We’re not even halfway through the year, but we are pleased to share the news that our members and funders have already contributed more than $800,000 to Funders for LGBTQ Issues. That’s more than we raised in all of 2012!

We’re especially thankful to these leading funders who have provided generous grants to support our work:

• Arcus Foundation
• California Wellness Foundation
• Ford Foundation
• Gill Foundation
• Jeff Chartrand Advised Fund
• Marguerite Casey Foundation
• Santa Fe Community Foundation
• The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund
• The Kicking Assets Fund of the Tides Foundation
• An Anonymous Donor

Thanks to these partners, we’re looking forward to expanding the network of funders supporting LGBTQ issues and ultimately to increasing the scale of LGBTQ funding. One program we’re looking forward to is the LGBT Southern Funding Project. This new project will include a preliminary assessment of the assets, gaps, and opportunities for funding LGBT communities in the South as well as a summit bringing together at least 30 funders with an interest in LGBT issues in the South.

Our work was also bolstered by an unprecedented support from individuals on Give OUT Day. We were humbled that over 20 people contributed to Funders for LGBTQ Issues, raising nearly $5,000 for our work in only 24 hours.

We are also pleased to welcome a new member to Funders for LGBTQ Issues: the Dwight Stuart Youth Fund. This brings the total number of members up to 49 funding institutions. We also extend our gratitude to the members who have recently renewed their support: The Boston Foundation; California Wellness Foundation; Community Foundation Santa Cruz County; Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund; Ford Foundation; Foundation for the Carolinas; Henry van Ameringen Foundation; Jeff Chartrand Advised Fund; Kicking Assets Fund; Marguerite Casey Foundation; North Star Fund; Polk Bros Foundation; Pride Foundation; Proteus Fund; Santa Fe Community Foundation; and Vermont Community Foundation.

With these new funds, we’re looking forward to pursuing three key objectives:

(1) Connecting and creating spaces for LGBTQ funders to coordinate their efforts, learn from each other, and maximize their impact.

(2) Expanding the scale and reach of philanthropic resources for LGBTQ communities and social justice by building relationships with a wide range of foundations, corporations, and other partners.

(3) Providing up-to-the-minute information, research, and resources on LGBTQ grantmaking for the benefit of funders and the broader LGBTQ movement.

We exist to serve our members, and so nothing makes us happier than your continued support. A big thank you to all of you!