SAN FRANCISCO - Horizons Foundation today released the results of the first systematic survey analyzing the economic recession's impact on nonprofits serving the Bay Area's extensive lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. With responses from 52 different LGBT organizations representing a broad spectrum of the community, the survey indicates that 96% of responding nonprofits have been negatively affected by the recession.

"This survey underscores what we've known only through anecdote until now," said Roger Doughty, Horizons' Executive Director. "It's very sobering to learn that 96% of the organizations that LGBT people depend on for everything from healthcare to legal advocacy have been negatively affected. That translates into diminishing support for programs and services that so many people in our community depend on every single day."

The survey also found that a large number of LGBT nonprofits have been forced to reduce staffing, sometimes in multiple ways. Forty-six percent reported lay-offs in the past 18 months, while 43% reported having to reduce employee hours. More than half-56%-have left open positions vacant for more than six months due to tightening budgets. At 40% of the organizations surveyed, salaries have been cut for some or all employees.

It is also clear from Horizons' survey that the impact of the recession is far from over. In response to a question about the possibility of staff lay-offs between now and the end of 2010, 63% predicted that lay-offs are possible, with nearly one in six indicating that they view lay-offs as likely or certain.

"The foundation receives calls every week from organizations in financial distress," noted Jewelle Gomez, Director of Grantmaking and Community Initiatives. "Most have already cut their budgets, staffs, and programs sharply and some are starting to run out of options. It's alarming to see how many nonprofits are losing strength and capacity that have taken many years to build."

The survey report concludes that the recession has significantly hindered LGBT nonprofits from providing the services and advocacy that their missions mandate them to provide-which translates into healthcare, social services, programs for youth and the elderly, and much, much more that simply do not happen-with the impact of the present recession likely to be felt for many years to come.