The annual gathering of grantmakers committed to LGBTQ issues.
Funders for LGBTQ Issues is proud to announce that Funding Forward 2025 is coming to Houston, Texas from March 31 – April 3 with March 31 being a pre-session day! Funding Forward is the annual gathering of grantmakers committed to LGBTQ issues organized by the affinity group Funders for LGBTQ Issues.
Why should I attend?
Funding Forward provides an exciting opportunity for funders to
- connect with one another
- learn from each other
- coordinate efforts
- and maximize impact
or let our team tell you 👇👇🏽👇🏾👇🏼👇🏿
Call for Sessions
Funding Forward accepts session ideas from funders and philanthropic organizations who are members of Funders for LGBTQ Issues. Our planning committee and staff will review proposals. Member foundations and affinity groups are strongly encouraged to partner with one another to pool creativity and expertise and share the financial responsibilities of session sponsorship. Deadline extended to July 21, 11:59 p.m. CST.
Learn about session criteria and formats, suggested topics of interest, and logistical and financial responsibilities.
Planning Committee
Alex Simon-Fox
Candace Thompson
DaLyah Jones
Eugenio Smith
Francis Valdez
Ian L Haddoc
Jennifer Touchet
Joseph Brooks
Kelli King-Jackson
Kolby Gilbert
Lisa Madry
Melodie Garcia
Rebecca Fox
Sarian Sankoh
Zev Lowe
Sponsors
Funding Forward 2025 is made possible with the support of generous sponsors
Funding Forward has grown substantially from our first grantmaking retreat in 2013 into a cornerstone philanthropy conference bringing together more than 300 of the most influential LGBTQ funders, allied funders, and movement leaders to connect with and learn from one another, coordinate efforts, and maximize philanthropic impact to queer, trans and gender nonconforming communities.
Demonstrate your commitment to advancing LGBTQ issues and connect with some of the most influential leaders in LGBTQ philanthropy through sponsorship.
FAQ
Registration is open to representatives from any grantmaking entity or philanthropic infrastructure organization (i.e., board members, staff, grant advisory committee members, etc.). If you have a specific question about your own eligibility please contact Stephen Switzer, Director of Finance at [email protected].
Funding Forward offers rich content on LGBTQ issues as they relate to a range of grantmaking priorities, including children & youth, criminal justice reform, economic opportunity, education, health, immigrant rights, racial equity, and reproductive and gender justice. If you need assistance making the case to your institution how the conference programming will help substantively advance your grantmaking priorities, please reach out to April Bethea, Director of Philanthropic Outreach at [email protected].
Funders for LGBTQ Issues is a network of foundations and corporations working to increase funding for LGBTQ communities. We provide three key services for the field, we:
- Connect and create spaces for LGBTQ funders to coordinate their efforts, learn from each other, and maximize their impact
- Expand the scale and reach philanthropic resources for LGBTQ communities and social justice by building relationships with a wide range of foundations, corporations, and other partners
- Provide up-to-the-minute information, research, and resources on LGBTQ grantmaking for the benefit of funders and the broader LGBTQ movement
Funding Forward 2025 will take place in Houston, Texas from March 31 – April 3 with March 31 being a pre-session day. The majority of Funding Forward conversations, events, and meetings will be held at our host hotel to be announced to confirmed guests.
| Early Bird | Regular | |
| In-Person Member Rate: |
$950 | $1050 |
| In-Person Nonmember Rate: |
$1200 | $1400 |
The registration fee covers admission to Funding Forward conversations and several meals. Hotel accommodation is not included.
We will also offer virtual plenaries for those unable to attend in-person. More information on virtual registration is forthcoming.
Yes! This year’s program promises to be filled with dynamic, engaging and interactive sessions, however, there will also be ample time set aside for networking with Funding Forward attendees who are committed to LGBTQ issues.
Funders for LGBTQ Issues is a social justice organization committed to making Funding Forward accessible to all eligible and interested parties regardless of their economic means. While we currently have no formal scholarship program, if you would like to attend but financial circumstances make your attendance difficult please email us and we’ll see what we can do.
More information will be shared soon.
More information will be shared soon on our COVID-19 Policy to ensure safe gatherings.