San Diego CA— San Diego Pride announced the return of the San Diego Pride Community Grants program, providing more than $136,000 to 27 LGBTQ-serving organizations and initiatives.
The COVID-19 pandemic halted the production of the traditional 2020 and 2021 Pride Parade and Festival, the organization’s largest fundraisers. The loss of funding forced the organization to pause its community grants and identify new funding sources in order to continue running its year-round education and advocacy programs.
In 1989 the leadership of San Diego Pride envisioned a model of organizing and fundraising that, in addition to supporting the organization’s own events and programs, would turn a profit to be invested in building capacity within the LGBTQ community. This model helped San Diego Pride give out grants starting in 1994, allowing the organization to become one of the most philanthropic Prides in the world. San Diego Pride has given out over $3.2 million to LGBTQ-serving organizations locally, nationally, and globally. After a record-setting year in 2019 San Diego Pride distributed $340,000 to 60 organizations.
“Over the last 2 years, as the world changed, so did the ways we give back to our community,” said San Diego Pride executive director, Fernando Z. López. “During this time our philanthropy has looked like providing masks for seniors, free vaccines, food and clothing drives, scholarships for transgender students, and giving grocery gifts cards to bar and restaurant workers at LGBTQ-owned small businesses. Today we are finally able to bring back our Community Grants, and I am honored to be a part of a Pride organization that continues to focus on investing in our community and the broader movement.”
2021 Funding Recipients include:
California Community Education Center, Deaf Community Services, FilmOut San Diego, Gay Men’s Spiritual Retreat, GLSEN San Diego, Hillcrest Business Association, House of Resilience, Imperial Court de San Diego, Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center, Lambda Archives of San Diego, Live and Let Live Alano Club, Minority Humanitarian Foundation, Pacific Arts Movement, PFLAG San Diego, Pozabilities, Rainbow Spaces, San Diego Black LGBTQ Coalition, San Diego County LGBTQ&Allies Employee Resource Group, San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus, San Diego Women’s Chorus, South Bay Alliance, Special Delivery, Stepping Stone San Diego, Stronghearted Women’s Coalition, Tracie Jada Obrian Transgender Student Scholarship Fund, Trans Family Support Services, Transgender Day of Empowerment
“The last two years have been extremely challenging for everyone, and San Diego Pride is thrilled to be able to once again offer community grants to the many deserving organizations doing vital work,” said San Diego Pride Director of Philanthropy, Kelcie Kopf. “On a typical year Pride’s grant funding would have invested in local, national, and international LGBTQIA work. This year we are focusing our giving on smaller local organizations, to help foster their resilience as we all work to emerge safe and strong from the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
San Diego Pride’s Holiday Mixer recognizes the organization’s annual community partners and grantees. Pride staff and grantees will be available for interviews.