Racial Equity Campaign
What could a social change movement accomplish—in force, imagination and concrete change—if it bridged the divide that fissures its organizations and dilutes its potential?
This is a question for our times.
And these are the questions for our sector.
Over the last few decades, LGBTQ communities have transformed the social, political and cultural landscape of American life. From local jurisdictions to state capitols, from the courts to public opinion, LGBTQ advocates have scored numerous victories for equity and opportunity across our nation.
In 2006, Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues refocused its mission to address the challenges facing those who have yet to benefit from this transformation.
Research shows that funding for LGBTQ people of color remains sparse, which has profound implications on the health of related organizations and, ultimately, on the effectiveness of broader movements for social change.
The Racial Equity Campaign represents the beginning of a dialogue—a Q&A—among grantmakers about reversing these trends. We believe the knowledge exists—so we’ll just ask the questions.
The questions hold the answers.
The answers lead to choices.
A dialogue begins.
Racial Equity Campaign Overview
Learn how the Racial Equity Campaign will stimulate $15 million to LGBTQ communities of color—by producing original research, collecting grantmaking tools, raising awareness in the media and among foundation audiences, and convening grantmakers of all types. Read an overview.
LGBTQ Grantmakers 2008 Report Card on Racial Equity
Read a first-ever study examining how a subset of 19 LGBTQ grantmakers addresses racial equity across grantmaking, governing documents, policies and practices, demographics and leadership, and strategic communications. Download the report and the executive summary.
Building Communities: Autonomous LGBTQ People of Color Organizations in the U.S.
Read a report on U.S. organizations led by and for LGBTQ people of color—their locations, focuses, strategies, issues and fiscal characteristics. Download the report and scan through a master listing of organizations.
Racial Equity Grantmaking Initiative
Read how FLGI's $2 million Racial Equity Grantmaking Initiative to eight community sites nationwide will support the leadership of autonomous LGBTQ people of color organizations.
In the News & In Our Library
Read how FLGI’s Racial Equity Campaign has raised awareness about the value of racial equity among LGBTQ communities, including recent articles in The Chronicle of Philanthropy and The Advocate. Also download a 2005 report by FLGI on racial and economic justice issues in LGBTQ communities.
Philanthropy Perspectives
Read an essay by FLGI Executive Director Karen Zelermyer ("LGBTQ Funding and Racial Equity Funding: Can We Talk") for a Critical Issues Forum reader produced by the Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity.
To learn more about the LGBTQ Racial Equity Campaign, please contact Karen Zelermyer, Executive Director, at 212-475-2930 or karen@lgbtfunders.org. If you are an autonomous LGBTQ people of color organization that would like to be included in the next version of the report on LGBTQ groups led by and for people of color, please email Robert Espinoza at robert@lgbtfunders.org.
