2010 REPORT SHOWS MODEST GAINS IN LGBTQ FUNDING SINCE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

(New York, NY – December 19, 2011) Funders for LGBTQ Issues has just published its annual tracking report on LGBTQ grantmaking which shows that, in 2010, U.S. foundations awarded $97.2 million to organizations explicitly serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities, an increase of 3.9% over the previous year.

This gain marks a modest increase in funding following the huge negative impact of the economic downturn on philanthropy in 2009. Along with this positive indicator, 2010 marks the first time since we’ve been tracking data that organizations serving LGBTQ people of color or addressing issues of race received the highest amount of support amongst population sub-groups, though that funding has still not achieved a level of support commensurate with community numbers or needs.

Also among the report’s findings:

• Support for civil and human rights surpassed that of other issues.

• Advocacy was the most well funded strategy among those used by LGBTQ organizations and projects.

• Over half of philanthropic funding to LGBTQ communities came from just 10 foundations.

• Funding to LGBTQ communities remains at only 0.2 percent of all U.S. foundation funding.

As the philanthropic sector continues to adjust to the impact of recent economic changes, Funders for LGBTQ Issues remains committed to its critical efforts to both increase the number of foundations that support LGBTQ issues overall and to ensure that the full diversity of the LGBTQ community is resourced. The report is now available for download.

Methodology for this report.