The Horizons Foundation’s Transgender People of Color (Trans POC) Initiative offers grant funding to strengthen and sustain nonprofit organizations led by and serving Transgender People of Color in the San Francisco Bay Area. Recognizing the systemic inequities and limited philanthropic support facing these communities, the initiative focuses on improving organizational infrastructure and workforce development capacity. Grants of up to $100,000 per year are available for up to three years, with a total maximum award of $300,000.
The goal of the initiative is to invest in transformative infrastructure improvements and workforce capacity-building efforts within Trans POC-primary organizations. Eligible applicants must engage staff and boards that predominantly reflect the Trans POC communities they serve (65% or more) and have missions and programs that explicitly prioritize Trans POC populations. Applicants are encouraged to consult with Horizons staff to ensure alignment between their objectives and the grant’s purpose.
Eligible organizations must either have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status or be fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) entity. The grant is limited to organizations based in San Francisco Bay Area counties, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma. While there is no cap on an organization’s annual budget size, priority will be given to organizations with budgets under $3 million.
The application process requires the submission of a complete proposal through Horizons Foundation’s grantmaking portal. Applicants must create an account and respond to all proposal sections. The grant timeline begins with the RFP release on December 20, 2024, followed by an informational session on January 6, 2025, and the application deadline on February 3, 2025, at 12 p.m. PT. Individual consultations are available between January 7 and January 30, 2025. Funding decisions will be announced between February and March 2025.
Proposals must address how the grant will enhance organizational infrastructure or workforce development while demonstrating a clear commitment to the Trans POC community. Note that Trans POC projects embedded within larger nonprofits and organizations not explicitly focused on Trans POC populations are not eligible for funding.
For additional guidance, applicants can consult the foundation’s RFP document, email questions to grants@horizonsfoundation.org, or attend the informational session. The foundation also provides a user guide for navigating the grantmaking portal. Organizations are encouraged to reach out for support and guidance to ensure the strongest possible applications.
