Our Fund Announces Matching Grants Program to Benefit 10 Local Organizations

Non-profit organizations in South Florida were awarded a total of $80,000 in grants from OUR FUND, South Florida’s LGBT community foundation, for projects that will help improve the lives of LGBT residents of South Florida.  The grants require that the selected agencies work with their staff and OUR FUND to obtain equal matching gifts from new donors or increased gifts from existing donors for a total of $160,000.

Projects in areas that included health, education, civil rights, arts, human services, youth, LBT women and transgender were selected from the tri-county area by the Programs and Grants Committee of OUR FUND, a committee comprised of community leaders from all three counties.

“Our philanthropic impacts are achieved when our community works together”, said Anthony Timiraos, CEO/President of OUR FUND.  “Our donors know that they are part of a charitable network that increases their effectiveness and impact – together, we are all making a difference”.The Funding for these projects was provided by the First 100 Funders Fund, created by the generosity of Our Fund supporters who pledge their support for a period of three years by committing to a minimum annual contribution of $1,500.  A portion of their gift is allocated to this special Fund designed to increase philanthropy.

David Jobin, Executive Director of The Stonewall National Museum and Archives, one of the ten recipients, commented that “…this grant will help fund an exhibit that allows SNMA to create a thoughtful conversation among Florida educators, administrators and Florida’s high school student population as it draws natural comparisons in the fight for equality among previously marginalized races and populations.” Latinos Salud, another recipient organization, will “create an intensive rapport-building platform that safely recruits into HIV testing those local gay men who are otherwise reluctant to test.  The program will also provide support to those who know but have fallen out of care and services.” says Executive Director, Stephen Fallon.

“We are thrilled to receive this support from OUR FUND during a time when other funding sources have been cut or eliminated.  Our ‘Touched by Cancer’ project will increase the knowledge of cancer causes, risk factors and resources within the LGBT community” commented Shelley Goren, President of Gilda’s Club.  Robert Loupo, Executive Director of Safe Schools South Florida, said that “… these grants will make a major impact in the lives of thousands of students by creating safer schools and communities through awareness and education”.

The wide variety of projects that are being funded include:

• Compass Community Center: Funds to host the largest display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in Florida.

• Equality Florida: Funds to initiate Gender Identity programs through Equality Means Business and advocate for transgender residents to minimize transphobia.

• Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida: Purchase of software to aid in donor and grant tracking.

• Gilda’s Club: “Touched by Cancer project will increase targeted marketing campaigns to the LGBT community on the causes and risk factors of cancer.  Provide lists of health resources helpful to LGBT population.

• Latinos Salud: Expand their HIV testing efforts to target those local gay men who are reluctant to test and provide needed support to those who know their HIV+ status but have been unable to manage their diagnosis.

• Pride Center at Equality Park: Continued funding for a fully-equipped staffed office for LBT women to receive needed support referrals, services and resources.

• Safe Schools South Florida:  Funding to continue programs making schools’ environments safer for all students.

• The Stonewall National Museum and Archives: Funding for a statewide distribution of educational materials that will help create thoughtful conversations among our state’s educators, administrators and student population.

• SunServe:  Funding for GenderServe, a project that will improve the mental, physical, financial and emotional well-being of all transgender persons in South Florida.

• YES Institute: Expansion of education efforts to help youth facing rejection and harassment on the basis of gender and orientation. Funds will be used primarily in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

These organizations will seek to obtain matching gifts between October 1 and December 31, 2013 as part of the funding requirements.

For more information about any of these projects or to make a donation please visit www.our-fund.org/matchit  or contact any of the organizations noted above.

Our Fund’s mission is to promote a culture of philanthropy by uniting donors with organizations supporting the LGBT community.  Focused on expanding philanthropy in South Florida and working to develop stronger non-profit organizations, South Florida’s only LGBT community foundation has been established to help build endowments that support donor’s charitable interests including organizations providing services throughout the LGBT community.