UPDATE APRIL 23: We opened up the third phase of Emergency Assistance Grants in our COVID-19 Rapid Response Grant Round at 2:00pm, and by 5:30pm, we received the number of applications that reached our maximum funding allocation for this phase of Emergency Assistance Grants and closed the application.
If you live in Western NC, the Western NC Emergency Assistance Grant application remains open – just click here. The Community Response Grant application also remains open – just click here.
Thank you to all for your ideas, passion, and support as we work to move resources to support LGBTQ Southerners. We know this is a challenging time, and we’re sending our strength, love, and support.
* * * *
Over the past few weeks my coworkers at the Campaign for Southern Equality and I have read more than 320 applications for the Southern Equality Fund’s COVID-19 Rapid Response Grants. We’ve funded all of them, from Louisiana to Alabama to Tennessee and Georgia.
Inside each Emergency Assistance Grant application is a person’s particular story of heartbreak and struggle as they confront the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and reach out for help. Within each Community Response Grant application is a story of resilience and love – folks who want to support their community during this crisis. I mean it when I say that my heart goes out to everyone hurting during this challenging time.
Today we are reopening the COVID-19 Rapid Response Grants to give out another $30,000. There are three types of applications:
-
Emergency Assistance Grants for LGBTQ Southerners:: Individuals and families anywhere in the South facing the health and financial impacts of COVID-19 can apply for a $100 grant – click here to apply. If you’ve previously received an Emergency Assistance grant, you are not eligible to apply for this round.
-
Emergency Assistance Grants for LGBTQ People in Western NC: Emergency Assistance Grants for LGBTQ People in Western NC: Blue Ridge Pride has raised $6,000 in targeted support for LGBTQ people in 24 Western NC counties. If you live in Western NC, click here to apply for a $100 Emergency Assistance Grant.
-
Community Response Grants: Anyone can apply for up to a $500 grant to fund a project dedicated to supporting LGBTQ Southerners through the COVID-19 pandemic.You do not need 501c3 status to apply. Click here to learn more and apply. Click here to learn more and apply.
Since this crisis began, we’ve distributed $55,000 to LGBTQ Southerners, thanks to support from our amazing supporters and from our partners at Gender Benders, Southern Vision Alliance, Blue Ridge Pride, and foundations including the Arcus Foundation, Freeman Foundation, Laughing Gull Foundation, Mandel-Rodis Fund, the Out in the South Initiative of Funders for LGBTQ Issues, and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. And we’ll keep working to raise funds to help out LGBTQ Southerners.
If you’d like to support these grants, please click here to make a donation. Every dollar will be matched by a generous donor.
This post is also available in: Español (Spanish)
