Helping Donors Assist Tulsa Area Nonprofits That Are Committed

To Diversity.

Gay & Lesbian Fund for Tulsa

In 2003, a group of Tulsa, Oklahoma citizens formed the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Tulsa. This donor-advised fund was established with the Tulsa Community Foundation and will provide funding to selected eligible nonprofits in the Tulsa area.

The Gay & Lesbian Fund for Tulsa will consolidate and brand money given by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) community and their allies. These funds and certain matching funds from the Gill Foundation will provide an important source of grants to non-LGBT and non-HIV/AIDS causes. Organizations that receive grants from the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Tulsa must have a nondiscrimination policy that includes sexual orientation and must recognize the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Tulsa as the grant source.

Every day, the LGBT community and its allies support causes and organizations that affect everyone's quality of life. Because there has been no way of identifying money coming from these committed community members, this philanthropy has been, to some extent, "invisible." The Gay & Lesbian Fund for Tulsa is committed to bringing to light this previously invisible philanthropy. This effort is modeled after the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado, a fund of the Gill Foundation, which since 1996 has given millions of dollars to nonprofits on behalf of the gay and lesbian community in Colorado. We are proud to be an affiliated program with the Gill Foundation.

The Gay & Lesbian Fund for Tulsa will offer several advantages to donors including:

•  Screening of nonprofit organizations for fairness in employment. The fund will screen local 501(C)(3) nonprofit organizations to ensure that they support inclusive policies and diversity by having in place an employment non-discrimination policy which includes sexual orientation before they are eligible for funding.
•  Advocacy and education. The fund will advocate for inclusion of sexual orientation in nonprofit employment policies and will assist organizations and their boards to develop and pass such policies.
•  Visibility for gay and lesbian philanthropy. Donors can continue to support the organizations of their choice by designating funds to those nonprofits; but by passing the donation through the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Tulsa, they mark those dollars as coming from the LGBT community and their families, friends and allies. In addition, when donor recognition is given to contributions made through the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Tulsa, the public becomes aware of the significant contributions being made by this important segment of their community. Donors may, if they wish, elect to remain anonymous through their giving to the Tulsa Community Foundation.
•  Enhancing the quality of life in the Tulsa area for everyone. Donors can elect to contribute to a general pool of funds from which the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Tulsa will make grants to nonprofit organizations in selected areas such as public broadcasting, arts and culture, social justice or children, youth and families. The fund will assess nonprofit organizations in order to make grants that best enhance the Tulsa community.
• Increasing the impact and awareness of contributions. By consolidating contributions of numerous donors and applying matching Gill dollars where appropriate, the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Tulsa will increase the impact and visibility for donors and their contributions.

If you are interested in making a tax-deductible contribution to the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Tulsa, please download the linked form and mail to the address provided. For more information on the fund and its causes, you can contact us at info@gayandlesbianfundfortulsa.orgor through the Tulsa Community Foundation, (918) 494-8823.

If your nonprofit is interested in applying for funds or wishes to have assistance on revising your policies and procedures to include sexual orientation, please contact us at info@gayandlesbianfundfortulsa.org. You may also call the Tulsa Community Foundation at (918) 494-8823 and they can help direct you to more information.

Resources:

Donation Form

 List of Grantees