Horizons Foundation announced the 44 recipients of grants totaling $753,372 through its flagship Community Issues (CI) funding program this year. CI grants provide general operating support to grassroots LGBTQ organizations and programs based in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. They fund vital work across a diverse range of service areas, including youth, advocacy and civil rights, arts and culture, community building and leadership, and health and human services. View the full list of 2024 CI grantee partners. 

The total awarded amount—more than $750,000—is the highest in the history of Horizons’ CI funding program, with individual awards ranging up to $20,000, an increase from last year’s maximum award of $15,000. This marks a significant growth in the foundation’s commitment to sustaining and expanding the infrastructure of the LGBTQ community.  

Notably, 45% of this year’s grantees are multi-year partners. Horizons’ commitment to increase multi-year funding is in alignment with its focus on building long-term sustainability and impact within LGBTQ organizations. These multi-year grants provide organizations and programs with the stability to carry out their critical missions over time, enabling them to focus on growth and development rather than short-term funding gaps. 

“These grant awards strengthen our LGBTQ community by providing essential funding to support their ongoing work in advocacy, resilience, and empowerment,” said Joshua Delfin, Senior Program Officer at Horizons Foundation. “With Horizons’ commitment and the support of our donors and philanthropic partners, these organizations will continue to be at the forefront of change and stand as a testament to the vitality of the LGBTQ Bay Area community.” 

Horizons’ cross-sectional funding invests in the leadership and diversity of the LGBTQ community and organizations that address multiple populations. Some of the organizations and programs receiving funding include LGBTQ Connection, a queer youth-focused program for Napa and Sonoma County residents; The LGBT Asylum Project, San Francisco’s only organization exclusively dedicated to legal representation for LGBTQ asylum seekers; and The Castro Country Club, a safe and sober community center for people recovering from addiction. 

“In today’s political climate, LGBTQIA+ youth, peers, and elders face escalating violence, harassment, and discrimination leading to severe impacts on mental health and rising rates of suicidal ideation,” said Solicia Aguilar, Program Director at LGBTQ Connection. “This funding strengthens our ability to provide critical, direct services and connect people to vital resources across Sonoma and Napa Counties.” 

“In 2025, we anticipate more need for our services, as fear of anti-immigrant policies take shape,” said Okan Sengun and Kenan Arun, Co-Executive Directors of The LGBT Asylum Project. “Horizons’ funding enables us to provide free legal services for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and create safe spaces for LGBTQ+ immigrants.” 

“We are a small organization that struggles to get our foot in the door of foundation funding,” said Billy Lemon, Executive Director of The Castro Country Club. “Horizons targets our kind of organization with focus and intention. This grant will help fund our workforce development cafe, which is the heart of our organization and provides a safe space for folks to gather 365 days a year.”  

As part of its commitment to community-driven philanthropy, Horizons Foundation relies on a participatory grantmaking model in which community reviewers guide its awards decisions. The grant review process is led by members of the LGBTQ community, ensuring that grant decisions reflect the needs, values, and priorities of the communities they serve. This inclusive, grassroots approach strengthens Horizons’ commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, particularly in the Bay Area. Click here for more information on the 2024 Community Issues funding program and to learn more about Horizons Foundation’s work. 
 
About Horizons Foundation 

Horizons Foundation is the first community foundation in the U.S. of, by, and for the LGBTQ community. Established in 1980, invests in LGBTQ organizations, strengthens a culture of LGBTQ giving, and builds a permanent endowment to secure our community’s future. We envision a world where all LGBTQ people live freely and fully. Learn more at horizonfoundation.org.