Pride Foundation Invests Nearly $7.1 million to Support LGBTQ Community in 2014

Focuses on Eliminating Long-Standing Barriers to Equality

Seattle, WA - November 13, 2014—Pride Foundation announced today that it has invested nearly $7.1 million this year to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth, adults, and families throughout the Northwest.

With a focus on eliminating long-standing barriers to equality, the foundation utilizes a variety of different strategies—including a community grants program, scholarship program, donor-advised, and donor-designated funds—to advance lived equality for LGBTQ people throughout the region.

Despite the recent surge in marriage equality victories across the country, LGBTQ people still face countless challenges, including heightened risks of hate crimes, poverty, homelessness, discrimination, bullying, HIV infection, and mistreatment in social and human services.

Pride Foundation is working to change that reality through its community grants program. This year, a total of $303,775 was awarded to 56 organizations throughout the Northwest. By directing grant dollars to those who remain most invisible and vulnerable despite recent progress, the foundation is making an important statement about the work that lies ahead and the continued need in the LGBTQ community.

"Our grantees reflect the diversity of our community, and the breadth of issues affecting LGBTQ people throughout their lives," said Kris Hermanns, Executive Director of Pride Foundation. "When viewed collectively, these investments paint a comprehensive picture of the road ahead—from safe schools, to workplace equality, to culturally-competent healthcare and social services, to food and housing security, to elder care."

Thirty grantees will be working to reduce barriers faced in rural communities, and other priorities include youth, people of color, transgender people, and elders. Fifteen of the 56 organizations are new grantees that have not received funding from Pride Foundation in the past.

Highlights from Pride Foundation's 2014 grants include:

Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association (Anchorage, AK): $5,000 to support Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association (Four A's) HIV Prevention Project staff in Southeast Alaska to reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS among those living in Southeast Alaska.

PFLAG Coeur d'Alene (Coeur d'Alene, ID): $3,000 to support the newly-established PFLAG chapter in North Idaho, increasing the organization's strength and capacity to meet the needs of the LGBTQ community in the area.

Tumbleweed Program, Inc. (Billings, MT): $7,500 to support Tumbleweed's programming to protect LGBTQ youth from the harm of homelessness and to support them in becoming safe and self-reliant as they move from adolescence to adulthood.

SAGE Metro Portland (Portland, OR): $5,000 to support Service and Advocacy for LGBT Elders (SAGE) Metro Portland, a project of Friendly House—the only organization in Oregon that provides community services and programming specifically for LGBTQ older adults.

TransActive Gender Center (Portland, OR): $10,000 to support TransActive—an organization providing a holistic range of services and expertise (client services, education, and advocacy) to empower transgender and gender non-conforming children, youth, and their families to live healthy lives, free of discrimination.

Entre Hermanos (Seattle, WA): $7,500 to support Mujeres Diversas, the Women's Program of Entre Hermanos. The program is a resource and unique space for LBTQ Latinas in Seattle, offering a culturally appropriate environment in which young LBTQ Latinas (18-24) share their challenges and resiliencies.

This year's grantees include LGBTQ organizations as well as mainstream organizations providing programming and services specifically to the LGBTQ population. LGBTQ issues only receive 0.26% of total foundation dollars (26 cents for every 100 dollars), making Pride Foundation's work even more critical.

"In all that we do, we are focusing our resources and grant dollars on bridging the gap between legal victories and the ability for all LGBTQ people to be who they are, where they are," said Hermanns. "We are honored to partner with wonderful organizations and individuals throughout our region and country that share our values and hopes for our community."

The full list of Pride Foundation grantees and project descriptions is available at www.pridefoundation.org/grantees.

Pride Foundation is a regional community foundation that inspires giving to expand opportunities and advance full equality for LGBTQ people across the Northwest. Learn more at www.pridefoundation.org.