Rapid Response and Emergency Funds

Community Funds Providing Rapid Response Funding for LGBTQ Organizations Addressing COVID-19

These rapid-response funds are largely housed at LGBTQ public foundations in some of the regions that have been hardest hit and are currently raising funds to provide grants to LGBTQ nonprofits and grassroots responding to the outbreak. Donations are tax-deductible.

Grassroots Funds and Campaigns Providing Direct Relief to LGBTQ Individuals Affected by COVID-19

These are grassroots fundraising efforts to provide direct relief to individuals in LGBTQ communities that have been affected by COVID-19, either directly or because of loss of employment and income. Most of these campaigns are grassroots efforts organized on platforms such as GoFundMe and are not connected to institutional philanthropy or non-profit organizations. Donations may not be tax-deductible.

• • 25 Fundraisers Giving Money and Hope to LGBTQ+ People During COVID-19 from them.

  • COVID 19 Mutual Aid Fund for LGBTQI+ BIPOC Folks
  • Emergency COVID Relief for Sex Workers in New York
  • Queer Writers of Color Relief Fund
  • The QUEER|ART|MENTORSHIP GIVING CIRCLE
  • TGNC Crisis Funding Circle Louisiana (COVID-19)
  • San Francisco Queer Nightlife Fund

Other Rapid-Response Funds for Organizations Addressing COVID-19 (not just LGBTQ!)

Many community foundations and public foundations are also developing rapid-response funds to support nonprofits addressing COVID-19 in their communities. Most of these funds are not LGBTQ-specific, but most are LGBTQ-inclusive and likely to be open to supporting LGBTQ nonprofits that meet their grant criteria. The most comprehensive guide we know of to date is this listing of COVID-19 funds developed by Giving Compass and the National Center for Family Philanthropy.

What Funders Can Do for LGBTQ Communities

Funders for LGBTQ Issues staff have already heard from our members that they are taking or exploring a number of action steps and practices to support LGBTQ nonprofits and communities during this challenging time. These action steps fall into three categories: (1) practices focused on making grantmaking processes more flexible and less burdensome–recognizing that nonprofits are already strained by the multiple stresses created by the pandemic; (2) grantmaking and technical assistance to provide additional support to LGBTQ nonprofits in the epidemic; and (3) adapting internal practices to maintain and strengthen your institutions, particularly supporting staff who may face challenges from caretaking children and elders to mental health during the outbreak.

Streamline Grantmaking Processes

• Communicate to grantees that you understand that the deliverables and outcomes originally planned may not be achievable in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak, and that old grant objectives may be adapted or scaled back as needed.
• Convert existing project grants to general operating grants.
• Waive progress reports or final reports for grants so as to remove this burden from nonprofits. If needed, have a phone or video check-in instead, and use your notes for any internal reporting requirements.
  Minimize revenue losses by maintaining sponsorship support even for cancelled events or events that have gone virtual.

Provide Additional Support

• Support rapid-response funds for nonprofits and grassroots groups that are addressing the COVID-19 outbreak in LGBTQ communities through advocacy, services, and movement-building.
• Directly provide additional rapid-response grants for LGBTQ groups addressing the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Reach out to Asian-Pacific Islander organizations to offer new or increased support to address the increase in racism and xenophobia against API communities.
• Provide sustaining grants that renew support from prior years with minimal application requirements.
• Build capacity of grantees to work virtually by providing or funding access to virtual and online tools and training on how to use them more effectively.
• Provide additional support to grantees for mental health services for their staff.

Offer Flexibility and Support for Staff

• Funders for LGBTQ Issues and several of our members have adapted WikiMedia Foundation’s practice of shifting to a reduced workweek, only requiring a minimum of 20 hours of week (with no pay reduction).
• Ask staff about what resources they need for working remotely, from noise-canceling headphones for those with housemates to ergonomic workstations for those without adequate work spaces.
• Offer staff increased benefits for mental health services.
• Offer additional paid sick days or personal days for staff who become ill or who must devote time to caring for ill family and chosen family.
• Build capacity of grantees to work virtually by providing or funding access to virtual and online tools and training on how to use them more effectively.
• Offer training and support for staff to improve their virtual and technology skills.