The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Queer (LGBTQ+) Alliance Fund, an initiative of the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA), is pleased to announce that $82,500 in grants were awarded to fourteen regional nonprofits to support innovative programs and initiatives that benefit the LGBTQ+ community in Southern Arizona. This is the largest annual grant distribution in the Alliance Fund’s history.
“As the LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund and CFSA celebrate Pride Month 2021, we are proud to share that the Alliance Fund has surpassed $1 million in grants distributed since 1999,” said Mark Montoya, Interim President and CEO of the Community Foundation. “This milestone was made possible by dedicated donors and their generous investments over the last 22 years to increase available funding for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender programs and services.”
The LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund was created in 1999 by the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona with support from donors, community members, and the National Lesbian and Gay Community Funding Partnership. To date, the Fund has awarded 208 grants, totaling $1,025,897, to more than 65 local organizations.
“This year’s grantees were selected by a diverse group of volunteer leaders* committed to funding LGBTQ+ equity and inclusion in Southern Arizona, especially among our region’s Black, Indigenous, and People of Color,” said Kent Burbank, Chairman of the LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund Advisory Board. “The Alliance Fund’s growth is on an upward trajectory as we make larger and more targeted investments to directly unleash the potential of our region’s most marginalized queer voices.”
The following organizations received funding in the 2021 grant round:
- 191 Toole
- BICAS
- El Rio Health Center Foundation
- Support provided by Bobbie & Don Vandegriff
- Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project
- Support provided by Doug Noffsinger & Roger Funk
- Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson
- Support provided by Janey Katz & Suzi Calhoun
- Old Pueblo Community Services
- Our Family Services
- Support provided by Vicente Talanquer & Kent Burbank
- Pima Council on Aging
- Remedy House Tucson
- Reveille Men’s Chorus
- Support provided by Mick Devore & Marge Sloan
- Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation
- Support provided by Noel Matkin & Jim Sincox
- Southern Arizona Gender Alliance
- Support provided by Sylvia Mulka
- Southern Arizona Senior Pride
- University of Arizona Foundation for the benefit of the UA Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic
“Southern Arizona’s LGBTQ+ communities are stronger and more resilient because of the direct support provided by the Alliance Fund since 1999,” said Andrés Cano, Director of the LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund. “Our work is far from over, and we are grateful to our donors and volunteers who’ve helped us build a strong foundation to keep going.”
*The 2021 Grant Review Subcommittee was co-chaired by Alliance Fund Board Members Kim Kotov and Jason Thorpe. Volunteer members included Tabitha Fox, Robert Bell, Violeta Dominguez, Erin Russ, Lanay Lindsey, Deanna Lewis, Melissa Griebel, & Casey Chimney Star Condit Limón. We wish to thank them for their due diligence and participation.
Learn more about the LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund here.
SAGA is thrilled and honored to be receiving a grant from the LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund to help continue distributing our monthly Trans Care Packages, holding our weekly TGNC support groups, connecting folks to medical and legal resources, and building community amongst the TGNC folks of Southern Arizona.
— AJ Tiedeman, Program Manager, Southern Arizona Gender Alliance
The LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund's support of Senior Pride spanning several years now has been key to sustaining our services for older LGBTQI+ adults, and to growing the organization. We will dedicate this year's grant funds to general operations including paid staffing, professional training, consultant support, and the administrative needs associated with becoming our own independent 501(c)3 organization. We are truly grateful for the ongoing support of the Alliance Fund.
— Keith A. Ashley, Associate Director, Senior Pride
The BICAS Women, Trans, Femme Workshop is so grateful for the funds and support to keep holding space for WTF riders to grow their skills and relationships with one another. We hope to offer more comprehensive mechanical programming for WTFers as well as more opportunities for education and connection.
— Shruti Kaul, BICAS
A significant percentage of our LGBTQ+ clients have survived years of persecution, and as a result, there is a high incidence of PTSD and trauma. This becomes exacerbated in detention. Expert testimony confirming this is pivotal in determining an asylum seeker's claim for relief. With Alliance Fund support, we will hire these vital services that allow our clients a greater chance to be successful in a system stacked against them--and to bolster the likelihood they can live in freedom, safety, and as their true selves.
— Katie Sharar, Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project
Old Pueblo Community Services is delighted to receive a grant from the LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund. Bread & Roses is the first affirming transitional housing program for LGBTQ+ and allied youth in Pima County. The program assists these youth to permanently leave the streets, secure stable housing, and build self-sufficient, fulfilling lives. We believe no one should be denied shelter because of their sexual orientation or gender expression. Kindness and care for homeless households must be universal.
— Tom Litwicki, CEO, Old Pueblo Community Services
This apartment will provide short-term safety for several LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness as they work toward stabilizing their situation and potentially get into a longer-term housing intervention. We are grateful for this funding because it sets aside money specifically for this population to get them into housing quicker.
— Megan Sanes, Homeless Youth Services Program Manager, Our Family Services
The goals of MOCA’s LGBTQIA+ Initiatives are to create deeper, meaningful connections through contemporary art within the LGBTQIA+ community in Pima County, to empower and celebrate our diverse communities, and to provide a platform for self-expression and connection.
— Kevin Burns, Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson
Human communication is fundamental to all of our relationships and interactions in the world. We are excited and honored to work with trans women as they explore communication skills to support their authentic lives and thrive in our community.
— Janet L Hawley, TRACC-2 Program,
