SIX LOCAL & NATIONAL LGBTQ+ ORGANIZATIONS
The Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation is proud to announce the non-profit beneficiaries for this year's season of events. Since 1989, the all-volunteer Foundation has been producing the annual REAL BAD fundraising event that follows San Francisco’s world-renowned Folsom Street Fair on SundaIn an environment where production costs continue to soar, 2026 The Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation committed to donating 100 percent of the general admission ticket price of the historically sold-out REAL BAD to six worthy LGBTQ nonprofits in the Bay Area. Last year, the Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation donated $318,000, and has given back more than $4.6 million to the community since its inception.
Beneficiaries
The four LGBTQ non-profit organizations named as Tier A 2026 beneficiaries of the Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation represent diverse causes within the community. The beneficiary organizations selected to receive new or continued unrestricted Tier A grant funding this year are:
Maitri (2026-2027)
Maitri is a sanctuary of loving-kindness, providing healing and specialized support for people living with HIV/AIDS and those undergoing gender affirmation surgery.
Pepper Diet Academy (PDA) (2026-2027)
Pepper Diet Academy is a retreat for gay men in recovery, offering workshops and activities focused on sex, intimacy, and relationships, all informed by the spiritual principles of 12‑step recovery.
Oasis Legal Services (2025-2026)
Oasis Legal Services empowers low-income LGBTQ+ Immigrants who have survived violence and persecution due to their sexuality, gender identity, and/or HIV status by increasing access to quality, culturally responsive legal representation and social services.
TACT (Trans Advocacy & Care Team) (2025-2026)
Providing free, sliding-scale support services and resources, ensuring no trans person has to face the world alone.+
The two non-profits selected as Tier B 2026 beneficiaries, each receiving a $10,000 grant this year, are:
Caminar’s mission is to build strength and stability through comprehensive mental health and substance use treatment delivered through evidence-based, whole-person care. Based in San Mateo, Caminar serves seven California counties: San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Francisco, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, and Butte. We serve over 48,000 community members a year and carry the vision to be a beacon of safety, compassion, and fulfillment, supporting all those in our communities who need it most
The Men of ONYX is a national organization started in 1995 to create space in the leather and kink communities for Black men. The goal of ONYX has expanded and it is currently; to provide information, brotherly bonds and accepting spaces where Black, Indigenous, men of color can learn and play together while simultaneously supporting the larger BIPOC community.
Daniel Blair, Beneficiary Committee Chair said, “our Beneficiary Committee invests significant time reviewing, discussing, and evaluating every application. We are committed to supporting organizations that create meaningful, lasting change and make a positive impact where it matters most. Each grant awarded reflects our dedication to strengthening communities and carrying forward a legacy of giving that continues to do good for good for generations to come”
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 over $4.2 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.