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The Endowment seeks to support LGBT organizations whose efforts are national in scope in the areas of health and community. Priority is given to efforts that have practical implications or applications. The Endowment does not support the delivery of direct services.

The Endowment supports national efforts that:

• Promote awareness of LGBT mental and physical health issues among consumers and/or health care providers;
• Advocate for and develop public policy for equal health care treatment or equal access to health care treatment for LGBT individuals;
• Advocate for and develop public policy to prevent further HIV/AIDS infection and to improve the lives of people with HIV/AIDS

• Develop policies that benefit LGBT youth and/or the children of LGBT families;
• Promote coalitions that work to strengthen advocacy efforts to improve conditions for LGBT individuals;
• Protect LGBT rights.

Within the funding priorities listed above, the Endowment looks for projects and organizations that:

• Pay particular attention to LGBT youth, elders, people of color, and families;
• Are led by LGBT people and are intended to respond to the needs and interests of LGBT individuals;
• Have a board and staff, which reflect the diversity of the communities served;
• Show evidence of sustained management and sound fiscal planning;
• Have the capacity to sustain itself beyond the funding period, or have a limited frame with lasting impact;
• Create links between national efforts and state or local organizational needs;
• Strengthen the connections between individuals and groups that typically would not have an opportunity to learn from each other, both within the LGBT community and between the LGBT community and other communities.

• General Operating: A grant given to support the general mission and work of an organization, including personnel, administration, and other expenses of existing programs. This may include support for programs previously supported by the Endowment that are now a part of the organization's regular operations.
• Project/Program: A grant given to fund a specific, well-defined new initiative or for the expansion of an existing program or project with new specific new goals.
• Capacity Building: A grant given to help an organization build the internal and external resources it needs to further its mission and become more self-sustaining. This might include the addition of new staff and/or equipment specifically to increase or enhance fundraising efforts.
• Local Pilot/Demonstration: A grant made to establish an innovative project or program at local level. The applicant must have specific plans to replicate the effort at a national level — should it prove successful.
• Continuation: A grant given to continue and/or expand work previously funded by the Rainbow Endowment. The work must have new objectives and associated activities.

The Endowment does not consider certain types of requests. Please review this section carefully before submitting a proposal.

• Regularly held or annual meetings (however, we will consider requests for special meetings or symposiums to develop strategies and action plans for addressing specific issues impacting the LGBT community);
• Fundraising dinners or event sponsorship;
• Financing of deficits;
• Organizations that do not have a 501(c)3 tax status, or a fiscal agent;
• Government agencies;
• Individual endeavors or scholarships for individuals;
• For-profit business ventures;
• Religious organizations for religious purposes;
• Endowment or capital campaigns;
• Election campaigns and lobbying;
• Delivery of direct services;
• Public or private grade and high schools;
• State and local programs and initiatives;
• Biomedical research.

Our grants range in size from $5,000 - $20,000 and are made on a semi-annual basis. Organizations are eligible to receive only one grant within a twelve-month period. The Endowment anticipates receiving more proposals than we can fund. No organization is guaranteed funding or grant renewal

All grant seekers must use the Rainbow Endowment's Grant Application Form to be considered for amounts of $5,000 to $20,000. All grant applications must be submitted electronically in PDF or Word format. The annual deadline for applications is midnight on the third Friday in May. Funding decisions will be made and announced in late October. Completed applications may not exceed 5 pages in total length. Format limits: Minimum font size 10 points and minimum 1 inch margin.

Email the completed application form to: [email protected]. You will receive an electronic confirmation when it is received.

The Rainbow Endowment's Grant Application is designed to be simpler and require less documentation up front; however, organizations selected to receive a grant will be required to produce the following documents prior to any payment being issued. Failure to provide information that corresponds directly to data contained in the application will result in forfeiture of the grant.

• Proof of 501 (c) status
• Most recent audited financial statement (or other financial documentation)
• Detailed organization budget
• Detailed project budget (if receiving other than general operating support)
• Board and staff list and demographics

Applications should be submitted to:

Executive Director
Rainbow Endowment
c/o Friends Center
1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102-1479

If you have any questions about these guidelines, you can contact us via email at [email protected] or leave a detailed message at (215) 241-7280. We will not respond to inquiries about the status of pending applications. You will receive an acknowledgment notice upon receipt of your application, and be contacted again once decisions are finalized.