Corporate funders have increased their investment in LGBTQ issues by more than fifteen fold in the last decade. Going from approximately $575,000 in 2003 to $8.7 million in 2012, corporate foundation support for LGBTQ issues has grown exponentially. Even though corporate funding constitutes a small portion of LGBTQ funding overall, at roughly 7 percent in 2012, it is growing at the fastest clip.

In 2012 the top 10 corporate funders of LGBTQ issues included:

1. Wells Fargo Foundation – $3,562,008
2. Levi Strauss & Co. Foundation – $1,710,000
3. M.A.C. AIDS Fund – $964,239
4. GE Foundation – $350,000
5. Walmart Foundation – $281,500
6. Otto Bremer Foundation – $275,000
7. Alphawood Foundation – $195,000
8. Greater Seattle Business Association – $182,000
9. Macy’s Foundation – $139,444
10. Verizon Foundation – $139,240

Still, according to the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, corporations gave back more than $25 billion in 2013 – more than $20 million of which was some form of cash payment. At that rate, for every $100 corporations gave back, only 4 cents went to LGBTQ issues.

At Funders for LGBTQ Issues, we’re dedicated to working with all types of funders – including corporate funders – to increase the scale and impact of funding for LGBTQ communities worldwide. As we continue to deepen our work with corporate funders check out or co-sponsored panel at Out & Equal and stay tuned for a new report on corporate funding for LGBTQ issues coming in 2015.

For more information on the overall scale and character of LGBTQ funding, check out the 2012 Tracking Report and look out for the 2013 Tracking Report, coming out in the next few weeks.