Visibility and data have been fundamental to moving the needle on funding for LGBTQI communities globally. LGBTQI rights constitute a mere 3% of foundation funding for human rights. However, dedicated advocacy has increased the total dollars and shaped a new narrative about the diverse needs within the broad umbrella of LGBTQI rights.

Global Philanthropy Project (GPP) and partners such as Astraea, the International Trans Fund, and the Intersex Human Rights Fund have made powerful in-roads with philanthropic and governmental donors. Through hard-hitting research and strategic relationship-building, we have witnessed increases in funding for trans and intersex rights, awareness about the unique needs of lesbian, bisexual, and queer (LBQ) communities, and greater willingness to listen to movements’ priorities.

Other regional funds, such as ISDAO (Initiative Sankofa d’Afrique de l’Ouest), have led regional mapping efforts to help meet the most pressing needs of LGBTQI people in West Africa.

This session brings these experiences together to underscore the power of visibility in shifting the funding landscape.

• Ezra Nepon, GPP
  
• Joy Chia, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice
• Caroline Kouassiaman, ISDAO
• Moderated by Viviane Simakawa, ITF

This two-part series is about how we change the narrative and move more money to the forefront of social change.  The first session is Mapping Funding: Black feminist activism, disability rights, and regional funding disparities.