23 June 2020
All news stories
A new report by Mama Cash and the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice has found that funding for LBQ organizing has failed to keep pace with the needs and the capacities of LBQ groups and movements operating in increasingly hostile and violent contexts.
Their report – Vibrant yet Under-Resourced – drew on a survey of 378 LBQ groups from all regions of the world and 67 funders, presents a compelling picture of the current lack of resourcing for LBQ communities and makes a powerful case for why more and more effective funding is urgently needed.
Findings from the survey include, for example that LBQ groups:
- are young and growing quickly in number (61% formed since 2010)
- use robust organising strategies to achieve their aims. Over 90% use movement building, advocacy and capacity-building as key strategies. Many groups also provide life-saving support to their own communities, with 63% providing health, social, mental health and wellness services. That over half (56%) use safety-related strategies in their work reflects the violence that many LBQ groups face.
- have small budgets (the median was $11,713 USD in 2017), little access to external funding and few paid staff.
- mostly have no savings (70%) or assets (27%).
- receive primarily short-term and restricted funding.
The Baring Foundation gave funding towards this research as part of our International Development programme which focuses in particular on supporting LBQT women’s rights in sub-Saharan Africa.
This is one of a number of recent pieces of research into the funding of and the resilience of LGBTI+ civil society produced by our partners which include:
Global Resources Report 2017-8. A biennial report by Global Philanthropy Project (GPP) which tracks and analyses private and public philanthropic support for LGBTI communities globally.
The State of Trans Organising and The State of Intersex Organising, by Astraea, American Jewish World Service and Global Action for Trans Equality.
Photo © Lauren Barkume. Soweto Pride
