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LGBT Advocacy Organizations

What is the state of LGBT organizations’ financial health? Are the resources of local LGBT community centers sufficient to support the programs that are needed to serve the people who depend on them? How are statewide organizations balancing their work among various movement priorities, such as legislation, public education, coalition work and electoral campaigns? Which key LGBT issues are these organizations focused on right now? How have the lingering effects of the recent economic downturn affected the finances and operations of national LGBT advocacy organizations?

MAP provides answers to these and other questions so that supporters of LGBT equality can have a better understanding of the overall strength, capacity and operations of the LGBT movement. MAP’s ongoing analysis of the movement’s capacity provides organizations and their funders and supporters with information they can use to set goals and strategy, apply resources more effectively, and measure the success of the movement’s work. MAP’s analysis also allows for deeper understanding of the capacity of specific segments within the movement—including national advocacy organizations, statewide groups, local community centers, and international advocacy organizations.

Related Resources

Report

2023 National LGBTQI Movement Report (Annual)

January 2024 - This publicly available report series offers an annual snapshot look at the national LGBTQI movement’s revenue and expenses, fundraising, and other indicators of financial health.

Report

Unrestricted and Unprecedented: The Impact of MacKenzie Scott’s Large Gifts on LGBTQ Organizations

July 2023 - The report’s findings are based on a survey that examined the scope of the MacKenzie Scott's gifts to LGBTQI organizations and the transformative impact that these unrestricted gifts have had on organizations so far, allowing them to plan for the future and broaden their impact.

Report

COVID & the LGBTQI Movement in 2022 and 2023: Results from the Spring 2023 COVID Pulse Survey

July 2023 - This report provides the findings from the March-April 2023 Pulse Survey, in which LGBTQI organizations shared their experiences in 2022 and their current activities and plans for 2023. The latest in the Pulse Survey series, this report builds on 17 years of MAP's movement capacity research.

Report

2022 National LGBTQI Movement Report (Annual)

January 2023 - This publicly available report series offers an annual snapshot look at the national LGBTQI movement’s revenue and expenses, fundraising, and other indicators of financial health.

Report

2021 National LGBTQI Movement Report (Annual)

December 2021 - This publicly available report series offers an annual snapshot look at the national LGBTQI movement’s revenue and expenses, fundraising, and other indicators of financial health.

Report

COVID & the LGBTQI Movement in 2021: Results from the Q3 2021 COVID Pulse Survey

December 2021 - This report presents results from our Q3 pulse survey and demonstrates the impact of COVID-19 and the uncertainty that continues to mark how LGBTQI and allied organizations provide services and support to LGBTQI people.

Report

COVID & the LGBTQI Movement in 2021: Results from the Q2 2021 COVID Pulse Survey

September 2021 - This report presents results from our Q2 pulse survey and shows how LGBTQI and allied organizations have managed amid another resurgence of cases and the Delta variant of COVID-19.

Report

COVID & the LGBTQI Movement in 2021: Results from the Q1 2021 COVID Pulse Survey

June 2021 - This report uses survey data from Q1 2021 and provides LGBTQI and allied organizational reflections on 2020 overall and a first look at expectations for 2021.

Report

Looking Ahead to 2021: The Impact of COVID-19 on the LGBTQI Movement

January 2021 - This report uses survey data from November 2020and provides the broadest view of the pandemic’s impact on LGBTQI and allied organizations in 2020.

Report

Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on the LGBTQI Movement

September 2020 - This report examines the impact of COVID-19 on LGBTQI and allied organizations.

Presentation

Outlook on the LGBT Movement

December 2009 - This 2009 presentation assesses challenges and opportunities for the LGBT movement, examines barriers that impede support for LGBT equality by "moveable middle" Americans, and reviews recent progress in advancing political, legal and social equality for LGBT people in the U.S.

Report

LGBT Nonprofits and Their Funders in a Troubled Economy

April 2009 - Based on a 2009 survey of national, state and local LGBT organizations, as well as individual and institutional donors, this report provides a snapshot of how the economic downturn that began in 2008 affected LGBT movement organizations and their donors.

Report

International LGBT Advocacy Organizations and Their Programs

July 2008 - Work to promote LGBT equality around the globe has expanded rapidly over the past several years. This 2008 report provides advocates and funders with information on the growing number of international LGBT organizations, key players in the global LGBT equality movement, and more.

Report

State of the States Report

2010 - Compiled by the Equality Federation, this 2009 report analyzes LGBT statewide advocacy organizations’ staffing, board leadership, infrastructure, funding, capacity and policy priorities. Reports from 2006-2008, also available, were produced jointly by MAP and the Equality Federation.

Report

LGBTQ Grantmaking by U.S. Foundations

December 2011 - Compiled by the Equality Federation, this 2009 report analyzes LGBT statewide advocacy organizations’ staffing, board leadership, infrastructure, funding, capacity and policy priorities. Reports from 2006-2008, also available, were produced jointly by MAP and the Equality Federation.Produced annually since 2002 by Funders for LGBTQ Issues, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Queer Grantmaking by U.S. Foundations compiles information on the top funders and their areas of philanthropic focus.

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Sexual Orientation Policy Tally

The term “sexual orientation” is loosely defined as a person’s pattern of romantic or sexual attraction to people of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or more than one sex or gender. Laws that explicitly mention sexual orientation primarily protect or harm lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. That said, transgender people who are lesbian, gay or bisexual can be affected by laws that explicitly mention sexual orientation.

Gender Identity Policy Tally

“Gender identity” is a person’s deeply-felt inner sense of being male, female, or something else or in-between. “Gender expression” refers to a person’s characteristics and behaviors such as appearance, dress, mannerisms and speech patterns that can be described as masculine, feminine, or something else. Gender identity and expression are independent of sexual orientation, and transgender people may identify as heterosexual, lesbian, gay or bisexual. Laws that explicitly mention “gender identity” or “gender identity and expression” primarily protect or harm transgender people. These laws also can apply to people who are not transgender, but whose sense of gender or manner of dress does not adhere to gender stereotypes.

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