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The following letter was published in the February 12, 2009 edition of The Chronicle of Philanthropy: AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE JOINT AFFINITY GROUPS (JAG) In 1993, nine identity-based affinity groups , calling themselves JAG (Joint Affinity Groups), came together with the goals of increasing diversity and inclusiveness within the philanthropic sector and increasing resources to marginalized communities. Our decision to work together was grounded in our belief that we had more power to move the field of philanthropy collectively than individually. Over the past 15 years, JAG has been the key philanthropic infrastructure vehicle working to educate grantmakers about […]

Grantmaking to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) communities in the Global South and East more than doubled between 2005 and 2007, though the majority of dollars came from a small group of funders, according to a report just released by Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues (FLGI), a national philanthropic group based in New York City. “A Global Gaze: LGBTI Grantmaking in the Global South and East” describes the amount and type of grantmaking for LGBTI populations in the Global South and East. It also examines the character of organizations and projects addressing populations in these regions. For […]

Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues coordinated and moderated a panel on increasing support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people of color efforts at the Applied Research Center’s 2008 Facing Race conference in Oakland, California, held November 13-15. For Ellen Gurzinsky, moderator of the panel and program director at Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues, these kinds of workshops heighten awareness about how sexuality and gender identity play out in the racial justice sphere—where LGBTQ communities of color have long been powerful agents for change. “It’s a historic moment for our country and an opportunity for us—as […]

Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues presented an updated study on international grantmaking to LGBTI issues in the Global South and East at a world conference hosted by the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) in Vienna, Austria and attended by approximately 200 LGBTI activists from more than 80 countries. The conference was held November 4-6. “Gatherings such as ILGA’s international conference are wonderful opportunities to draw on the wisdom of activists to shape our work, as well as to share with organizers in the field how grantmakers have understood LGBTI issues in their regions,” said Karen Zelermyer, executive director […]