By: Andrew Wallace on November 6, 2016
Something special happened in Charlotte, North Carolina at the end of July. The first summit of the LGBT Southern Funding Project not only attracted over 50 funders, representing 39 organizations, from 11 different states and the District of Columbia (8 of those states being Southern States), but it also built some real momentum for strategically increasing funding for LGBTQ communities in the U.S. South.
On July 29th and 30th, Funders for LGBTQ Issues convened a summit to assess the assets, gaps and opportunities for funding LGBT communities in the US South. Some of the key findings included:
Based on our conversations at the first summit, several overarching goals emerged that are paramount for our members and funding partners committed to advancing LGBTQ rights in the region:
Throughout the summit, many Southern funders articulated the importance of national partners taking the time to build relationships and to develop a deeper understanding of the region. There was clearly a strong commitment from the group to do exactly that, to take the time for thoughtful relationship-building, research, and strategizing over the next several months. To that end, Funders for LGBTQ Issues will work in collaboration with its members and partners on several immediate next steps:
We will continue to work with a range of partners in this work and would welcome the involvement of any new funders and partners. If you’re interested in sharing ideas or getting involved, please contact Ben at [email protected].
As the LGBT Southern Funding Project moves forward, we hope this initiative will engage a wider range of Southeastern funders in LGBTQ issues and will serve as a catalyst for advancing the full empowerment of the region’s LGBTQ communities.
Our #FF2021 conference agenda is here! In addition to three great plenaries and six concurrent sessions, we’re excited to offer a range of virtual networking and community-building opportunities. Click here to view the full agenda, speakers, and register! https://lgbtfunders.org/funding-forward-2021/#may-5dfce-458e
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