Straight Allies Initiative

Straight Allies & Partners Initiative Campaign & Alliance FAQ

Inaugural August 2008 – June 2009 Campaign

What is the Straight Allies & Partners Campaign?
The Delaware Valley Legacy Fund (DVLF) Straight Allies & Partners Initiative Campaign has roots from other cities including Seattle, Milwaukee, and Greensboro (North Carolina) where our gay sister community foundations built their allies movement for the long-term.  Pride, Cream City, and Guilford Green are three such success stories where each foundation engaged the straight allies of their major donors and friends to raise grant making while honoring them through a public forum.  DVLF seeks to support grant making for Mid-Atlantic regional gay community organizations dedicated to partnering with the straight community.  DVLF is choosing one specific issue that is a shared goal for the straight allied community to feature in each campaign year.  DVLF chose to provide support to address the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) homeless youth problem.  In our region, over 42% of all homeless youth in the region are LGBT. 

Why launch the Straight Allies & Partners Initiative here?
There are many people that want to help build bridges between the straight and non-straight communities.  Many allies are eager to be invited and desire to be an integral part of our community.  The Straight Allies & Partners Initiative and the Alliance party celebrate this collaborative spirit and increase opportunities to bring new people to our movement.  Critically important, in comparison to our peers in other regions, the participation of and funding from straight allies in our regional movement is lower than most other communities surveyed (DVLF 2005).  DVLF sees the engagement of allies as a political, social, and economic opportunity.  We welcome more people – especially allies – to join in our quest for equal rights, to support our homeless youth, to care for our most vulnerable seniors, for equal access to health care, for equal taxation, and to participate in our vibrant arts, cultural, and social events, programs, and organizations.

What is the mission of the Straight Allies & Partners Initiative?
The Straight Allies and Partners Campaign for LGBT Youth is a multi-year fundraising campaign to benefit agencies and organizations serving the needs of LGBT youth in Southeastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey and Northern Delaware.  In addition, homophobia and transphobia impact children with LGBT parents/guardians, regardless of their own sexual orientation or gender identity.)  In Philadelphia alone, some 15,000 children are being raised by lesbian and gay parents, a statistic that would be larger if bisexual and transgender parents were included.  This campaign will be coordinated by a working Steering Committee of people, straight and gay, with a passion for youth services and a commitment to fundraising.  Among the duties of the Steering Committee are:

• Review and revise the draft project Case Statement and recommend approval to the Board of the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund.
• In light of comments from potential project funders, develop a partnership criteria to pre-qualify partner agencies for funding to carry out the work envisioned in the Case Statement.  These criteria will then need approval from the DVLF Executive Committee.
•  Make recommendations to the DVLF Executive Committee on how to develop focused demonstration projects during 2010 based upon the vision of the Case Statement.
• Direct the work to implement the 2010 demonstration projects through relationship building and fundraising.
• Direct the work to publicize the 2010 demonstration projects to build support within the philanthropic and corporate community for the larger vision of the Case Statement.
• Provide on-going strategic discussion and guidance regarding the feasibility of initiating the 3-year, $1 million fundraising effort in 2010. 
• Coordinate the work to develop county-based support teams for the Straight Allies and Partners Campaign for LGBT Youth as well as youth impacted by homophobia.

The committee should anticipate monthly meetings for 6 months and then move to meetings every other month once the work plan is organized.

Who are our Straight Allies?
Read the story of Ginny Miles, pastor of Penns Park United Methodist Church in Bucks County, an example of an ally to the LGBT community.

Delaware Valley Legacy Fund – Building a Permanent Endowment