$265,000 GRANTED IN 2023 $3,962,000 TOTALED SINCE 1989
2023 GRANTS
The Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation is excited to announce that our extremely successful season of fundraising events allowed us to grant $240,000 to ten local LGBTQ nonprofits. Additionally, we awarded $25,000 in We Rise LGBTQ Scholarships.
Tom Tarn, Events Chair for the 2023 said, “I’m humbled by the success of this year’s events. The amount GRGRF is able to grant to our incredible beneficiaries today is reflective of the spirit and dedication of our members and of our volunteers. I want everyone to know what a joy it’s been for me to serve in this role, in an organization with such an estimable history of doing good and changing lives in the Bay Area’s LGBTQ community.” Our grants were made to the following organizations:
Bay Area Girls Rock Club, Give Us The Floor, Larkin Street, Music Connects Foundation, National AIDS Memorial, ONYX Northwest, Queer LifeSpace, SF Community Health Center, SF LGBT Center, Transgender Law Center
Ten We Rise LGBTQ Scholarships of $2,500 each were awarded to our sophomore class of recipients. This program was born of the notion that helping out an individual lifts our entire community. Our grants provide support for individuals attending schools or vocational training programs—launching their careers and changing their futures.
Spencer Adam, incoming 2024 Events Chair said, “I’m incredibly honored to serve in this new capacity, and I look forward to working with such a passionate team of volunteers for our Season of Events including REAL BAD 35. I hope my year of service to this organization helps further its mission of changing lives by promoting a happy, healthy, and connected Bay Area LGBTQ community.”
WHO WE ARE
The Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation is a 100% volunteer-run nonprofit 501(c)(3). Our yearly fundraising efforts uplift individuals via the We Rise LGBTQ Scholarship and have provided nearly $4 million to local and national beneficiary organizations since 1989.
WE RISE LGBTQ SCHOLARSHIP
In 2022, we started the We Rise LGBTQ Scholarship program. Born of the notion that helping an individual lifts our entire community, the grant focuses on the development of skills necessary to find meaningful employment opportunities. We offer financial assistance for students attending post-High School education or vocational training—kickstarting their careers and changing their futures.
HOW WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Over the years, the funds we raise have been donated to many LGBTQ service, health and advocacy organizations in the Bay Area and nationally. We have utilized this grass roots approach to raise funds and support organizations that create local impact, sustainable results and measurable change, especially in the areas of LGBTQ civil rights, community development, social services, queer arts, HIV/AIDS and other health-related issues.