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Facts on LGBTQ Philanthropy

A Growing, Dynamic Field of LGBTQ Grantmakers and Organizations

In 2005, 199 U.S.-based grantmakers awarded 2,560 grants supporting LGBTQ issues, totaling $52.8 million.
From 2002 to 2005, the number of LGBTQ funders increased 43 percent from 139 to 199 grantmakers. During that time, the total amount of LGBTQ giving increased from just under $30 million to $52.8 million—a 76 percent increase.
From 2002 to 2005, the number of grants to LGBTQ organizations and projects increased from 1570 to 2560—a 63 percent increase.
In 2005, for the first time ever, all of the top 10 LGBTQ grantmakers awarded $1 million or more to LGBTQ issues.
From 2002 to 2005, the amount of funding going to LGBTQ organizations that specifi cally address children and youth increased from $6.7 million to $10.8 million—a 61 percent increase.
LGBTQ funding for organizations and programs that address the LGBTQ elder population increased slightly (7 percent) from 2002 to 2005. In 2005, $1.9 million went to organizations and programs serving LGBTQ elders/senior citizens.
The amount of dollars going to LGBTQ health projects has increased by 33 percent in the last four years, though fewer grants are being given.

LGBTQ funding represented 0.1 percent of overall foundation giving in 2005—a percentage that has not changed since the late 1980s.
In 2005, foundation giving to LGBTQ organizations explicitly supporting LGBTQ people of color made up only 6 percent of all LGBTQ dollars granted to U.S.-based organizations.
Similarly, foundation giving to LGBTQ organizations supporting poor and economically disadvantaged people; lesbians; transgender people; people with disabilities; and immigrants, newcomers, and refugees made up 0.2 percent, 3.3 percent, 2.3 percent, 0.1 percent, and 0.5 percent, respectively, of all LGBTQ dollars granted to U.S.-based organizations.