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Gill Initiatives Make Change Possible
Gill Initiatives
Make Change Possible
by Donald R. Eggert
A GLBT philanthropic organization has announced a special incentive program to help develop and broaden leadership for the LGBT movement in the next century.
The Gill Foundation announced its 21st Century Initiatives project during Creating Change in Oakland last month.
The initiatives focus on people of color, statewide organizing, and non-urban LGBT community centers. They offer funding $4.5 million above and beyond the organizationās current grants, and are part of an overall 40 percent increase in its grant-making budget for the year 2000.
“The Gill Foundation 21st Century Initiatives represent an effort to identify and focus resources on specific communities within the LGBT movement. In order to ensure these initiatives are a success, we will be working with leaders within those communities to plan and develop strong programs,” said Katherine Pease, the foundationās executive director.
Gill is already planning to bring together a diverse group of leaders from organizations around the country to plan and implement the People of Color Initiative. Similar meetings will be convened to help plan and develop statewide organization and community center initiatives in 2000.
The organization pledged $1 million over five years for projects to increase racial justice through funding and technical assistance for organizations specific to people of color as well as for multi-cultural leadership development in all LGBT organizations.
Additionally, it earmarked $1.5 million over five years to develop and strengthen statewide LGBT nonprofit organizations and $2 million over five years to strengthen existing LGBT community centers and build new centers in non-urban America.
The Gill Foundation currently operates both grantmaking and training programs. The former focuses on providing funds to LGBT and HIV/AIDS organizations. The latter, called the OutGiving Project, offers technical assistance to organizations in the LGBT movement.
“The Gill Foundation 21st Century Initiatives will combine our two strengths, providing both grants and technical assistance. Through this powerful partnership, we hope to be able to create lasting change for people of color, statewide non-profits and LGBT community centers,” Pease said.
Software entrepreneur Tim Gill established the Gill Foundation in 1994 as a catalyst, a resource for communities in pursuit of justice and equality, and a way to build awareness of the contributions gay men and lesbians make to American society. Since its inception, the Colorado-based foundation has provided nearly $13 million to hundreds of community organizations.