LGBTQ+ Grantmaking by US Foundations (2019-2020)
3 min read · June 28th, 2022
Funders for LGBTQ Issues, Alyssa Lawther, Andrew Wallace, Erin Howe, Somjen Frazer
"For every $100 awarded by US foundations in 2020, only 23 cents specifically supported LGBTQ communities and issues." (p. 7)
Key Findings
This report describes United States-based foundation funding supporting LGTBQ+ communities and issues awarded in calendar years 2019-2020. The data overview is mentioned below.
2019: The authors documented 6,027 grants awarded by 186 foundations for a total of $193M, excluding funds awarded for the purpose of regranting.
2020: The authors found 5,707 grants awarded by 211 foundations for a total of $201M, excluding funds awarded for the purpose of regranting.
In both years, nearly 80 percent of US-based foundation support for LGBTQ+ communities and issues was awarded for efforts in the United States. In comparison, the remaining 20 percent of funding supported efforts around the globe. We found that US-based foundations awarded grants to 4,459 unique organizations within the country and abroad.
Sources of LGBTQ+ funding 2019-2020
Public foundations' support grew to 27 percent of all funding in 2020. Public foundations were the second largest source of funding for LGBTQ+ communities.
Giving from corporate foundations grew from $37.7M reported in 2018 to $42.2M in 2020, accounting for 18 percent of all funding in 2020. This increase is largely driven by the growth of one funder, Gilead Sciences, which in 2020 was the top named funder of LGBTQ+ communities and issues.
Funding from community foundations remained consistent at 5 percent of funding in 2020, and support from a single anonymous donor continued to grow, accounting for 15 percent of all funding in 2020.
Distribution of domestic grant dollars among people of colour
In 2019, $34.9M or 23 percent of overall LGBTQ funding was broadly allocated to LGBTQ+ communities of colour. In 2020, this fell to $25.7M, or 16 percent of overall LGBTQ+ funding.
There was a notable increase in funding for Black LGBTQ+ communities in 2020, reaching a record high of $18.7M. This 71 percent increase from 2019 may reflect a philanthropic response to racial justice uprisings in 2020.
Issues addressed in domestic funding
In 2019, US foundation funding for LGBTQ+ communities and issues in the United States totaled $152M. In 2020, this increased by 3 percent to $156M.
Funding for civil and human rights continued to garner the largest share of funding in 2020, accounting for 35 percent of all grant dollars from US-based foundations supporting LGBTQ communities and issues 2020.
The next most funded category was funding to support strengthening communities, families, and visibility. This issue area, encompassing a broad range of activities, including community-building programs, pride celebrations, and visibility initiatives, accounted for 23 percent of all funding. Support for health and wellbeing closely followed, accounting for 21 percent of all domestic funding in 2020, up slightly from the 20 percent reported in 2018.
Read the full report here.
References
Lawther, A., Wallace, A., Howe, E., & Frazer, S. (2022, June 29). 2019-2020 tracking report. Funders for LGBT Issues.
