Today is Give OUT Day, a national day of LGBTQ giving led by the Horizons Foundation, a member of Funders for LGBTQ Issues. As an organization that for nearly 40 years has been advocating to increase philanthropic support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities, we are thrilled to be a part of this day of support for our communities. 

Since our founding in 1982, we’ve witnessed a marked increase in the scale and impact of philanthropy for LGBTQ issues.  In 2018, the last year for which we have data, funding for LGBTQ issues hit a record high of $209.2 million. Still, even at this record, for every $100 awarded by U.S. foundations only 27 cents specifically support LGBTQ issues.   

It is hard to take stock of all the challenges we have faced in the last year. Even as we witness increased access to vaccines with each passing day, we know this moment is far from over. The dual pandemics of COVID-19 and white supremacy have laid bare systems of inequity that impact our LGBTQ, especially our BIPOC LGBTQ, communities. Today, as you consider your gifts for LGBTQ justice, we encourage you to make personal contributions to a range of LGBTQ organizations meeting the diverse needs of our communities. In particular, the staff of Funders for LGBTQ Issues uplift donations to LGBTQ organizations by and for BIPOC communities.

For more information on the unique funding needs and opportunities of LGBTQ Black and Latinx communities, we encourage you to look to our Philanthropic OUTlook series of infographics.

Funders for LGBTQ Issues remains more committed than ever to increasing the scale and impact of philanthropic resources aimed at enhancing the well-being of LGBTQ communities, promoting equity, and advancing racial, economic and gender justice. While we also welcome gifts today, to help us galvanize more resources for our movement for the long term, we recognize that we are lucky to be in a healthy fiscal position this year–– something is not true for so many in our movement.

However you choose to give to the LGBTQ movement today, we encourage you to give with an eye toward intersectional racial, economic and gender justice. 

You can read this message on our own Give OUT Day fundraising page and support our work here.

Image note: Photo by Brielle French on Unsplash