I am writing to share some incredible news with you: in 2013, Pride Foundation will invest more than $7 million in our community and in LGBTQ equality across the Northwest.
We wanted you to be the first to hear this news in the hope that you can help spread the word about our growing impact and reach.
In the announcement below, you will meet this year’s community grant award winners and see how your support is providing essential resources that make our work so vital. With your support, Pride Foundation is empowering organizations and leaders who are transforming the lives of LGBTQ people and their families in our five states.
We could not do this important work without you. Thank you for continuing to make all of this possible and to help us build a powerful regional movement. We are humbled by and grateful for your trust and friendship.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season.
Sincerely,
Kris Hermanns
Executive Director
Pride Foundation
P.S.
For a full list of our 2013 grantees, please visit here [PDF].
By Awarding More Than $7 Million in 2013
SEATTLE, WA – Pride Foundation today announced that its 2013 investments in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer equality will total more than $7 million by end of year. Leveraging a potent combination of community grants, donor advised funds, scholarships, and a donor designated fund created through a landmark bequest, Pride Foundation has emerged as one of the most effective and innovative LGBTQ community foundations in the nation.
The Foundation also announced that its 2013 investments will include just under $300,000 in new community grants to 74 organizations working to promote equality across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
“We could not be more thrilled with how this region is helping to drive profound change for LGBTQ people and communities everywhere,” said Kris Hermanns, Executive Director of Pride Foundation. “The 74 grantees we have selected this year are helping to show an entire nation what true change looks like and why we won’t stop until everyone is safe being who they are, where they are.”
Pride Foundation is a catalytic force for social change, and a national model in the fight for LGBTQ equality. Its community grants are focused around six core priorities: arts and recreation; education, advocacy and outreach; health and community services; HIV/AIDS service delivery and prevention; lesbian health; and youth and families.
Pride Foundation is also one of the few LGBTQ grant makers funding programs in rural communities, where limited resources and disparities in legal protections make safety and access to services major concerns for many people.
Grant applications were screened and evaluated by a committee of Pride Foundation volunteers and staff from all five states. Volunteers come from diverse backgrounds, bringing a wealth of experiences and professional expertise to the process. The committee’s recommendations were then reviewed, and ultimately approved, by the full Board of Directors. More than 150 grant applications were received. One third of the 2013 recipients are first-time Pride Foundation grantees. The maximum grant is $5,000.
Highlights from Pride Foundation’s 2013 community grants include:
Standing Together Against Rape (Anchorage, AK) – $5,000 to support community education programs and advocacy around reducing domestic violence and sexual assault.
Sophia Foundation (Pocatello, ID) – $5,000 to support community education and advocacy for inclusiveness, safety, fairness, and equality in order to help make Pocatello LGBTQ-friendly in the face of growing divisions in the community.
Montana Human Rights Network (Helena, MT) – $5,000 to support non-discrimination ordinance work in Bozeman, to protect LGBTQ Montanans from discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations.
Lotus Rising Project (Ashland, OR) – $5,000 to provide support for the “Not Straight, Not Sure” program, which provides support and leadership development for LGBTQQIA youth ages 14 to 25.
Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood (Bellingham, WA) – $5,000 to support implementation of Planned Parenthood’s transgender services program, including staff training and media promotion to help raise awareness of available health services.
API Chaya (Seattle, WA) – $5,000 to support the Asian Pacific Islander LGBTQ and allied community to address domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other forms of violence, creating greater safety and healthier relationships.
Odyssey Youth Center (Spokane, WA) – $5,000 to support the out of school time portion of Odyssey’s “Safe Schools Spokane” program, providing LGBTQ training and coaching to youth providers working in education.
“Pride Foundation is a leading force for change in every community we serve, rural and urban alike,” said Seth Kirby, Pride Foundation President-Elect. “Whether it’s meeting the needs of LGBTQ homeless youth or advocating to support healthcare for seniors, the Foundation empowers grantees at every level—supporting students, building organizations, and strengthening leaders.”
In addition to these community grants, during 2013 Pride Foundation awarded $403,000 in scholarships to 89 LGBTQ and ally students across the Northwest. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the scholarship program, which has supported more than 1,000 students since its inception in 1993.
The Foundation also distributed $375,000 in donor advised fund grants during 2013. Through more than 30 such funds, Pride Foundation awards timely and strategic grants that align with donors’ personal wishes and interests. Donor advised grants were made to hundreds of nonprofits organizations around the region and the globe, and focused on a range of issues including family health, education, housing, and food security.
Lastly, as with each of the last six years, the majority of Pride Foundation’s 2013 investments—more than $6 million—were made possible through the Weiland Donor Designated Fund. Established in 2006 as a bequest from Microsoft pioneer Ric Weiland, the fund earmarked $46 million to be divided between ten national LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS organizations over eight years. Pride Foundation administers the fund as directed by Mr. Weiland’s estate plan and in honor of his personal legacy.
“The gains we have made this year fuel us and provide us with the resolve we need to complete this journey toward full equality,” said Hermanns. “We know that despite all the progress made, we are not yet done.”
For a full list of our 2013 grantees, please visit here [PDF].
MEDIA INQUIRIES:
David Brotherton
david@brothertonstrategies.com
206-448-1000