While Boulder County is generally perceived to be open to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, our LGBTQ community faces persistent challenges. That’s why donors like Tom Hay and his partner, Mark Hinson, have designated a portion of their estates to support the Community Foundation’s Open Door Fund.
“The fund supports the whole gamut of issues and concerns facing the LGBTQ community – from teenagers at risk of being bullied to seniors without a partner or other family members to care for them,” said Hay, who helped launch the fund in the early ’90s.
Since the fund’s founding in 1996, grants totaling more than $400,000 have been distributed to local agencies and programs serving Boulder County’s LGBTQ community, and an endowment of more than $900,000 has been established for future needs. The Open Door Fund grants approximately $50,000 annually to local nonprofits serving Boulder County’s LGBTQ community.
“One of the beauties of an endowed fund is that – while we don’t know what challenges we’ll face in the future – we can help prepare for them,” added Bob Morehouse, founder and CEO of Vermilion Design + Digital, and a longtime supporter of the Open Door Fund. “When you look at some of the gains we’ve made in extending rights, and when we realize how fragile those gains can be, it’s really important to look ahead and mobilize resources to meet future needs.
“We’re in an era where giving locally feels more important than ever.”
