Research

Over the years, Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues has studied LGBTQ grantmaking, built philanthropic knowledge, and created resources for both grantmakers and grantseekers.

Our main research areas include:

Annual benchmarks on foundation giving to LGBTQ communities—in the U.S. and abroad. For four years, we have tracked the amount of foundation giving that U.S. grantmakers provide to LGBTQ communities. In 2007, we released the first-ever report on LGBTQI funding in the Global South and East and will soon produce a five-year retrospective of LGBTQ grantmaking in the 50 states.

Up-to-date foundation data and analysis per state and region. As part of Common Vision, we will release state foundation data maps for each of the 50 states.

Topic related publications on issues of importance to LGBTQ communities. Visit our publications section to access reports on racial and economic justice in LGBTQ communities, LGBTQ youth, elders and other populations and issues.

Searchable, online directories of LGBTQ grantmakers and nonprofit organizations. To ensure that grant seekers are able to identify funding sources, and foundations can learn more about the landscape of LGBTQ organizations, we maintain an up-to-date directory of LGBTQ foundations and funds and a directory of LGBTQ organizations.

Resources to advance racial equity in grantmaking. As part of the Racial Equity Campaign, we have produced the first-ever report on autonomous LGBTQ people of color organizations in the U.S. (PDF) Additionally, we will begin distilling best practices on how to effectively advance racial equity through their grantmaking.

Tools to improve foundation giving. To promote strategic and effective grantmaking, we will work with grantmakers involved in Common Vision to devise an evaluation tool that strengthens LGBTQ giving. Grantmakers will be able to measure their contributions to social change and work with their colleagues to inform one another’s strategies.

For more information on our research projects, please contact Robert Espinoza, Director of Research and Communications, at (212) 475-2930 or robert@lgbtfunders.org.