Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the LGBTQ Community Fund provided its largest annual grant making total in 2020, awarding $813,000 in total grant dollars. Of that amount, $492,500 went to COVID-19 response. (The full list of spring 2020 community grants can be found here.)
The Fund’s COVID-19 response grants went towards supporting the immediate needs of the LGBTQ+ community in the Chicago region, as well as organizations providing services to the community. Response dollars were also provided for general operating support.
2020 COVID-19 Response Grant Awards: Round 1($210,000 total)
360 Youth Services ($17,500): To help close a $106,000 funding gap to provide 4 apartments (8 beds) of Transitional Housing for LGBTQ youth.
Adler University: ($17,500): To support a new tele-behavioral health program, which will utilize technology to increase access to mental health care for all medically underserved populations.
AIDS Foundation of Chicago ($25,000): To support increased capacity for emergency financial assistance, provide critical case management and housing services, and respond to emerging client needs.
Association of Latino Men for Actions ($12,500): For general operating support for continued engagement and advocacy for the Latinx LGBTQ community, via creative virtual methodologies.
Center for Disability and Elder Law, Inc. ($15,000): To support “Proud to Thrive” program outreach to the LGBTQ community and provide housing and estate planning legal services necessitated by the COVID-19 crisis.
Center on Halsted: ($25,000): For general operating support and to continue work to advance community and secure the health and wellbeing of the LGBTQ people of the Chicago region.
Chicago High School for the Arts ($17,500): For general operating support of Chicago’s first public high school dedicated to the arts.
Equality Illinois Institute ($10,000): For general operating support for an array of organization-wide initiatives that meet the needs of the LGBTQ community.
Lorde, Rustin & Bates, Inc. ($20,000): For general operating support so the agency can continue to provide its organizational development services.
Planned Parenthood of Illinois ($17,500): For general operating support to provide comprehensive, inclusive sexual and reproductive health care to patients at the organization’s 18 health centers.
Sisters in Cinema ($10,000): For general operating support and to hire a part-time staff member, and to develop the “Black Lesbian Writers’ Room” as a virtual program.
Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois ($12,500): To support increased services for Black and Indigenous transgender people of color in the Chicago region.
Upswing Advocates, Inc. ($10,000): For general operating support to continue offering LGBTQ2IA-focused trainings on a sliding scale, and to provide anti-racism trainings and equity audits.
2020 COVID-19 Response Grant Awards: Round 2* ($282,500 total)
About Face Theater ($10,000): For general operating support to advance organizational goals of employing 35 production artists and 10 teaching artists, as well as increasing reach via online programs.
AgeOptions, Inc. ($17,500): To support expansion of direct service programming to LGBT+ older adults and increased outreach to LGBT+ older adults and caregivers.
Brave Space Alliance ($20,000): To support improving logistics and transportation for operations at four food pantries, which have served 45,000+ people on the South and West sides.
Chicago House ($15,000): For general operating support to counter budget shortfalls, as well as the emergent needs of 3,000+ individuals and families impacted by COVID-19.
Housing Opportunities & Maintenance for the Elderly Inc. ($17,500): To support redesigning the Nathalie Salmon House, a multi-purpose, flexibly divided healing and arts space.
Howard Brown Center ($25,000): To support operation of six COVID-19 community care stations providing free testing across Chicago, as well as primary care telehealth and basic needs programming.
Leather Archives and Museum, Inc. ($7,500): For general operating support to minimize budget deficit, support current staff, and expand digital presence.
Legal Council for Health Justice ($17,500): For general operating support for staff providing high quality legal assistance, legal advocacy, and health care education during the pandemic.
McDermott Center ($17.500): For general operating support and to provide behavioral health care to LGBTQ+ clients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Night Ministry ($17,500): For general operating support of The Crib, an emergency overnight shelter program for up to 21 young adults between the ages of 18-24.
Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago ($17,500): For general operating support for infrastructure and systems re-design, investment in organizational and staff capacity, and program and service adaptations for the virtual and remote environment.
Puerto Rican Cultural Center ($10,000): For general operating for COVID-specific initiatives like assisting with emergency rental and mortgage applications and contract tracing efforts.
Roger Baldwin Foundation of the ACLU, Inc. ($17,500): For general operating support and to offset costs related to starting new litigation, conducting know-your-rights trainings, and community outreach.
Sit Hub / Chicago Therapy Collective ($15,000): For general operating support and to develop and implement multi-stakeholder membership model and work-centered nonprofit infrastructure.
Test Positive Awareness Network ($20,000): To support operations of the Tea Room, TPAN’s drop-in center for mostly LGBT young adults ages 18-29.
Youth Empowerment Performance Project ($17,500): For general operating to pay part-time staff, purchase supplies to keep staff safe, and for operations of the Distribution Center.
Youth Services of Glenview – Northbrook ($20,000): For general operating support for programming that meets the unique needs of LGBTQ+ youth and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
