WHAT IS THE QUEER TEXAS CRISIS FUND?

The Queer Texas Crisis Fund is a joint project by Texas Pride Impact Funds and Equality Texas. The fund was created to raise at least $100,000 by to distribute to LGBTQ+ serving nonprofit organizations providing emergency relief to communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

In light of the medical crisis of COVID-19 and the continued fight for civil rights and racial justice, today more than ever, we need to support organizations providing direct service to our LGBTQ+ community members impacted by the pandemic and the effects of systemic racism which include restricted access to services, economic hardship, indignities at the hands of law enforcement, and food insecurity.

The campaign goes through September 30th and awards will be announced and distributed in early October.

Donors giving $250 or more to QTCF will be recognized at the Equality Texas annual gala, All Eyes on Texas.

Our goal is to raise at least $100,000. Please make your contribution today.

BECOME A QTCF SPONSOR

Donations to the Queer Texas Crisis Fund are collected through the Dallas Foundation and are tax-deductible. Sponsors will be recognized on Equality Texas and TPIF websites, social media, print materials and at online events including the Public Launch and Award Announcement Program.

Sponsorship Levels

• $5,000 donations receive logo representation
• $2,500 donations receive name representation

For additional information or to inquire about giving and recognition at a higher level, contact Judy Sherman at judys@txpif.org.

TO POTENTIAL APPLICANTS

We are prioritizing organizations providing emergency relief to LGBTQ+ communities as a response to COVID-19 and/or organizations leading critical social justice work at the intersections of racial justice and LGBTQ+ identities because of the disproportionate impact COVID-19, and systemic racism has had on these communities.

ORGANIZATIONAL SURVEY

Awards will be flexible and geared toward supporting general operations. To apply, eligible organizations are asked to participate in a low-barrier process by completing this simple application that should take less than ten minutes.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or documented fiscal sponsorship by an organization with current 501(c)(3) status.
2. Applicants must not discriminate with regard to race, color, gender, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, veteran status, physical disability, socioeconomic status, or source of income in its employment practices, selection of board members, selection of students, or acceptance of clients for services or products, or as otherwise provided by all applicable federal, state and local laws.
3. The program or service to be funded identifies or, at a minimum, estimates the number of LGBTQ Texans served.

WE DO NOT FUND

• Applications from individuals or government agencies
• National organizations or their local affiliates, except for programs developed at the local level to meet local needs in Texas
• Projects/programs outside the State of Texas
• Endowment funds
• Annual campaigns, capital campaigns, fundraising events, donor recognition events, event sponsorships
• Religious organizations, except for projects/programs/services directly addressing the mission of TPIF
• More than one application per organization
• Debt retirement
• Research

TIMELINE

June: Seed Funds Raised
July/August: Community and Sponsor Fundraising
July 13: Organization Survey Available
July 28: Online Launch Event, 6:00 pm CST
August 13: Last Day to Submit Questions** (11:00 pm CST); questions must be emailed to QTCFgrants@txpif.org
August 18: Organization Surveys Due (11:00 pm CST)
October: Awards Announced and Funds Awarded

OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPACT

• Based on HRC Foundation’s analyses of General Social Survey (GSS) data, more than 5 million LGBTQ+ people work in jobs that are more likely to be impacted by COVID-19. This includes those working in restaurants and food services, hospitals, K-12 and higher education, and retail industries.
• According to a 2019 Williams Institute analysis of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, about one in five LGBTQ adults in the United States (22%) live in poverty, compared to an estimated 16% poverty rate among their straight and cisgender counterparts. In particular, the poverty rates of transgender adults (29%) and cisgender bisexual women (29%) in the U.S. tower over those of other groups. Furthermore, Black (40%), and Latinx (45%) transgender adults are more likely to live in poverty than transgender people of any other race.
• In addition to higher rates of poverty, HRC Foundation’s analysis of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) found that one in five LGBTQ adults have not seen a doctor when needed because they could not afford it. To make matters worse, Black LGBTQ adults (23%), Latinx LGBTQ adults (24%), and all transgender women (29%) are most likely to have avoided going to the doctor because of costs.
• 2020 has laid bare the stark realities of modern-day racial disparities and inequities in our society with COVID-19 hitting poor and black and brown communities in Texas at a disproportionately alarming rate. Compounded by persistent examples of police violence towards black and brown people, this crisis must be urgently addressed. Structural racism and associated health disparities have continued for far too long. COVID-19 has only magnified the devastating consequences of leaving them unaddressed.

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WHO WE ARE

Equality Texas

The Equality Texas Foundation works to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Texans through education, community organizing, and collaboration.

Texas Pride Impact Funds

Texas Pride Impact Funds serves as a community foundation to propel the LGBTQ movement in Texas by supporting nonprofits that help thousands of our citizens across the state every day.