- Community Impact
- Contigo Fund
- Grant Program
- Field of Interest Funds
- South Florida HIV/AIDS Fund
- CEO Leadership Network
- Supported Agencies
- National Leadership Forum
- South Florida LGBT Philanthropy Awards
Connecting People Who Care with Causes That Matter
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.
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.
A COMMUNITY RESPONDS
In the wake of the tragic event that occurred at Pulse nightclub in Orlando targeting LGBTQ people of color, Our Fund Foundation has stepped forward to lead a coalition of national foundations to fund and create an initiative to improve the lives of LGBTQ Central Floridians. CONTIGO ('With You') FUND is an effort to strengthen and network existing agencies and to identify and support grassroots efforts that advance Latinx and LGBTQ causes and the intersection of these two communities.
Program Director Marco Antonio Quiroga is based in Orlando and is overseeing the grant process to distribute funds to strengthen LGBTQ and Latinx Central Florida. A request for proposal is being developed along with a timeline for applications and distribution of funds.
Organizations, community groups and community leaders interested in finding out more are invited to contact Marco at MQuiroga@Our-Fund.org
More on the Contigo Fund
Más en el Fondo Contigo
Supporting our valued agencies
Our Fund Foundation's Grant Program seeks to fund proposed ideas, projects and programs from non-profit organizations advancing LGBT causes and issues in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties. Grant monies raised through cause-related and unrestricted endowments are directed to Our Fund granting and are awarded twice annually.
Applications are reviewed by Our Fund Foundation's Community Grant Review Committee, which is comprised of community volunteers and one Our Fund board member. Grants are approved by Our Fund Foundation's Board of Directors.
In addition to Our Fund Foundation’s discretionary grants, Our Fund administers the John C. Graves Fund at Our Fund and the Tuesday’s Angels Fund at Our Fund. Applications received through Our Fund’s bi-annual grant solicitation process are reviewed by the independent grant committees of the Graves Fund and the Tuesday’s Angels Fund. Applicants whose programs intersect with the funding priorities of either of these two Funds receive consideration from that Fund in addition to receiving consideration from Our Fund – thus increasing the likelihood and amount of potential funding.
About the John C. Graves Fund
About The Tuesday’s Angels Fund at Our Fund
Grant Application
Grant Guidelines
Grant Impact Report
Community Grants Brochure
The South Florida HIV/AIDS Fund at Our Fund Foundation was established to stimulate
private philanthropy and initiate grantmaking in HIV prevention within South Florida, addressing priorities and enhancing services within current HIV prevention to ensure communities at the highest risk of the epidemic are reached.
Providing much-needed targeted support
Our Fund has determined six 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.
HIV/AIDS Fund recognizes the unique situation that exists in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties as the #1 and #2 counties in the U.S. for new HIV/AIDS transmissions – with most new cases involving MSM (men who have sex with men). The Fund provides HIV services in South Florida and promotes education and public awareness on HIV/AIDS issues.
Arts & Culture 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 LGBT voices and works in the service of preserving, telling and celebrating LGBT stories and to promoting LGBT equality and social justice.
Social Justice Fund Our Fund’s Social Justice Fund envisions a world in which all LGBT people live with dignity, safety, and opportunity. Preference for grants from the Fund is given to agencies, programs and services that increase LGBT inclusion and acceptance and expand LGBT-affirming protections.
In addition, Our Fund supports four free-standing initiatives in partnership with local and national partners:
Support a Fund
Supporting projects in HIV prevention
The South Florida HIV/AIDS Fund at Our Fund Foundation was established to stimulate private philanthropy and initiate grantmaking in HIV prevention within South Florida, addressing priorities and enhancing services within current HIV prevention to ensure communities at the highest risk of the epidemic are reached.
Our Fund Foundation releases this Request for Proposal (RFP) to fund enhanced HIV prevention services in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Our Fund Foundation seeks grant proposals that reflect promising, best, and/or innovative practices in the prevention of HIV transmission and infection. Grant proposals must demonstrate HIV prevention activities that combine outreach, engagement, education, testing, navigation, and follow-up support. Proposed projects must include a case management component that addresses the contributing factors and root causes associated with risky behavior such as social determinants of health and health promotion. Proposals must target young black and/or latinx men between the ages of 18 to 34 years old in Miami-Dade and/or Broward Counties who have sex with men. Proposed programming must be culturally relevant and designed to overcome existing stigma and trust issues.
Request for Proposal (RFP)
Grant Application
Uniting LGBT leadership
Our Fund Foundation hosts quarterly meetings of executive leaders serving organizations that advance LGBT 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 LGBT causes. Our Fund Foundation is proud to partner with these agencies to create a more livable community for all residents of South Florida. Click here to see list of agencies active in the lives of South Floridians.
List of Agencies
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.
Helping to inform our community
Our Fund Foundation annually presents in the fall a community conversation on topics of national and international importance to the LGBTQ community and its allies. Join Our Fund’s email list and learn more about how you can attend the Fall Forum by signing up below.
Register Here
Meet the Moderator:
Nadine Smith
Nadine Smith is co-founder and executive director of Equality Florida, the state’s LGBTQ advocacy organization. She served as one of four national co-chairs on the 1993 March on Washington and participated in the historic, first-ever meeting between LGBT leaders and a sitting U.S. president (Clinton) in the White House. She currently serves as chair of the Leadership Team for State Voices Florida a coalition of progressive 501c3 organizations. Nadine has been recognized for her national and state leadership by The Task Force, HRC, NCLR, the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum, The League of Women Voters, and others.
Meet the Panelists:
Michael Adams
Michael Adams is the Chief Executive Officer of SAGE (Advocacy and Services for LGBT Elders), the world’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older people. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is a national organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources to LGBT older people and their caregivers. SAGE also advocates for public policy changes that address the needs of LGBT elders, provides education and technical assistance for aging providers and LGBT community organizations through its National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, and cultural competency training through SAGECare. With staff located across the country, SAGE also coordinates SAGENet, a growing network of affiliates in the United States.
Adams, a graduate of Stanford Law School and Harvard College, previously served as Director of Education and Public Affairs and Deputy Legal Director for Lambda Legal. Prior to that, he was Litigation Director of the ACLU’s Lesbian and Gay Rights Project. He has served on advisory councils for AARP, the American Society on Aging, and the New York City Department for the Aging, among others. Adams is the Chair-Elect of the American Society on Aging.
Mara Keisling
Mara Keisling is the founder and executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, the nation’s leading social justice advocacy organization winning life-saving change for transgender people. Mara’s strategy and vision have guided NCTE’s work since 2003. She has led organizational and coalition efforts that have won significant advances in transgender equality, including the inclusion of gender identity in the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act from 2007 onward and countless other federal- and state-level wins. Mara also co-authored Injustice at Every Turn, the groundbreaking 2009 report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, and the report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey.
Mara, a proud Pennsylvanian, received her bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and did graduate work in American Government at Harvard University. Prior to founding NCTE, Mara worked for 25 years in social marketing and opinion research.
Shannon Minter
Shannon Minter is the Legal Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), a leading advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
Minter has been lead counsel in several important cases impacting LGBTQ equality, such as the landmark California marriage equality case; Christian Legal Society v. Martinez, a U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding student group policies prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity; and Pareto v. Rubin, in which Equality Florida and six plaintiff couples won the right to marry in Miami-Dade County, whichresulted in the first same sex marriages conducted in Florida on January 5th, 2015.
Honoring Impactful Philanthropists
On February 9th, 2019, Our Fund held the inaugural South Florida LGBT Philanthropy Awards. The annual event will recognize those individuals who demonstrate a significant philanthropic impact on South Florida's LGBT community. The generosity and actions of these philanthropists help to make South Florida the most livable community in the country for LGBT people.
Honorees
Doug Pew
Commitment to a Cause Award
Nominated by the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida for the hours, weeks, months and years of passion and leadership he dedicated to launching the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida, Doug continues to be a driving force behind the scenes of the Chorus, fueling the amazing growth of the agency. Husband to Don Croxton, a singer in the Chorus, Doug epitomizes the purpose of the Commitment to a Cause Award through both his spirit of volunteerism and his extreme generosity of resources.
Chris Caputo
Next Generation Award
Robert Boo says about Board Chair Chris Caputo that he has the ability to influence others and convince them to do something great. It is exactly this quality that made Chris an obvious choice for our selection committee. In Chris, we honor a young, generous leader who we know will inspire his peers to engage with their community as donors, volunteers and leaders.
Jim Stepp & Peter Zimmer
Raising the Bar Award
Because of Jim and Peter’s thoughtful generosity to numerous LGBT agencies and causes in South Florida, Our Fund is especially proud that they are our inaugural Raising the Bar Award recipient, designating them as South Florida’s LGBT Philanthropists of the Year. In addition to the impact they have made through their philanthropy which made them the unanimous choice of our selection committee, Jim was also a founding member of Our Fund’s Board of Directors and played an instrumental role in creating the underpinnings of Our Fund’s financial and organizational structure.
Dick Schwarz
Lifetime Achievement Award
Dick Schwarz was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his good work going back decades. He is a supporter of many organizations – too many to mention in the time allotted here. And he is not only generous with his financial support – but his volunteer work is legendary and has helped to establish the underpinnings of some of our most visible and largest non-profits – including Our Fund where he served as Treasurer in our first five years. Going forward, the Lifetime Achievement Award will be known as the Dick Schwarz Lifetime Achievement Award.