The annual gathering of grantmakers committed to LGBTQ issues.

Funders for LGBTQ Issues is proud to announce that Funding Forward 2023 is coming to Chicago from November 29-December 1, 2023! The annual gathering of grantmakers committed to LGBTQ issues provides an exciting opportunity for funders to connect, learn, coordinate efforts, and maximize impact.

Planning Committee

Frank Baiocchi

Executive Director


Hunter Family Foundation

Sherly Chavarria, Ed.D.

Senior Program Officer, Education


Lloyd A. Fry Foundation

Emmanuel Garcia

Development & Communications Director


Crossroads Fund

Caronina Grimble

Member


Chicago Community Trust, LGBTQ Community Fund

Kelli King-Jackson

Strategic Advisor


Kim L. Hunt

Executive Director


Pride Action Tank

Daniel Maiuri

Program Manager


Arcus Foundation

Maryse Pearce

Program Manager


Stonewall Community Foundation

Elizabeth Powley

Director, Grants Management


John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Jon Quinn

Deputy Director


Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

Bré Anne Rivera

Black Trans Fund Director


Groundswell Fund

analía rodríguez

Program Officer


The Field Foundation of Chicago

Luis Roman

Program Officer


JB and MK Prizker Family Foundation

Paul Sapp

Events Project Manager


Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Richard Tran

Program Officer


The Field Foundation of Chicago

Carla Wheeler

Member


Chicago Community Trust, LGBTQ Community Fund

Call for Sessions

Submissions Closed! 

Funding Forward accepts session ideas from funders and philanthropic organizations who are members of Funders for LGBTQ Issues. Proposals will be reviewed by our planning committee. 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. The Call for Submissions closed on Friday, May 26. Thanks to everyone who submitted!

Click here to learn about session criteria and formats, suggested topics of interest, and logistical and financial responsibilities.

FAQ

Funding Forward is the annual gathering of grantmakers committed to LGBTQ issues organized by the affinity group Funders for LGBTQ Issues.

Funding Forward provides an exciting opportunity for funders to 

  • connect with one another
  • learn from each other
  • coordinate efforts
  • and maximize impact

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 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

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].

Funding Forward 2023 will take place from November 29 to December 1st in Chicago, IL. The majority of Funding Forward conversations, events, and meetings will be held at our host hotel to be announced shortly.

Early Bird Regular
In-Person
Member Rate:
$800 $900
In-Person

Nonmember Rate:

$1000 $1200

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. 

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.

The official start time of the conference is 1 PM CT on Wednesday, November 29th. There will, however, be a pre-conference learning tour from 10:30 AM to 2 PM on the 29th with details forthcoming. Conference attendees will be able to register beginning at 7:30 AM on the 29th.

The official ending time of the conference is 2:30 PM on Friday, December 1st. For those local to Chicago or staying in the area through Saturday, there will be an afterparty the evening of the 1st.

Note: the Loews room block has limited Tuesday night availability. If you are planning to arrive on Tuesday we advise you to book accommodations soon.

Sponsors

Funding Forward 2023 is made possible thanks to the support of the following sponsors

Sponsor #FF2023

Platinum Level Sponsors

Anniversary Level Sponsors

It’s Funding Forward’s tenth anniversary! The conference has grown substantially from the first grantmaking retreat in 2013 into a cornerstone philanthropy conference bringing together more than 250 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.

Your support helps us keep Funding Forward accessible to nearly all eligible and interested parties, regardless of their economic means.

Sponsorship inquiries may be directed to April Bethea, [email protected].

#FF2023 will be held at the Loews Chicago Hotel

Rooms can be booked here at the discounted rate of $249 a night until November 6th pending availability.