Community Issues Funding Program

Our flagship funding program, Community Issues, provides general-operating and project-specific grants in support of the LGBTQ community in the nine counties of the SF Bay Area, where our community still faces significant challenges, according to our 2018 LGBTQ Community Needs Assessment. Horizons invests in organizations and projects that create a world where all LGBTQ people live freely and fully.

Because we launched our LGBTQ COVID-19 Response Emergency Fund this spring, held Give OUT Day during the summer, and are working on deploying additional COVID-19 funding opportunities, the Community Issues request for proposal (RFP) will not be released until later this year.

We are still working on what Community Issues will look like given the above, but please plan on the cycle being later and looking a little different than usual this year.

We awarded over $400,000 to our grantee partners in our latest Community Issues cycle.

Meet Current Grantee Partners

Grantee partner Our Space

Grantee partner Oasis Legal Services

Funding Areas

advocacy and civil rights

Arts and Culture

Community Building and Leadership

Health and Human Services

Eligibility

Be a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, or provide documentation that the organization is fiscally sponsored by an organization that has 501(c)(3) status
Be either an LGBTQ-primary organization (defined as an organization whose mission includes the LGBTQ population as the primary focus of the work; whose staff and board predominantly reflect the LGBTQ community; and which primarily serves LGBTQ people); or a non-LGBTQ-primary organization seeking funding for an LGBTQ-specific program/project
Request support for an organization or program/project within one or more of these counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma

Please note that the following are not eligible for support:

Requests for costs incurred prior to the date of the grant award
Requests from government agencies
Requests for capital support, including construction and renovation
Fundraising event sponsorship (see our Community Event Sponsorship Program)
Projects that directly benefit an individual (filmmaking is considered a collaborative art and is therefore eligible)

Proposal Process

1. Learn more

First, read our proposal guidelines. Especially if you are a first-time applicant or at a non-LGBTQ primary organization, watch our webinar and view the accompanying slides.

2. complete Proposal

Include as separate attachments a signed Nondiscrimination Form, most recent audit or form 990, and 501(c)(3) determination letter.

3. review and notification

Proposals are reviewed by staff and a community panel, and funding decisions will be announced afterward.

Read Proposal Guidelines

Preview Sample Application

Questions? Interested in discussing a potential proposal? Contact us at grants [at] horizonsfoundation.org or 415-398-2333.