ACCP Staff
As the pandemic continues and issues of systemic racial injustice remain at the forefront of our collective consciousness, one concern brought to light is the disparity in philanthropic funding for many marginalized communities, particularly those at the intersection of multiple identities.
To study this, the national network Funders for LGBTQ Issues partnered in 2020 with Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) and ABFE to produce reports on the unique needs of two groups: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) Latinx and Black communities.
These reports showcase data on the level of philanthropic support each group has received, their unique areas of need, and recommendations or opportunities for funders to better support these communities.
While funding focused on LGBTQ Black communities has increased, it remains disproportionate based on the size of the group – an estimated 1.4 million (12% of the total LGBTQ population).
Likewise, funding specifically for the LGBTQ Latinx community is dependent on a small number of funders – the top 10 account for 68% of all support for the community.
Other key highlights include:
- More than 2.7 million LGBT Latinx adults live in the United States. They face alarming disparities in access to healthcare, employment, housing, and economic opportunity.
- Black trans and gender-nonconforming people collectively received <1% of all funding for LGBTQ issues in 2018.
- As of 2017, 32% of LGBT Latinx people reported not having enough food to eat at some point in the previous year.
- The top ten funders of Black LGBTQ communities accounted for 65 percent of all support between 2017-2018. The two largest funders are pharmaceutical companies with grantmaking almost exclusively focused on HIV/AIDS.
What can corporations do?
- Support LGBTQ Black and Latinx leaders working across a range of movements.
- Black-led organizations include Center for Black Equity, Marsha P. Johnson Center, and the National Black Justice Coalition.
- Latinx organizations include Arianna’s Center (FL), Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance (NY), and the Trans Queer Liberation Movement (CA).
- It Gets Better project
- Increase funding and investments in Black- and Latinx-led LGBTQ organizations, particularly in the areas of leadership development and capacity building.
- Ask current grantees how they are serving vulnerable communities at the intersection of multiple identities.
As the pandemic continues, and issues surrounding systemic racism are addressed, it’s vital that CSR professionals focus on the needs and unique inequality marginalized groups such as the Black and Latinx LGBTQ face.
Resources
Philanthropy OUTlook: LGBTQ Latinx Communities (report info page)
Infographic
Philanthropy OUTlook: LGBTQ Black Communities (report info page)
Infographic
