Amid rising anti-rights backlash and dramatic shifts in the philanthropic and development assistance landscape, the Fund our futures campaign has secured $100 million in pledged new funding for global LGBTI movements.

At the first-ever Global LGBTI Funding Summit in Cape Town, Global Philanthropy Project has launched the Fund our futures campaign to raise $150 million for global LGBTI movements to address an emerging crisis in funding. In recognition that several long-standing top LGBTI global donors are likely ending or scaling back their funding, GPP aims to bridge the gap by securing new funding commitments with this pledging campaign.

‘With anti-rights backlash on the rise, funding for global LGBTI movements is more crucial than ever,’ said Matthew Hart, Executive Director of the Global Philanthropy Project. ‘GPP calls on philanthropy and donor governments to mobilise the resources LGBTI movements need now’. 

The Fund our futures campaign is raising money to support global LGBTI movements. Donors pledge to increase their support for LGBTI communities, awarding new funds to the recipients of their choice in any geographic location. For foundations, the pledge time period is three years, and for governments it is five years. 

As of today, 28 foundations, corporate funders, and donor governments have pledged a total of $100 million in new funding.

‘The Fund our futures campaign is a brilliant example of what happens when private philanthropy, public foundations, and governments come together to defend and grow funding for LGBTI movements,’ said Nicky McIntyre, CEO of Foundation for a Just Society and strategic advisor to the Fund our futures campaign. ‘LGBTI movements worldwide are under attack and on the frontlines of struggles for human rights and democracy. We will keep working to resource these incredible leaders who are charting a different path forward, one that is rooted in self-determination, community, and care — rather than division and fear.’

These funding threats come to movements that are already tremendously under-resourced. As GPP’s Global Resources Report has identified, global LGBTI funding in 2021-2022 accounted for less than 39 cents of every $100 in foundation funding and only 4 cents of every $100 in Overseas Development Assistance (ODA). Furthermore, recent movement research has documented that about one-third of trans, intersex, and LBQ organisations had no external (foundation or government) funding.

The Fund our futures campaign calls for all donors to step up and protect the hard-won current LGBTI funding levels, and commit to increase and improve resources for the years ahead. 

About GPP

Established in 2009, The Global Philanthropy Project (GPP) works to expand philanthropic support for LGBTI people and movements in the Global South and East. GPP is a network of 23 member organisations including many of the leading global funders and philanthropic advisors for LGBTI rights. As the only international cohort of LGBTI funders, GPP is internationally recognised as the primary thought leader and go-to partner for donor coordination around global LGBTI work. GPP is a key source of strategic research and analysis for global LGBTI funders. 

Participating Funders

Aidsfonds

American Jewish World Service

Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice

Baring Foundation

Black Feminist Fund

Colmena Fund

Denmark – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Dreilinden gGmbH

Equality Fund

Ford Foundation

Foundation for a Just Society International

Fund for Global Human Rights

Germany – Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development

GiveOut

Global Fund for Children

Horizons Foundation

LesbianGlobal

Mama Cash

Norway – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Oak Foundation

Outright International

The Potluck Fund

Queer Livelihoods Project

Stephen Lewis Foundation

UHAI East African Sexual Health and Rights Initiative (UHAI EASHRI)

Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism

ViiV Healthcare

Additional funders have chosen to make anonymous commitments to the Fund our futures campaign.