The Gill Foundation provides grants to 130 organizations that work on a full range of issues nationally and in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Our grantees engage communities in conversations about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality and, over time, change hearts and minds. The videos on the right are stories of five grantees that highlight the diversity of our work.
For the Gill Foundation and our allies, 2009 was a unique year. With the economic downturn and a more supportive political environment, we saw unprecedented needs and opportunities.
Although the Gill Foundation’s assets declined more than 30 percent in 2009, we decided to continue giving at the same level so we could maximize every opportunity. Our level of giving was unchanged because Tim Gill took a page from Warren Buffet’s playbook and chose to be bold when others were timid.
Many of the opportunities for change occurred with state and municipal governments, which frequently move with greater speed and agility than the federal government. In many states, we provided funding to help with advocacy, public education, and litigation. The Equality North Carolina Foundation video highlights how for the first time ever a state in the south obtained legislation that was LGBT inclusive.
Learn more about our state work here.
The strength and diversity of our allies also propelled progress. Please watch the
A. Philip Randolph Institute video to learn how this labor organization is working to change the LBGT landscape by talking openly with their members about LGBT issues.
Learn more about our LGBT allies here.
In 2009, we saw a growing engagement in LGBT issues and more people having deeper and increasingly profound discussions about equality. The Basic Rights Education Fund (Oregon) and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force / SAGE videos highlight three organizations that are leading the way with more robust conversations at the local, state, and national level.
We felt the wind in our sails and we look forward to building on that momentum in the years to come
