Other Gala Information:

1) Why am I being asked to become a Horizons Foundation event captain?
Horizons Foundation has been your LGBT community foundation for over 25 years-and the first of its kind anywhere. Together we have a unique opportunity to continue to enhance your life and thousands of others in our community-for the next 25 years and beyond.

As an event captain, your leadership and personal commitment to the LGBT community will inspire your friends to take an active role in supporting LGBT organizations and causes. Together, you'll all help make this gala a night to remember and to take an ownership stake in the well being of our community.

Becoming an event captain will help Horizons fulfill its mission to serve the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community by making grants, strengthening LGBT organizations and leadership, and increasing philanthropic giving. Simply put, we cannot fulfill that mission without YOU.

In order to do the work we do, we receive donations from individuals, companies, and foundations. In turn, we give away over $1 million in grants. When you become an event captain, you help us increase the amount we can grant out. Additionally, a component in our strategic plan is to expand the culture of giving. By becoming an event captain, you help us reach a greater portion of our community.

2) What are my benefits for being an event captain?
This year's event captains will receive recognition and join our lead up parties, but not be assigned a table in order to make room for an evening of lively dancing.

• fun, motivating parties in June, July and August
• your name will be displayed at the event, printed in the event program, and in the Horizons' website & annual report
• most importantly, you'll feel great knowing that you're helping the LGBT community reach new horizons
• not to mention that you'll gain even more respect in the eyes of your friends who will thank you for inviting them to such a fabulous event!

3) What is entailed in being an event captain?
Event captains have no responsibilities except to sell a total of six tickets to the Ocotber 6 Gala. They do not have to speak in public. They do not have to help plan the event. They do not have to help set up or tear down the event. They do not have to wear funny costumes.

4) How in the world will I sell six tickets? Can I get any help with this?
Six tickets per event captain are not as difficult to sell as it seems. You yourself will come, as will your friend/partner/spouse. One more couple, or a couple more friends, and you are all done!

The most important thing that will fill your table is your personal invitation. Your friends know you, they trust you, and they respect you. A heartfelt invitation to them will help demonstrate your care for our community.

Having said that, know that we'll be there to support you. We will help with email invitations, hard copy invitations, brochures explaining Horizons, as well as links to the Horizons web site. The Horizons buy tickets link is configured to allow you to email your invitees with a private and personal invite code. This code will enable them enabling them to join your event group with you as their event captain and to pay online (if they wish) so you won't have to hound them for money.

5) What will the event be like?
The Gala will take place at the incomparable Regency Center in San Francisco. It will feature an evening of dancing, delicious buffet stations, live and audio visual entertainment, a high-value silent auction, fabulous drinks, restaurant sponsored food stations, and a brief, inspiring program. Both levels of the Regency Center will feature its own unique theme, elegant décor, food, and beverages.

6) What is Horizons Foundation?
Horizons Foundation, a philanthropic social justice organization, serves the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community throughout the Bay Area and beyond. For over 25 years, we've been meeting the needs, advancing the rights, and celebrating the lives of LGBT people. The foundation's more than 1,800 grants have strengthened hundreds of LGBT organizations, campaigns, and causes. We invite you to learn more about us.

7) I've never heard of Horizons Foundation before! Why is that?
Horizons has been the backbone of your local LGBT community for over 25 years. Horizons is well known among hundreds of LGBT organizations who depend on us, but not as well known generally among the broader public beyond the main donor circles. We do not have a history of fundraising via major public events, advertising campaigns, or press opportunities. As part of our five year strategic plan, Horizons will become a more visible pillar of our community, and this Gala is an important continuation towards that goal.

8) Does Horizons Foundation support my favorite organizations?
Most likely! Horizons has directed money to hundreds of Bay Area LGBT organizations that advocate for you, promote your health, and celebrate your life. Our LGBT funding covers the entire spectrum of our community from the arts, to advocacy, HIV/AIDS , health and human services, elders, and children, youth and families, with particular focus on traditionally underserved populations: women, people of color, transgender, and low-income.

You can learn more about our recent grants. Reading the full list of Horizons' grantees over the past 25 years is like glancing through a capsule history of our community. You can download the list here [PDF, 105K].

9) Is my contribution tax deductible?
Your contribution to Horizons Foundation is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law, less $60 (fair market value) per event attendee.

10) I'm already a Leadership Circle donor of over $2500 to Horizons, and will receive two complimentary thank you tickets to the gala. Should I still become an event captain?
Absolutely! If you become an event captain, you can apply your complimentary tickets towards an event captain commitment. Your generous donation as a Leadership Circle donor speaks volumes to your friends about how important you believe Horizons is. When you become an event captain on the online registration form simply mark that you are a leadership circle (over $2500) donor entitling you to receive complimentary tickets to the event (according to the schedule of benefits you already received). By committing to become an event captain, you make your contribution to Horizons even more valuable!

10) I already give to several organizations directly. Why should I give to Horizons as well?
Horizons Foundation strongly encourages all members of our community to give directly and generously to their favorite organizations. Horizons Foundation has launched an exciting new online resource called QGiving - it's the best way to connect to the Bay Area's LGBT nonprofit organizations. Our goals include multiplying the support to our community and increasing the overall level of giving to all Bay Area LGBT organizations. We support a broad range of established organizations as well as to small, emerging, and cutting edge organizations and programs. Quite likely, your support to Horizons Foundation will have a reach beyond the capability of any one individual. When you give to Horizons Foundation, you give one contribution, help hundreds of organizations, and change thousands of lives. A gift to Horizons translates into more than an immediate impact (such as through a grant)-it is an investment in our community's long-term strength and sustainability.

12) Can I volunteer at the event?
We need a number of volunteers, for a four hour shift during the event day or evening, to make the Gala a success. We welcome you to lend your particular skills or talents as a volunteer in addition to being an event captain. To demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment as a volunteer, please contact 415.398.2333 x115 or gala@horizonsfoundation.org

Please note that in addition to volunteering, we encourage you to buy a community rate ticket of $75.

13) The company I work for may be willing to be an event sponsor or make an in-kind donation. Who can I contact for more information about corporate sponsorship opportunities?
We have a Sponsor Benefits packet that we will be happy to send to you and/or the appropriate person at your organization. For cash event sponsorship information please contact Rajat Dutta, Development Officer at 415.398.2333 x113 or rdutta@HorizonsFoundation.org. For in-kind donations of food, beverages, first class entertainment, services, or items for our silent auction, please contact 415.398.2333 x115 or gala@horizonsfoundation.org.

14) I have other questions about Horizons Foundation or the event. Who can I contact?
Please contact 415.398.2333 x115 or gala@horizonsfoundation.org.