1. In 2008, 343 U.S.-based grantmakers awarded 3,591 grants supporting LGBTQ organizations and projects totaling $107.2 million dollars—a 39 percent increase in dollars from 2007. For the first time in our research, LGBTQ grantmaking represented more than 0.2 percent of all U.S. foundation dollars awarded in a single year.
2. Similar to previous years, independent foundations provided the most LGBTQ dollars while public foundations provided the most LGBTQ grants.
3. The combined funding from the top 10 LGBTQ grantmakers, by total dollars, represented 47 percent of total LGBTQ dollars in 2008—the same percentage as in 2007. The top 10 LGBTQ grantmakers, by total grants, accounted for 41 percent of all LGBTQ grants.
4. Eleven percent of LGBTQ grants in 2008 came from 23 of the top 50 U.S. foundations, by asset size.
5. Ten nonprofit organizations received nearly one-third of all LGBTQ dollars granted in 2008.
6. As with previous years, in 2008 national organizations received the majority of LGBTQ dollars while local organizations received the majority of LGBTQ grants.
7. Program support received the most LGBTQ dollars (62 percent) and grants (51 percent) in 2008—more than general operating support and other forms of support.
8. Organizations that explicitly serve children and youth again received the highest level of support from grantmakers in 2008 (among the various LGBTQ sub-groups addressed by nonprofits). Further, total giving to organizations that address LGBTQ communities of color nearly doubled from $7.8 million in 2007 to $12.6 million in 2008.
9. Among the various strategies utilized by LGBTQ organizations and projects, advocacy received the most support from grantmakers in 2008.
10. Grantmaking support for civil rights/human rights efforts far surpassed philanthropic support for the other issues being addressed by LGBTQ organizations and projects.

Source: Funders for LGBTQ Issues, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Grantmaking by U.S. Foundations: Calendar Year 2008 (New York: FLGI, 2010).

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