“The need for your continued support of the ODF is one thing that hasn’t gone away. Threats against LGBTQI rights and lives are on the rise again after so many years of gains and triumphs. Our vigilance against a backward slide into intolerance and fear is essential […] our grants are needed as much as ever before.”
For more than two decades, the annual Open Door Fund gala event has been a powerful fundraiser for local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex programs. Headlining last year’s event was Kate Kendell of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, who shared recent successes and ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQI community members.
That said, the fund’s 2017 gala was its last. According to Amy Zuckerman, Chair of the Community Foundation’s Open Door Fund, in a letter to supporters: “The ‘sweet’ news is that we have achieved our $1M endowment. This endowment is enabling us to provide grants to the LGBTQI community in 2018 and into perpetuity. The ‘bitter’ news is that because we have achieved this goal, we will no longer be spending resources to hold the gala. […]
“But the Open Door Fund isn’t going away. We will continue to accept donations. And, each year, we will dispense grants to worthy programs and organizations that benefit the community.”
Adds Sue Anderson, Open Door Fund Advisory Committee Member and Vice Chair of the Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees: “After 20-plus years of raising funds through donations and our annual fundraising dinner, and making grants to community organizations providing programs and services to the LGBTQI communities, we finally reached a major milestone in 2017. We topped the $1M- mark in assets for this endowment.
“The fundraising dinners over the years grew into a gala (and very fun) affair that the volunteer ODF committee and staff worked many, many hours to organize. But as we announced last year after the event, we decided to push the pause button. After long reflection, we decided it was time to take a different direction on how we continue to raise money for LGBTQI services in Boulder County.
“While the annual ODF dinner won’t be happening at least for now, the grantmaking side of the fund will certainly continue. With our milestone achieved, we now have a solid base of funds that will continue to generate income for our grantmaking committee to distribute.
“The need for your continued support of the ODF is one thing that hasn’t gone away. Threats against LGBTQI rights and lives are on the rise again after so many years of gains and triumphs. Our vigilance against a backward slide into intolerance and fear is essential […] our grants are needed as much as ever before.”
We hope you’re inspired to remember the Open Door Fund endowment in your 2018 giving: donate here.
Related:
According to the Community Foundation’s TRENDS Report:
