Pride Month Special: The Top 10 Funders of LGBTQ Visibility
Pride Month Special: The Top 10 Funders of LGBTQ Visibility
By: Lyle Matthew Kan on June 20, 2018
June is Pride Month, which provides an opportunity for LGBTQ people to celebrate and share their history and culture with the world as well as recommit themselves to the work that remains to be done in our quest for true liberation.
Looking back at the last five years, foundation funding to increase LGBTQ visibility in the United States has leveled off at between $8 million and $9 million a year. This funding includes support for LGBTQ art installations, film festivals, museum exhibitions, and pride organizations – the organizations that organize the marches, festivals, and other activities most typically associated with Pride Month.
The top ten funders of LGBTQ visibility in the United States provided nearly 60 percent of all such funding between 2015 and 2016.
Top 10 Funders of LGBTQ Visibility, 2015-2016
| 1. | Arcus Foundation | $2,680,245 |
| 2. | Pride Foundation | $2,087,510 |
| 3. | Ford Foundation | $1,817,000 |
| 4. | Grants for the Arts/San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund | $1,029,130 |
| 5. | John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation | $625,000 |
| 6. | San Francisco Arts Commission | $598,270 |
| 7. | Walter and Elise Haas Fund | $494,750 |
| 8. | Mukti Fund | $397,000 |
| 9. | Surdna Foundation | $364,000 |
| 10. | Horizons Foundation | $337,816 |
While the myriad of challenges facing LGBTQ people – and the world more broadly – still require our attention, we want to recognize these top ten foundations this June and thank them for supporting LGBTQ visibility, which includes support for Pride Organizations. We also want to wish you a happy Pride Month!
Image note: Photo by Teddy Österblom on Unsplash