Bill Gonda

The 2026 LGBT Fund grant cycle will open September 4, continuing the Fund's commitment to advancing and uplifting the local LGBTQIA+ community. As the only resource of its kind in Erie County, the LGBT Fund at The Erie Community Foundation invests in organizations working to address community needs.

What is the legal landscape for members of the LGBTQ+ community? What are the chief legal issues we are facing as a community of diverse individuals? How does federal hate crime law affect local law enforcement? Ted Hoover of Pittsburgh's Persad Center will address these and other questions in a training session, "LGBTQ+ and Law Enforcement," to be held on Wednesday, June 17, in Erie. Members of our queer community, allies, and all other interested individuals are encouraged to attend.

Education opens doors - not only for individual success, but for a stronger, more inclusive community. That's why the LGBT Fund of The Erie Community Foundation is committed to supporting LGBTQ+ students and allies as they pursue higher education and careers that will shape our region for the better.