Global LGBTI Funding Summit

Past Event

Global LGBTI Funding Summit

November 9 - November 11, 2024

11:00 am - 10:00 pm (GMT+02:00)

Cape Town, South Africa

In November 2024, GPP organized the first-ever Global LGBTI Funding Summit in Cape Town, South Africa to unleash transformative funding for global LGBTI movements at a pivotal time. As part of the Summit, GPP launched the Fund Our Futures Campaign, which has already secured $100m in new commitments from 30 philanthropic institutions and governments.

Held over two and a half days, the Global LGBTI Funding Summit brought together around 200 of the leading funders from across the globe, all committed to equality and inclusive development for LGBTI communities. The summit aimed to:

Increase funder knowledge by examining the latest evidence on the LGBTI movement’s funding needs and trends globally;
Generate collaboration and collective strategies for resourcing opportunities to advance LGBTI rights and respond to rising “anti-gender ideologies” and authoritarianism; and
Create a platform for donor governments and philanthropic actors to commit to bold and ambitious new funding.

Credits: Sara Petersen

About our partners:

We sincerely thank our advisors, partners, and sponsors for their invaluable support in making the Summit a resounding success:

Summit Organizer Partner:

ILGA World—the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association—is a global federation comprising over 1,900 organizations from 160 countries and territories. It is dedicated to advocating for the human rights of individuals across the spectrum of sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC).

Strategic Advisors Group:

The Strategic Advisors Group provided high-level advice on strategies and tactics for utilizing the Summit as a pledging space and/or a forum for creating high-level funding commitments and collaborations.

Hakima Abbas, Director of Black Feminist Fund
Dr. Alvaro Bermejo, Director General of International Planned Parenthood Federation
Doug Griffiths, President of Oak Foundation
Nicky McIntyre, Chief Executive Officer of Foundation for a Just Society

Karen Meddour, Global Head of Fondation Chanel
Lilianne Ploumen, Former Dutch Minister for International Development and co-founder of SheDecides
Graeme Reid, UN Independent Expert on Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
John Taylor, President of Wellspring Philanthropic Fund

Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee advised GPP on the program for the Summit to ensure it was aligned with the Summit objectives and reflected current critical themes and issues affecting the global LGBTI funding landscape.

Julia Ehrt, Executive Director of ILGA World
Neville Gabriel, Chief Executive Officer of The Other Foundation
Broden Giambrone, Director of the International Trans Fund (ITF)
Lopo (Lola) Gutiérrez León Executive Director of the Bolivian Women’s Fund Apthapi Jopueti

Faye Macheke, Co-Executive Director of AWID
Midnight Poonkasetwattana, Executive Director of APCOM
David Sampson, Deputy Director of the Baring Foundation
Nino Ugrekhelidze, Co-Funder and Lead of Dalan Fund

Sponsors

Thank you to all our sponsors, including those who wish to remain anonymous.

Media Partner

The Global LGBTI Funding Summit has partnered with Alliance Magazine as a media partner.

Summit Reflections:

This gathering was not just historic – it was necessary. For too long, LGBTI movements have been underfunded. Even while they buoy essential movements in the defence of democracy, their infrastructure is unable to match the scale and speed of oppositional forces.

Matthew Hart, Executive Director, Global Philanthropy Project

The Summit was a moment of hope and a reminder that philanthropy for LGBTI rights continues to adapt alongside the communities it serves. It was a space not just for reflection, but positive network building and concrete commitments.

David Sampson, Deputy Director, Baring Foundation

Never before had there been a meeting of this scale, with a commitment of $100 million USD. It happened, and it is still hard to believe. Representatives of various funding institutions met, made their announcements, educated themselves, built new relationships, and deepened others.

Ise Bosch, founder and CEO, Dreilinden gGmbH

Across all these voices, a common theme emerged. At this particular moment it is necessary – indeed imperative – to double down on resourcing LGBTQI movements in order to protect, defend, and advance our rights.

Alli Jernow is the Social Justice Vice President of Arcus Foundation

Past Event