LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund announces $72,000 in grants as they welcome Andrés Cano as new Director

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender& Queer (LGBTQ+) Alliance Fund is pleased to announce that $72,060 in grants has been awarded to thirteen regional nonprofits to support innovative programs and initiatives that benefit the LGBTQ+ community in Southern Arizona.

In addition to celebrating the work of these critical nonprofit organizations, the LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund is excited to welcome Andrés Cano as Director.

A native Tucsonan and Arizona’s youngest LGBTQ+ legislator, Cano has a deep understanding of the local LGBTQ+ community. “I am beyond grateful to lead the LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund in its next chapter of advancing LGBTQ+ equity and inclusion in southern Arizona,” said Cano. “Our region’s diversity is our greatest strength, and I look forward to cultivating stronger relationships with our donors and community partners to unleash the dreams and potential of my fellow LGBTQ+ Tucsonans.”

In his new role, Cano will prioritize the growth of philanthropic investments and the Alliance Fund’s capacity to uplift Southern Arizona’s LGBTQ+ communities.

“As we further our footprint as a philanthropic agent of change, Andrés’ ability to bring people together and build community will take us far in our second decade of supporting our LBGTQ+ sisters and brothers,” said Karin Uhlich, Chair of the LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund Advisory Board.

The LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund was created in 1999 by the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona with support from the National Lesbian and Gay Community Funding Partnership. The Fund addresses the chronic underfunding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender programs through philanthropy and endowment building. To date, the LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund has awarded 194 grants, totaling $943,397, to more than 60 local organizations.

“For over 20 years, CFSA has been proud to support the LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund’s grantmaking work, supporting nonprofits that positively impact the LGBTQ+ community. As we celebrate Pride Month, we remain committed to standing with the Alliance Fund and honoring their incredible work,” shared Kelly Huber, Senior Director of Community Investments at the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona.

For the 2020 grant round, grants ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 were awarded to organizations addressing a variety of needs in Southern Arizona’s LGBTQ+ community. The following organizations received funding:

LGBTQ+ immigrants from around the world face disproportionately high levels of discrimination, violence, and persecution as a direct result of their sexual and gender identities. Many continue to experience harassment and abuse while detained in U.S. immigration detention facilities. The Florence Project, one of this year’s Alliance Fund grantees, offers free legal and social services to help individuals in detention. “We are deeply grateful for the LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund’s support, which will allow us to continue providing free legal services for LGBTQ+ immigrants in detention during a time in which immigrants’ rights are under attack across the country,” said Lauren Dasse, Executive Director at the Florence Project. “This generous grant will help give our clients a fighting chance at justice.”

“Support from the Alliance Fund has made it possible for MOCA Tucson to continue offering ‘School of Drag,’ an intergenerational gender performance workshop series. These workshops provide an outlet for exploring gender expression, community-building across generations within the LGBTQIA+ community, and skill-building through performance art,” shared Eli Burke, Education Director at Museum of Contemporary Arts Tucson.

“With support from the LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund, Southern Arizona Senior Pride has been given the opportunity to grow toward sustainability as we provide critical social, cultural, and well-being services,” said Lavina Tomer, Volunteer Executive Director at Senior Pride. “The Alliance Fund has given generous funding, recognition, and support for LGBTQI+ older adults, our community’s treasured activists, historians, wise ones, and friends.”

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