Funders for LGBTQ Issues is excited to announce that Funding Forward 2027 is headed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the PFund Foundation as our host partner.

Slated for spring 2027, Funding Forward is the largest gathering of grantmakers dedicated to LGBTQ issues. The conference is a unique opportunity for funders to connect, learn, and coordinate efforts to maximize the impact of their philanthropy. At our most recent convening in Houston last April 2025, more than 350 national and regional funders came together to examine funding gaps and opportunities in the Southern LGBTQ movement organizing; we look forward to bringing this same energy to the Midwest.

Immediately following the close of Funding Forward 2025, we launched a nomination process for our next conference location, asking members and their supporters to submit recommendations on where the next conference should be held. Thanks to a powerful nomination from two of our members, we’re heading back to Minneapolis for the first time since 2016! The host site submitters, Karen Applebaum (Northwest Area Foundation), Mercedes Plendl (PFund Foundation), Melodie Garcia (New Moon Fund), and Alfonso Wenker (Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation), will serve as our co-chairs of the Funding Forward 2027 planning committee. 

As we look toward Minneapolis in 2027, we are thrilled to partner with PFund Foundation as our host to spotlight the impact of LGBTQ movement work in Minnesota and across the Upper Midwest. Since 1987, PFund has invested millions of dollars in scholarships and grants, supporting hundreds of LGBTQ+ students and community leaders throughout the region. Their commitment to advancing equity and justice makes them an ideal partner as we gather funders from across the country.

PFund Foundation is thrilled to be a part of the 2027 Funding Forward conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota! PFund Foundation was founded in 1987 in Minneapolis and 40-years later the Upper Midwest continues to thrive because of contributions from the diverse tapestry of LGBTQ+ folks and communities. We’re excited to host LGBTQ+ funders and allies from across the globe as we learn together, build our networks and strengthen our work. We hope to see you here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes!

— Aaron Zimmerman, PFund Foundation Executive Director

In 2016, we hosted Funding Forward in Minneapolis for the first time. We’re excited to be back in 2027, ten years later, and to celebrate PFund’s 40th anniversary. Together, we will celebrate the story of Midwestern LGBTQ philanthropic excellence while forging new strategies and partnerships for the future.

We look forward to sharing more details—including exact dates—in the months ahead.