About
The work of Funders for LGBTQ Issues is made possible by the support of our members. Since 2019, our network of members has grown exponentially, now encompassing over 100 foundations and philanthropic institutions that collectively award more than $1 billion annually, including approximately $258 million specifically devoted to LGBTQ issues.
Our members include foundations for whom LGBTQ+ issues are a core priority, as well as foundations seeking to effectively integrate LGBTQ+ communities into their work. Regardless of where you are at in your LGBTQ funding journey, join the network today to become part of a growing network of funders that share the vision of a world where all queer, trans, and gender non-conforming people are liberated, loved, valued, and respected.
Membership Benefits
As a member, you and your organization receive the following benefits:
- Recognition at our annual conference and in all other public membership listings.
- Opportunities to connect, network, and learn from other members through annual member-only convenings (typically held 4x/year).
- Participate in our affinity space, QTPIES (queer and trans people in emergent space) – open to all LGBTQ+-identifying staff & board members of philanthropic institutions.
- Take advantage of reduced registration fees for our biannual conference, Funding Forward, which is dedicated to grantmakers passionate about LGBTQ issues. The next Funding Forward will take place in Minnesota, MN, in 2027. More details coming soon!
- The opportunity to submit a session proposal for Funding Forward (only members can submit content ideas).
- Exclusive “first looks” of our tracking reports and infographics on LGBTQ grantmaking – check our recently released 2023 Research Tracking Report. Be on the lookout for our 2024 Research Tracking Report, which will be released later in 2026.
- Free job postings on our job board.
- Exclusive, early access to our bimonthly podcast, Justice Ain’t Cheap: A Queer Philanthropy Podcast.
- Technical assistance and support from the Funders for LGBTQ Issues team – including access to individualized data queries from our database of LGBTQ grants.
In addition to these direct benefits, your membership dues are crucial to making possible all of our ongoing work and programs:
- in-depth research on trends, gaps, and opportunities in LGBTQ funding;
- convening funders to share resources and best practices to enhance the impact of their grantmaking in LGBTQ communities; and
- ongoing education and support for foundations seeking to deepen their understanding of how LGBTQ communities are uniquely affected by their grantmaking priorities.
Eligibility
Membership in Funders for LGBTQ Issues is open to all those involved in LGBTQ grantmaking and philanthropy, including the following:
- Grantmaking represents at least 15% of the organization’s total budget
- Grants are made to benefit the nonprofit sector, individuals, and the general public and not solely to organizations or individuals connected to the grantmaking organization
- Grantmaking as a program is prominent in the organization’s mission, literature and website.
Funders for LGBTQ Issues reserves the right to decline membership to nonprofit organizations that do not meet these criteria.
Membership Levels
For grantmaking institutions, Funders for LGBTQ Issues offers a sliding scale of membership dues based on a funder’s overall annual grantmaking budget:
| Total Annual Grantmaking | Annual Membership Dues |
| Under $200,000 | $500 |
| $200,000 – $500,000 | $1,000 |
| $500,000 – $1 million | $2,500 |
| $1 million – $5 million | $5,000 |
| $5 million – $10 million | $7,500 |
| $10 million – $20 million | $10,000 |
| Over $20 million | $15,000 |
For consulting firms, PSOs, and other institutions that offer advisory services for grantmakers, we offer an Industry Partner membership fee of $2,500 annually. To join as an Industry Partner, please get in touch with the Director of External Affairs, Amara Reese-Hansell.
Individual membership is open to:
- staff,
- volunteers,
- and trustees of grantmaking institutions and philanthropic support organizations (including philanthropic advisors and consultants).
Individual membership status is granted to those who make donations of $150 or more annually, with options to pay in monthly installments. Funders for LGBTQ Issues educates and organizes funders, and supports power-building to create an abundance of resources for the justice and liberation of all queer communities. We could not do this work without your collaboration.
Become an Institutional Member
Make sure to check your eligibility and confirm your annual dues before proceeding.