Meet Our Out in the South Fellows!
By: Funders for LGBTQ Issues on August 13, 2026
Over the past year, the Out in the South (OTS) program has received an increasing number of requests from mutual aid and micro-grantmaking organizations seeking funding and technical assistance, many of which fall outside our traditional grantmaking guidelines focused on Southern intermediary foundations. As the world continues to be on fire, these frontline groups are stepping up with urgency, care, and creativity to meet the needs of LGBTQ+ communities across the South. In response, OTS launched the Micro Funders Project and the OTS Fellowship Program.
The Out in the South Fellowship is a 12-month leadership and learning program designed to strengthen the Southern LGBTQ+ funding ecosystem by investing in emerging philanthropic leaders. The first cohort for 2026-2027 consists of 3 fellows. The Out in the South Fellowship launched with a strong emphasis on leadership development, grantmaking practice, movement knowledge, and applied learning. During the first six weeks, Fellows have been introduced to the structure and culture of philanthropy, the responsibilities of program officers and grantmakers, the history and strategy of OTS, and the practical tools needed to conduct regional landscape analyses. The Fellowship has also created space for Fellows to examine their own leadership identities, relationships to money and power, and the ways those experiences may shape how they engage with grantees, funders, and community partners. The early phase of the Fellowship has intentionally combined technical instruction with reflection, coaching, relationship building, and field experience. Fellows have participated in weekly discussions, journaling exercises, grantmaking education, power analysis, and research preparation. These activities are helping Fellows build the knowledge, confidence, and self-awareness required to navigate philanthropy while remaining grounded in community, movement values, and accountability.
Stay tuned for more updates and news related to this fellowship and the OTS program.
Meet the 2026 - 2027 Fellows
TC Caldwell (he/they)
TC is a Black, Trans, non-binary organizer, narrative photographer, and the Executive Director of The Knights and Orchids Society(TKO Society). TKO Society envisions a future where Transgender, Queer, Bisexual, Lesbian, and Gay (LGBTQ+) Black people are empowered to live full and healthy lives free from harm. TKO’s mission is to build the power of LGBTQ+ Black people across the South by providing a spectrum of health and wellness services. TC is the founder of CoffeeHouse Poets, a performance art movement dedicated to the community and used to organize and educate. TC grew up in the rural South, navigating anti- Black, queer, trans, and religious trauma and oppression. TC deeply believes in community and healing through the arts.
MÃchél Macklin-Encarnacion (she/her)
MÃchél (my-KEY-elle) is a dynamic communications and engagement expert with a rich background in the public service sector, ranging from not-for-profit radio administration to crafting programming directly impacting individuals at the intersection of Black + TGNC. As a passionate advocate for belonging and equity, she has leveraged her unique perspective as an Afrolatina woman of trans experience to transform and contribute to global representation with the goal of amplifying the stories of underrepresented and underserved communities and contributing to the stabilization and enrichment of our LGBTQ legacy & culture.
Elliot Wade (he/him)
Elliot serves as Louisiana Trans Advocates’ first Deputy Director. He co-founded the Louisiana Trans Name Change Fund, expanding access to critical resources for transgender Louisianans. Elliot’s involvement with Louisiana Trans Advocates began in 2015 when he was just 17 years old and still in high school. Before stepping into his current role at LTA, he spent three years as a Community Reporter, where he made local news engaging, accessible, and relevant while centering stories about and for the people of Lafayette. In his role at LTA, Elliot has come full circle, combining his strengths in storytelling, communication, and community organizing to advocate for and uplift trans communities across Louisiana.