Across the country, LGBTQ+ communities are facing an increasingly hostile political climate that threatens our safety, well-being, and fundamental rights. From legislative attacks on transgender and nonbinary individuals to funding cuts for essential services, the challenges are growing—and so is the need for urgent, responsive support.
At Pride Foundation, we have always been committed to meeting our communities where they are, responding with agility and care to the shifting realities they face, and mobilizing resources to support them. In that spirit, we are launching the Fortitude Fund, a new initiative designed to provide timely, flexible resources to LGBTQ+ organizations confronting these escalating challenges.
Why We Created the Fortitude Fund
This fund is an extension of Pride Foundation’s long-standing commitment to being a low-barrier, responsive funder to our grantees, using our strong relationships, community trust, and ecosystem knowledge to move nimbly through these changing circumstances.
We know that in times of crisis, the ability to act quickly can make all the difference. The Fortitude Fund was created to support the most pressing needs emerging from the current socio-political landscape, particularly those affecting LGBTQ+ Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) communities.
The goal of this fund is to meet the most urgent and exacerbated needs, supporting organizations whose work and communities they serve are most intimately impacted by the current socio-political environment being spurred by the current presidential administration, state-level legislative activities, and the broader cultural realities these factors are creating.
We are to be able to move additional grants this year due to the increased funds we’ve raised from our foundation partners and donors who recognize the urgency of this moment. As we have done with initiatives like this in years past (our Rapid Response Fund during the first Trump administration, and our Community Care Fund during the COVID pandemic), we are committed to distributing resources as we raise them, as quickly as we can, to ensure that they reach those who need them most—when they need them most.
How the Fortitude Fund Works
The Fortitude Fund is a rolling, adaptable fund designed specifically for organizations experiencing increased, exacerbated, or new urgent needs due to the increasingly hostile socio-political landscape on the federal, state, and local levels.
This Fund Provides:
- Grant awards ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 (organizations are encouraged to apply for the amount they need, whether higher or lower)
- General operating funds, allowing grantees to allocate resources where they are most needed
- Rolling application process with multiple opportunities to apply, ensuring funds are distributed throughout the year
Application Timeline & Process
The Fortitude Fund will remain open until all funds are disbursed. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with the following key dates:
- First Round Deadline: March 7th
- Second Round Deadline: April 11th
- Third Round Deadline: May 6th (after this, applications will pause for reassessment and reopen on June 10th)
If an application is submitted after a review deadline, it will be considered in the next review cycle.
Who Can Apply
Organizations must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or have a fiscal sponsor
- Be based in and conduct work in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington
Our primary grantmaking priorities are organizations experiencing increased, exacerbated, or new urgent needs due to the increasingly hostile socio-political landscape on the federal, state, and local levels, and who are:
- LGBTQ+ organizations serving Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and Trans and Gender Nonconforming folks (TGNC), and whose leadership reflects these communities.
- LGBTQ+ organizations that are innovatively supporting communities when or where nobody else is, especially smaller, grassroots organizations and those who don’t have access to mainstream funding sources.
The Fortitude Fund will prioritize organizations working in the following areas:
- Black and Indigenous Movement Building: Support for Black and/or Indigenous-led organizations including but not limited to grassroots organizing, coalition-building, leadership development, and advocacy.
- Trans, Nonbinary, and Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC) Support: Assistance for for organizations that are TGNC-led whose work primarily involves supporting trans and non-binary folks. This includes but is not limited to ID changes, access to gender-affirming care, mental health services, advocacy, and educational trainings.
- Safety and Security: Resources for LGBTQ+ organizations and individuals facing threats, including security planning and legal support. This includes—but not limited to— needing to conduct safety planning, purchasing security equipment, changing locations/move to remote work, etc. You do not need to have already faced an incident to apply for this specific priority area.
- Mutual Aid Programs: For organizations that have mutual-aid programs to help support LGBTQ2S+ and BIPOC communities directly.
- Immigration Support: For organizations with programs and/or projects that primarily focus on supporting LGBTQ+ immigrants. This includes but is not limited to legal fees and aid, educational trainings, community outreach, translation and interpretation services, legislative or ballot initiative campaigns, and housing support.
- Housing Assistance: For organizations with programs and/or projects that primarily focus on addressing housing insecurity for LGBTQ+ folks. This includes supporting queer and trans folks who have been displaced and forced to move for their safety, rental and housing assistance, transitional housing, etc.
- Health and Wellness: For LGBTQ+ organizations with programs and/or projects that primarily focus on reproductive health, HIV/AIDs support, and/or supporting queer and trans youth. This is inclusive of direct services (medical care and support) and indirect services (community outreach, education, connection, etc.).
Standing in Solidarity, Taking Action
The Fortitude Fund is not just about providing resources—it is about standing firm in our commitment to LGBTQ+ communities in the face of adversity. We refuse to let hostility and discrimination go unanswered. With the support of our community and partners, we will continue to persevere, ensuring that those most impacted have the resources they need to thrive.
We invite organizations meeting the eligibility criteria to apply. Together, we will face these challenges with strength, solidarity, and fortitude.