Institutional LGBTQ funding reached record high in 2015

Institutional funding for LGBTQ issues reached a record high of almost $161 million in 2015, according to a new tracking report.

Each year, Funders for LGBTQ Issues releases a report on grantmaking in the community that examines contributions from foundations and corporations — but not individual donations or government appropriations.

The latest report, released in May, looks at dollars and trends in 2015 and finds the field of LGBTQ philanthropy widened to include a larger number of funders.

The report also notes significant increases in funding for transgender communities and increased grantmaking to address criminal justice reform and support for LGBTQ communities in the South.

However, the report also shows funding growth slowed to less than 5 percent “on account of several core funders decreasing the depth of their support.”

Additionally, the report shows a shift in some funding to non-LGBTQ organizations and the first decrease in corporate funding since 2009.

“I am excited to see many new funders intentionally supporting LGBTQ communities and to see the growth in support for trans communities, the U.S. South and efforts addressing LGBTQ criminalization and criminal justice reform,” says Ben Francisco Maulbeck, president of Funders for LGBTQ Issues.

“However,” he adds, “I am also concerned that several core funders are decreasing the depth of their support for LGBTQ communities. While a wide diversity of investors is welcome, any industry, issue area or community also needs a core set of top investors to lead the way, to model best practices, and to assure continuity and sustainability.”

To prepare the report, Funders for LGBTQ Issues analyzed over 5,250 grants from more than 330 U.S.-based grantmakers.

Some details from the document:

• For every $100 awarded by U.S. foundations in 2015, only 27 cents specifically supported LGBTQ issues.
• Of the 100 largest foundations in the United States, 41 awarded at least one grant on LGBTQ issues — a slight increase over 2014. Of these donors, 27 awarded grants totaling $100,000 or more.
• Three funders — the California Endowment, the Ford Foundation and the Open Society Foundation — dedicated at least 1 percent of their total grantmaking to LGBTQ issues. These funders awarded $18 million in LGBTQ grants.
• The Arcus Foundation in New York City was the top funder of LGBTQ issues, awarding over $14 million. The Ford Foundation in New York was second, awarding over $10 million. The Gill Foundation in Denver was third, awarding just under $10 million.
• The top corporate funders for LGBTQ issues include MAC AIDS Fund at No. 1., Levi Strauss Foundation at No. 2, followed by Gilead Sciences, Wells Fargo, ViiV Healthcare, Bank of America, Walmart Foundation, Rocking Moon Foundation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, the Coca-Cola Foundation, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
• Funding for local, state and regional LGBTQ issues reached more than $67 million, up from $60 million in 2014. Just over $9 million of the funding went to projects in the Midwest.
• Only about $327,000 went directly to funding projects in Wisconsin. About $3.6 million went to funding LGBTQ issues in Illinois, $1.8 million to Michigan, $1.6 million to Minnesota and $52,650 to Iowa.
• Funding per LGBTQ adult in Wisconsin was estimated at $2.14 compared with $4.65 in the Midwest.
• Lambda Legal and Education Fund in New York was the top grant recipient, receiving $3.5 million. The National LGBTQ Task Force was No. 2, followed by the ACLU, SAGE, Genders & Sexualities Alliance Network, and the Human Rights Campaign.
• The bulk of funding was earmarked for advocacy work, including community organizing, public education and litigation.
• Transgender communities saw a 40 percent increase in funding, reaching a record high of over $18 million.
• Communities in the South saw a 52 percent increase in support.
• Grantmaking to address criminal justice reform increased 105 percent.
• The Pride Foundation issued the most grants for LGBTQ issues, with 298 awards. The Horizons Foundation in San Francisco was second and Our Fund in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was third.