July 6, 2006

Equity Action grants target advocacy, strengthen organizations

$63,000 supports projects helping LGBTQ youth, families, civil rights for all

Supporting advocacy efforts and strengthening the nonprofit organizations that serve Rhode Island’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities rank high on a new list of Equity Action Fund grants totaling $63,000 to five organizations.
Equity Action is a three-year-old initiative of The Rhode Island Foundation. Its most recent awards bring total grants made to benefit the LGBTQ community to more than $250,000.

Ocean State Action Fund to support Marriage Equality Rhode Island staffing
Ocean State Action Fund received $15,000 for continued support of Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI), a grassroots, volunteer-driven effort that seeks legal recognition of same-sex couples through civil marriage in Rhode Island. The grant provides funding for a second staff person who is responsible for administrative support of the campaign. The Cranston-based organization notes, “MERI’s role is to change the overall climate toward equal marriage in Rhode Island…We are looking for equality under the law, fairness, and recognition of commitment and love.”

Youth Pride to decrease homophobia in schools
With its $15,000 grant, Providence-based Youth Pride will develop the YPI Action Team, a group of LGBTQ youth activists and adult allies/mentors who will organize, educate, and advocate for safe learning environments in Rhode Island schools. In its request for support, the organization explains, “YPI believes strongly in the necessity of a systemic approach to alleviating the obstacles faced by LGBTQ youth, as their individual difficulties stem directly from the homophobic environments in which they live, work, study, and play.”

PFLAG to build capacity of South/Central Rhode Island Chapter
Parents, Families, Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) of South/Central Rhode Island, incorporated earlier this year, is seeking to build membership and serve as a resource on LGBTQ issues. Its $13,000 award provides funds for the Warwick-based organization to develop a website and purchase supplies and equipment, including a computer. The organization seeks to assist “the many Rhode Island families who may be struggling to accept their child’s sexual orientation…These children and their parents may be like us in initially not knowing where to turn for information and support.”

GLAD to continue its Civil Rights Project in Rhode Island
A $10,000 grant to Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) will support the Boston-based organization’s Civil Rights Project in Rhode Island which seeks to ensure that state laws and policies protect the families of LGBTQ individuals. The organization notes that it will “use a combination of legal strategies, advocacy, legislative lawyering, and public education to achieve full civil rights protection for the LGBTQ community in Rhode Island.”

Rhode Island Pride to provide expanded community outreach
Rhode Island Pride will use its $10,000 award to pay an office manager. In its request for support, the Providence-based organization explains, “The needs of the Rhode Island LGBT community have greatly expanded in recent years…This grant will allow RI Pride volunteers to do important outreach work in the community and to plan and administer more events which bring the community together.”

Future opportunities for Equity Action funding
Equity Action has two funding cycles per year for project and capacity-building grants. The next application deadline is October 13 for these grants which range from $2,500 to $15,000. In addition, applications are accepted on a rolling basis for a small grants program for projects up to $2,500. Interested organizations can obtain further information by visiting Equity Action in the “Specials” section of www.rifoundation.org.