About

Threats to the LGBTQ community have increased across the globe in recent years–including a rise in national legislation to block access to gender-affirming care for trans youth and the continuous stigma, discrimination, and violence experienced by LGBTQ people and their families. Funders for LGBTQ Issues conducts timely and impactful research projects that support our programs and initiatives, as well as inform our members and create increased avenues for transformative changes in LGBTQ grantmaking across the United States.

The foundation of the research portfolio at Funders for LGBTQ Issues is the annual Resource Tracking Report. This report monitors philanthropic support for LGBTQ communities and causes in the United States and identifies trends, gaps, and opportunities to increase strategic grantmaking to advance the liberation of queer communities across the country. 

The 20th iteration of this project, entitled: 2022 Resource Tracking Report: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Grantmaking by U.S. Foundations was published on June 24, 2024, and provides an analysis of grantmaking data from the calendar year 2022.

Data from Funders for LGBTQ Issues Resource Tracking Report also helps produce specialty reports, articles, blogs, infographics, and other analyses that provide a deep dive on LGBTQ-specific funding based on particular issue areas, populations, and geographic areas.

A full catalog of past research projects can be found below. This catalog also includes previous versions of the Global Resources Report, an international tracking report now led by the Global Philanthropy Project (GPP).

Research Team

Sammy Luffy (she/her)
Director of Research

Alyssa Lawther (they/them)
Senior Research Officer

As Funders for LGBTQ Issues continue to shape our research strategy going forward, please contact [email protected] with any questions, suggestions for new projects, or ideas for further collaboration.

Research Focus

For inclusion in the Resource Tracking Report, Funders for LGBTQ Issues considers whether there is sufficient evidence to suggest that 50% or more of the support provided through a grant was for LGBTQ+ communities and issues. Any one or more of the following can be considered sufficient evidence that a grant specifically supported LGBTQ+ communities and issues:

  •   If the submitting foundation indicated that all their grantmaking was LGBTQ-specific.
  •   If the individual grant entry indicated that it was awarded for the specific purpose of supporting LGBTQ communities or issues (through the grant description or the selection of LGBTQ population categories in the direct submission template).
  •   If the grant was awarded to an organization whose mission was solely focused on LGBTQ communities or issues.

Submitting highly detailed grant descriptions along with complete grant-level data (e.g., grantee name, total award amount, type of support, LGBTQ population of focus, and geographic focus) helps ensure that our reporting is as accurate and impactful as possible.

Methodology

For many years, Funders for LGBTQ Issues has relied on grant-level data submitted directly by grantmakers, as well as publicly available data, including from foundation annual reports, grant databases like CANDID, and 990 forms from the IRS to develop various research publications in addition to the annual Resource Tracking Report. These include specialty reports, articles, infographics, blogs, and new online tools.

Funders for LGBTQ Issues continues to review and update the methodologies we use to produce informative and impactful research publications that meet the needs of LGBTQ communities in the current moment. With increased quality and quantity of data, Funders for LGBTQ Issues is able to improve reporting on the true nature of grantmaking for LGBTQ communities and causes in the United States, as well as inform strategic philanthropic organizing initiatives to create avenues for transformative changes in LGBTQ grantmaking.

Data Collection

To produce the Resource Tracking Report each year, we conduct a data collection campaign to gather detailed information on funding awarded by U.S. based foundations for LGBTQ communities and causes nationally. 

The annual data collection process for 2023 LGBTQ grants data is now open! Please submit your data by Tuesday, October 15, 2024. Instructions can be found below.

Background

The next Resource Tracking Report will document investments in LGBTQ communities and causes made by U.S.-based foundations in the calendar year 2023. The data you provide are invaluable not only for Funders for LGBTQ Issues’ annual resource tracking report but also for other special reports, including the biennial Global Resources Report produced in partnership with the Global Philanthropy Project (GPP).

Data Submission Instructions

Funders for LGBTQ Issues has updated the CY2023 LGBTQ grants data submission template to collect vital information that will be used to produce the 2023 Resource Tracking Report. Submitting highly detailed grant descriptions along with complete grant-level data (e.g., grantee name, total award amount, type of support, LGBTQ population of focus, and geographic focus) helps ensure that our reporting is as accurate and impactful as possible.

  • Please download the updated CY2023 LGBTQ grants data submission template, which includes detailed instructions to help you prepare and submit your data. 
  • Completed spreadsheets must be emailed to [email protected] by Tuesday, October 15, 2024, to be included in the next report. 

Data Submission Office Hours

Our research team hosted a virtual office hours on Monday, September 30, 2024, to demystify the CY2023 LGBTQ grants data submission template and answer any questions about the process. 

If you have any questions, want to discuss your submission, or would like to share feedback with us, please email our research team. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

Data Security

While expanding the research portfolio, Funders for LGBTQ Issues has recognized the importance of developing a transparent data security policy to help grantmakers understand how Funders for LGBTQ Issues will use and protect their data, as well as allow members of the public to understand what data are available to them.