Borealis Philanthropy Announces Fund for Trans Generations

Borealis Philanthropy has announced the Request for Letters of Inquiry (RFLOI) for the Fund for Trans Generations (FTG). This announcement includes background information about the FTG and important details about how to apply for funding.

About the Fund for Trans Generations
The Fund for Trans Generations (FTG) is based at Borealis Philanthropy. The FTG is the domestic grantmaking component of the Global Trans Initiative (GTI), a philanthropic collaboration launched with initial support from the Arcus Foundation and NoVo Foundation. The FTG was created to ensure that frontline trans activists and organizations have the financial resources and engagement needed to advance the safety, security and rights of trans people.

About Borealis Philanthropy
Borealis Philanthropy is a philanthropic intermediary that helps funders allocate resources efficiently, and in a manner most impactful for change. We value grantmaking that is responsive to communities and aim to bridge funders and grantees.

FTG Grantmaking Process and Timeline
The deadline for LOIs is December 2nd. Borealis staff, FTG donors, and an advisory committee of trans leaders will review the LOIs in mid-December. Applicant organizations will be notified in January 2017 if they will be asked to submit a full proposal. Below you will find more information about funding priorities, criteria, and upcoming informational webinars to answer any questions you may have.

The Fund for Trans Generations is rooted in the following values:

• Moving beyond equality to justice;
• An intersectional feminism grounded in queer, trans, and gender nonconforming communities of color;
• A commitment to addressing the root causes of transphobia, misogyny, racism, classism, and homophobia;
• A focus on the resilience of trans communities and leaders of the trans movement; and
• A commitment to solidarity, collaboration and transparency.

Funding Priorities

Who and what we are looking for:

• Organizations and work based in intersectional feminism, and led by and focused on the needs of trans girls and women;
• Organizations and work grounded in and responsive to communities;
• Strategic organizing and advocacy models that build the power of trans communities;
• Generative work that builds on the accomplishments and progress made so far, while building a stronger, more strategic movement for the future;
• Organizations that are led by and/or serving those that have historically been excluded from national funding, including trans people who are: girls and women of color, youth of color, rural activists, elders; incarcerated and/or formerly incarcerated people; people with disabilities; indigenous; and
• Work based in hope and joy.

What we cannot support:

• Projects embedded in non-trans organizations, unless there is proof of authentic partnership with trans-led organizations and/or leaders
• Capital projects; or
• Scholarships or fellowships.
• We are also unable to support service delivery projects that are not connected to local, state or national advocacy and/or organizing efforts. We believe that service delivery, especially within trans communities, is critical and will be necessary to the advancement of this movement. However, given the breadth of needs in this area and limited funding, we are unable to consider service delivery efforts that do not integrate organizing and/or advocacy.

Funding Guidelines

Funding will provide general operating support for U.S. based trans-led organizations or projects whose operating budgets are under $600,000.

Here’s how we define trans-led and budget size:

• Organization or project must be trans-led. We adhere to the Trans Justice Funding Project* definition, which holds that the majority of the people in charge of the group identify as trans or gender non-conforming. “In charge” includes any of the following examples:
• the director, if there is one, should identify as trans or gender non-conforming.
• the majority of the governing board collective, advisory committee, or similar governing body, if there is such a body, should identify as trans or gender non-conforming.
• the majority of any staff members should identify as trans or gender non-conforming.
• If the organization or project is volunteer-run, the majority of volunteers should identify as trans or gender non-conforming.
• Project budget should not exceed $600,000; we have no minimum budget requirements. A project based at an organization with a budget larger than $600,000 may apply as long as it is trans-led.  

Grant Amounts
The FTG provides general operating support grants ranging from a minimum of $15,000 up to a maximum grant of $75,000.

Interested in learning more? We will be hosting informational webinars in November to explain the RFLOI process and answer any questions you may have. Please participate in one of the upcoming webinars on either:
November 9 at 1pm PST/2pm MST/3pm CST/4pm EST (Register at: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/de3eb65f436c0473dc2040ba88984b7b)
November 21 at 10am PST/11am MST/12pm CST/1pm EST (Register at: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/07e0b9eaa46832a2dc2040ba88984b7b)
Webinars will be recorded, and information shared on each webinar will be the same. We hope you will join us for one of these webinars, and please share this opportunity with your networks!


Rapid Response Funding Opportunities Also Available!
We also recognize that communities often need additional resources to respond quickly to organized opposition and to unanticipated events. The FTG rapid response fund provides support for situations that require immediate response and for proactive activities that pursue strategic opportunities. 

How to Submit a Letter of Inquiry
Letters of Inquiry must be submitted by using Borealis’ online proposal system.  

*Borealis Philanthropy thanks the Trans Justice Funding Project and Leeway Foundation for this adapted definition of trans-led.

Deadline: December 2

For more information and to apply, click here.