LGBT+ Giving Circle Initiative

The LGBT+ Giving Circle is a philanthropic and educational initiative led by LGBTQ+ and allied community leaders under the umbrella of the Rochester Area Community Foundation. The foundation itself serves an eight-county region in New York and is dedicated to strengthening regional communities through thoughtful grantmaking, donor engagement, and strategic partnerships. The Giving Circle reflects this mission by focusing on fostering equity, inclusion, and belonging for LGBTQ+ individuals living in or connected to the Greater Rochester area. The core purpose of the LGBT+ Giving Circle grant is to provide targeted financial support for efforts that directly uplift and improve the lives of LGBTQ+ community members. Grant awards are structured around specific focus areas including community leadership, educational excellence, economic mobility, healthcare and wellness, school success, and violence prevention and safety. In the 2025 funding cycle, priority consideration will be given to requests for operational support with demonstrated impact, although applications for new or pilot programs that center the voices and needs of historically marginalized groups within the LGBTQ+ population—such as BIPOC individuals, transgender and gender non-conforming people, youth, and elders—are also welcomed. Grant amounts typically range between $1,000 and $5,000 and are awarded for a one-year period from September through August of the following year. Organizations may submit only one application per cycle. Past recipients are eligible to reapply in subsequent years, but prior funding does not guarantee continued support. Applicants are required to submit their requests through the Community Foundation’s online grant portal, and it is critical that all budget documents and attachments are accurate and consistent prior to submission. To be eligible, applicants must be classified as a 501(c)(3) or 509(a)(1) public organization by the IRS or operate under a fiscal sponsor that meets these criteria. Furthermore, eligible organizations must be located and provide services within one or more of the following counties: Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, or Yates. Projects must intentionally benefit individuals from the local LGBTQ+ community and align with at least one of the foundation's defined focus areas. The 2025 grant application cycle opened on June 24, 2025, and the deadline to submit an application is Thursday, August 7, 2025. All funding decisions will be announced in September 2025. The grant is recurring annually, and future opportunities will be announced through the foundation's quarterly e-newsletter. While the grant is not offered on a rolling basis, applicants are encouraged to revisit the program each year as priorities and areas of focus may evolve. For guidance or further inquiries, interested parties can contact Dawn Perry, Collective Giving Officer at Rochester Area Community Foundation. She can be reached by phone at 585.341.4330 or via email at dperry@racf.org. The foundation's main address is 500 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607.

Programs should be shaped by and responsive to the voices, needs, and lived experiences of those served. An asset-based approach is encouraged. Successful applications clearly link mission and programming to the goals of equity, visibility, belonging, and safety.