Racial Equity Initiative

Grant guidelines for 2010 now available - click here!

Racial Equity Initiative:  We’re Stronger Together!

This historic initiative to strengthen the LGBTI community through targeted support to organizations directed by and serving people of color was formulated by the national philanthropic group, Funders of Lesbian and Gay Issues.  Their report Building Communities notes:

“Dr. King reminds us:  ‘All life is interrelated.  What affects one directly affects all indirectly.’  So imagine the possibilities.  Organizations with agendas representing the full spectrum of our communities.  Diverse activists creating participatory institutional cultures that repair racial, economic and gender inequalities.  And, ultimately, a movement led by many, working for a vision of social change as multifaceted as the realities of our communities.

“Providing grants to LGBTQ people of color groups enhances their financial security, which better equips them to tackle a variety of policy battles and to shift public attitudes across their many audiences—a must for achieving broad-based LGBTQ rights. 

“Investing in this sector can also bring about the kind of strategic, sustainable alliances necessary to achieve our collective goals.  We’re stronger together.

“We also believe that supporting the leadership of LGBTQ people of color promotes a more inclusive civic discourse.  And dealing directly with the racial divisions that splinter our organizations, our movements and our society, we contribute to a healthier political dynamic and to the well-being of LGBTQ communities of color.”

The Delaware Valley Legacy Fund is proud to be one of eight regional funds to participate in this initiative.  The Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues is matching our investment in this campaign dollar for dollar and this year we have made grants to 13 organizations serving communities of color. 

We welcome this national collaboration and would be pleased to discuss this project with any donors interested in strengthening our participation in the Racial Equity Initiative.