Boulder County nonprofits funded to enhance the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning community members.
The Community Foundation Boulder County today announced $37,750 in Open Door Fund grants to 13 nonprofits serving Boulder County’s LGBTQ community.
“We receive proposals from a variety of organizations,” says Sue Anderson, a new trustee of the Community Foundation, and current chair of the ODF grant selection committee. “There’s a fairly consistent, and relatively small number of organizations in Boulder County that provide services specific to our LGBTQ population – some are grassroots, volunteer-driven community groups, like PFLAG. Others are larger organizations, like Attention Homes, or the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless.”
This year, the committee sought proposals that address the intersection of multiple identities (gender, gender identity and expression, race, age, economic status, ability, religion, etc.); support underserved groups within our LGBTQ community; promote education and awareness about our LGBTQ population; encourage connectivity among Boulder County LGBTQ people and their allies; and increase awareness or access to existing services for our LGBTQ community.
“In general, there’s heightened uncertainty right now,” adds Sue, who’s been active with the fund – also as a donor – since 2008. “There’s concern about potential decreases in government funding for AIDS prevention, suicide prevention, addressing homelessness, and more. At the same time, there’s concern about backlash against organizations working toward equity, diversity, and inclusivity. As a result, this year’s ODF grant cycle seems especially relevant.”
From seniors to youth, our local LGBTQ community faces persistent challenges. For example, LGBTQ older adults are less likely than heterosexual elders to have children to look after them as they age – and they’re more likely to live alone. And, according to the Community Foundation’s TRENDS Report, LGBTQ high schoolers report higher rates of dating violence, including sexual assault, than their straight peers. In addition, LGBTQ youth are bullied to a much greater degree than heterosexual teens, and are significantly more likely to contemplate and attempt suicide.
In response, the Open Door Fund, a permanent endowment of the foundation, supports the strengths and needs of the LGBTQ population countywide in three ways: by building community, by facilitating collaboration and dialogue between our LGBTQ community and the county, and through fundraising and grantmaking. This year’s Open Door Fund grantees include:
- Aging Services Foundation / Rainbow Elders ($5,000)
- Attention Homes, Inc. ($3,500)
- Boulder County AIDS Project ($5,000)
- Boulder Pride dba Out Boulder County ($6,500)
- Boulder Shelter for the Homeless ($2,000)
- Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center ($4,500)
- Bridge House ($3,000)
- GLBTQ Resource Center ($1,000)
- PFLAG Boulder County ($1,000)
- Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence ($1,000)
- Transgender Youth Education and Support (TYES) / Fiscal Agent PFLAG Boulder County ($2,500)
- Women’s Wilderness ($2,000)
- YMCA of Boulder Valley ($750)
Since its founding in 1996, the Open Door Fund has distributed grants totaling more than $400K to local agencies and programs serving our LGBTQ population. Additionally, the fund has established a $1M endowment to provide for the continuing needs of this community. Most recently – at the ODF annual gala on April 8, 2017 – the fund raised more than $97K.
