What’s a significant accomplishment from the last few years that New Moon Network is particularly proud of?

One significant accomplishment New Moon Network is particularly proud of is having channeled over $2 million into the sex workers’ rights movement  in under two years through regranting, grant writing support, and making donor introductions . This milestone reflects not just financial impact, but the deep trust we’ve built within our community and with our funding partners.

What sets us apart is our resourcefulness and creativity—we come from the community we serve. As sex workers, we’ve always known how to secure the bag and manifest abundance, not just for ourselves but for our communities. That lived experience has informed what we now recognize as contemporary best practices in philanthropy: trust-based philanthropy, community-led advising, flexible funding, and more.

Despite not coming from traditional philanthropic backgrounds, we’ve shown that sex workers are naturally philanthropic. We’re proud that our approach—rooted in care, mutual aid, and a deep understanding of systemic inequities—is now shaping how funding can and should be done.

What is New Moon Network most excited about in this moment?

Right now, New Moon is most excited about helping to amplify and share the organizing and survival strategies that sex workers have been practicing for decades. In a time of escalating repression, we see how vital it is to bring forward the wisdom and resistance tactics our communities have always used to survive and support each other.

We’re also energized by the opportunity to build coalitions across movements—especially between those working on issues of sex, sexuality, and bodily autonomy. For too long, sex workers have been excluded from critical conversations and organizing spaces, particularly within anti-trafficking and adjacent movements. We’re thrilled to see growing openness to bridging those divides.

Sex workers have always had solutions. Now, there’s a real chance to unite our efforts, challenge harmful silos, and build stronger, more inclusive movements together—and that’s what truly excites us in this moment.

What is New Moon Network’s vision for the next 3-5 years?

Over the next 3–5 years, New Moon Network envisions a future where sex workers are not just included, but centered in coalitions across philanthropy, funding, and human rights work. We’re working toward a world where sex workers are recognized as essential stakeholders—experts in navigating, resisting, and transforming the very systems that often exclude or criminalize us.

We see sex workers playing a critical role in addressing sex trafficking and exploitation, not as an afterthought, but as leaders with lived knowledge of what real safety and justice look like. Our vision also includes sex workers being acknowledged as vital to the preservation of democracy and public health, especially as attacks on bodily autonomy and marginalized communities continue to escalate.

We’re building toward a future where our insight, resilience, and leadership are not just respected, but actively shaping the future of movements, funding practices, and policy.

Why does New Moon Network believe increasing resources for LGBTQ+ communities is crucial in this moment?

Sexual minorities represent the canaries in the coalmine for creeping human rights violations, so our issues really affect broader social justice.

Would you like to highlight any specific initiative or project your grantees are spearheading in the LGBTQ+ (or any other) space?

Decrim Sex Work California is doing so much for the queer community! They are now spearheading an amazing event to be held on June 2, International Whore’s Day, hosting a screening of their film project “La Vida de la Puta es Bella” followed by a sex worker mini-march in San Francisco. The film is by and for sex workers living with HIV and is a coalition effort between several organizations that represent queer, trans, and migrant sex working communities.

If New Moon Network had a theme song, what would it be & why?

Hustlin’ by Rick Ross  OR B*tch Betta Have my Money by Rihanna, both for obvious reasons.

If New Moon Network had a mascot, what would it be & why?

Kitty cat purring on a giant pile of money! We are in philanthropy to raise money to help sex workers secure the right to earn money.

What’s a fun fact about New Moon Network that you don’t think enough people know?

We are a small team (less than 3 FTE) composed entirely of people with lived experience in the sex trade.

When you think about New Moon Network’s journey towards grantmaking and resourcing LGBTQ+ communities,  is there anything you could use support or thought partnership on from your peers in the Funders network?

We need more funders to invest real dollars into our movement so that we can continue to fight for our shared values: democracy, autonomy, and safety for politically marginalized people. If any Funders For LGBTQ Issues’ members or coalition partners would like to talk about sex work, the movement for sex workers’ rights, or even answer the “stupid” questions people have about sex workers, we are here for them! We are always open to calls, webinars, workshops, and panels that seek to explore how sex workers are on the frontlines of democracy and social justice. We recently co-authored a report in collaboration with the Sex Work Donor Collaborative, called From Do-No Harm to Inclusion: A Toolkit for Funders on the Issue of Sex Work, and we are excited to offer demos and deep dives into the toolkit. Anyone interested in this can reach out to [email protected].