Our Fund Foundation is a community partner that creates a better future for all by pursuing the community’s greatest opportunities and addressing its most critical challenges. By inclusively uniting people, institutions and resources from throughout South Florida, Our Fund produces significant, widely shared and lasting results.
Connecting People Who Care with Causes That Matter
Through its grant programs, philanthropy initiatives, and agency and community networking and education efforts, Our Fund stands as a powerful force for good in South Florida and is committed to community leadership as a key strategy for delivering community impact.
Providing much-needed targeted support
Our Fund has determined seven fields of interests that are especially important to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. Whether you decide to establish your own fund, contribute to a field of interest fund, or give directly to a specific organization, Our Fund is here to make the connection so that you have the best philanthropic choice.
Youth Fund
Our Fund’s Youth Fund uplifts LGBTQ youth and strives to provide safe and productive home and school environments. Funds are distributed to South Florida agencies that address the staggering statistics of violence and bullying affecting LGBTQ youth that result in poorer educational and health outcomes versus cisgender heterosexual counterparts, including lower GPAs, less likely planning for higher eduation and more likely experience of self-esteem problems.
Elder's Fund
Women's Fund
Transgender Fund
HIV/AIDS Fund
Arts & Culture Fund
Our Fund recognizes the importance of arts and culture to inspire, empower and transform individuals and communities. Grants from this fund promote South Florida artistic expression that amplifies LGBTQ voices and works in the service of preserving, telling and celebrating LGBTQ stories and to promoting LGBTQ equality and social justice.
Social Justice Fund
Our Fund’s Social Justice Fund envisions a world in which all LGBTQ people live with dignity, safety, and opportunity. Preference for grants from the Fund is given to agencies, programs and services that increase LGBTQ inclusion and acceptance and expand LGBTQ-affirming protections.
SAGE@Sunshine Friendly Visitor Program
Given that LGBTQ older adults are twice as likely to live alone, they are more susceptible to the health disparities created by aging in isolation. With SAGE@Sunshine, Our Fund brings together SAGE, the world’s oldest and largest organization working with and on behalf of LGBTQ older people, and Sunshine Cathedral whose Noble A. McArtor Adult Day Care Center was founded to create a safe, open and home-like atmosphere for all seniors and their caregivers to enjoy. Together, these two agencies match community volunteers with socially isolated, often home-bound LGBTQ elders to form relationships that are mutually rewarding and relieve chronic isolation.
Uniting LGBTQ Leadership
Our Fund Foundation hosts quarterly meetings of executive leaders serving organizations that advance LGBTQ causes in South Florida. The program serves to unite South Florida’s non-profit community and introduce organizations and leaders to each other with the hopes of identifying areas of interest and potential collaboration.
To learn more about participation in the CEO Leadership Network: please contact David Jobin at DJobin@Our-Fund.org
Agencies who make a difference
South Florida enjoys a wide and diverse network of non-profits that serve to advance LGBTQ causes. Our Fund Foundation is proud to partner with these agencies to create a more livable community for all residents of South Florida.
Health & Wellness
Our Fund’s grantmaking addresses the unique health related risks and disparities LGBTQ individuals experience, including physical, emotional, social, and behavioral aspects of health as well as the social isolation of LGBTQ elders. Included as priorities for Our Fund are HIV/AIDS, addiction and mental health, and healthcare access, affordability, and responsiveness.
Equality & Social Justice
This grantmaking category encompasses discrimination prevention, equity, and inclusion and includes advocacy, political mobilization, rights, and legal protections. It is applicable to prejudice, bullying, hate crimes, and vulnerable population and minority population empowerment.
Arts & Culture
Our Fund recognizes the importance of the arts and culture to inspire, empower and transform individuals and communities. Grants from this fund promote South Florida artistic expression that amplifies LGBTQ voices and works in the service of preserving, telling and celebrating LGBTQ stories and promoting LGBTQ equality and social justice.
Click here to see list of agencies active in the lives of South Floridians.
If you know of an organization that is not listed, please contact Obed Caballero at OCaballero@our-fund.org as Our Fund Foundation is eager to learn about new agencies and engage them in the programs of Our Fund.
2023 South Florida LGBTQ Philanthropy Awards
The fourth annual LGBTQ Philanthropy Awards was held on February 18, 2023.
The annual awards reception will celebrate outstanding philanthropists who give of their time, talent and treasure to the South Florida LGBTQ community. Honorees and guests will enjoy a cocktail reception in the lower courtyard prior to the ceremony in the Mary Porter Riverview Ballroom.
“It is a privilege to recognize these inspiring philanthropists who bring our mission to life,” said David Jobin, president and CEO, Our Fund Foundation. “We are humbled and grateful for Bank of America Private Bank’s continued generous support which enables us to pay fitting tribute to these remarkable leaders who help make South Florida the most liveable and energetic community in the country for LGBTQ people.”
2022 LGBTQ Philanthropy Awards
2023 Honorees
Didier Mortiz & Erwin Mayer
Philanthropists of the Year
Erwin and Didier have long championed a number of philanthropic causes, particularly focused in the LGBTQ community and animal rights, and are proud supporters of The Our Fund Foundation initiatives.
Nik Harris
Commitment to a Cause Award
Nik Harris is a queer gender non-conforming attorney, activist, and speaker, and co-founded the signature open mic event “Thou Art Woman” that celebrates LBTQ women.
Jeff Oliverio
Next Generation of Philanthropy
Jeff serves as Chair for the National LBGTQ Task Force Gala Miami and is a founding member and Treasurer of the Hollywood LGBTQ+ Council. He also serves as Chair for the Truist PRIDE Business Resource Group for South Florida.
Chuck Nicholls
Dick Schwarz Award for Lifetime Achievement
Chuck has dedicated time and resources to impact countless LGBTQ organizations in South Florida over the past decades. Among his volunteer and philanthropic roles, he served as President for Tuesday’s Angels, an organization that provided critical life-saving support for people living with HIV/AIDS in South Florida.
Helping to inform our community
With unprecedented legislative efforts aimed at dismantling hard-earned LGBTQ civil rights, it is more critical than ever to remain informed, vigilant, and focused. Equality Florida has assembled a panel of LGBTQ leaders to discuss the impact of the November 8th election, coupled with recent legislative actions, and what our community can do to determine our own future in Florida, and beyond.
Hosted with Equality Florida, the annual Fall Forum was held on Monday, November 14th at the NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale.
Moderator:
Israel Gutierrez, ESPN Sports Reporter
Panelists:
Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, Executive Director, GLSEN
Shannon Minter, Legal Director, NCLR
Lucia Baez-Geller, School Board Member, Miami-Dade Public Schools
Ian Siljestrom, Safe Schools Director, Equality Florida
Stratton Pollitzer, Deputy Director, Equality Florida