund. Click here to read more. |
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People on the Move
in LGBTQ Philanthropy
Rebbeca Fox, Wellspring Advisors
We welcome Rebecca to the board of Funders for LGBTQ Issues.
Christina Cuevas, Community Foundation Santa Cruz County Steven Lawrence, The Foundation Center Lina Paredes, Connecticut Health Foundation After completing their second terms as members of our board of directors, we wish a fond farewell to Christina, Steven and Lina, each of whom served and guided the organization steadily through much change and growth over the past 6 years.
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__________
 | | Towards a More Responsive Philanthropy |
 | | 40 Years of LGBTQ Philanthropy |
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Interim Executive Director
Communications Officer
Program Director
Director of Operations and
Member Services
Board of Directors
Andrew Lane, Chair
Johnson Family Foundation
Maria Cadenas, Vice-Chair
Driscoll's
Jesse King, Treasurer
Fulcrum Advisors
Mitchell Singer, Secretary
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
Rebecca Fox
Wellspring Advisors
Judy Patrick
Women's Foundation of California
Cindy Rizzo
The Arcus Foundation
Patricia St. Onge
Seven Generations Consulting and Coaching
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Funders for LGBTQ Issues seeks to mobilize philanthropic resources that enhance the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities, promote equity and advance racial, economic and gender justice.
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issues.