In honor of Pride Month, we’re highlighting the work of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM) in supporting the LGBTQ+ community in Southeast Michigan. 

CFSEM has been keenly focused on supporting the LGBTQ+ community for over two decades through its HOPE (Helping Others through Partnership and Education) Fund which was created to strengthen organizations and projects that support LGBTQ+ individuals and families through targeted grantmaking, projects and technical assistance.

According to CFSEM, in 1994, concerned civic leaders collaborated with the community foundation to confront a challenge affecting the LGBTQ+ community. The LGBTQ+ community — from youth to seniors — lacked essential human and social services. At that time CFSEM shared that few nonprofit agencies offered LGBTQ+-friendly programs, while LGBTQ+-led organizations were underfunded and understaffed.

The HOPE Fund was created at CFSEM in response to these challenges as a grantmaking and technical assistance program to focus on strengthening organizations and projects that serve the LGBTQ+ community. 

In 1995, a pivotal $43,000 challenge grant was received from the national Funders for LGBTQ Issues that helped to launch the initiative. 

In the over two decades since its inception, contributions of more than $3 million have been made to support The HOPE Endowment Fund, its grantmaking program and related efforts such as the Racial Equality Initiative.

CFSEM created and implemented the Racial Equality Initiative from 2007-2012, through the support of the Ford Foundation, Arcus Foundation and Funders for LGBTQ Issues.

According to CFSEM, the project’s focus was to intentionally support leadership capacity building of LGBTQ+ people of color-serving organizations in Southeast Michigan.

“The project helped to strengthen the leadership skills of individual LGBTQ+ leaders of color in addition to building the capacity of organizations in areas such as board development, volunteer management and fundraising,” Surabhi Pandit, director of Human Services Initiatives at CFSEM said. 

As a part of this initiative, the LGBT Racial Equity Endowment was created and continues to support LGBTQ+ leaders of color and people of color-serving organizations and projects.

Through the process of administering the fund, CFSEM shared that they have learned more about the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community and have strived to ensure that their grantmaking efforts reflect the varying needs of all LGBTQ+ people in their region.

Over the last 25 years, more than 163 grants totaling over $2.2 million have been distributed through the HOPE Fund, resulting in a more responsive, creative array of services, programs and organizations for Southeast Michigan’s LGBTQ+ community.

“What is amazing to see is that we continue to engage donors today who were initial donors to The HOPE Fund over 25 years ago – they understand the ‘why’ and have continued to support our work over the years. We are continually working on innovative ways to raise awareness about the work of The HOPE Fund and engage new donors,” Pandit said. 

CFSEM continues to work closely with their nonprofit partners who are on the ground to understand their needs and inform the design of flexible and responsive grantmaking programs.

“In the early months of the pandemic, The HOPE Fund proactively responded to needs in the LGBTQ+ community in Southeast Michigan through grants totaling $200,000 to five leading organizations. This pandemic has highlighted disparities throughout our country and we know the LGBTQ+ community has been and continues to be disproportionately impacted by COVID-19,” Pandit said. 

The fund includes a diverse committee of community leaders and advocates that assist in the fund’s development efforts and recommendations for annual grantmaking.

CFSEM shared that supporting the LBGTQ+ community has provided more opportunities for the community foundation to expand its reach and support of equity-focused organizations and initiatives.

“The relationships built with LGBTQ+-serving organizations has given the community foundation the ability to open doors to other grants from non-LGBTQ+- focused funds or initiatives of CFSEM,” Pandit shared. 

CFSEM is proud of the support that has flowed from its HOPE Fund but says they recognize a deep commitment to equity and inclusion must continue as there is “still so much work to be done towards creating a culture where all people feel valued, loved and have the essential resources they need to live a healthy and long-lasting life.”

Want more?

Learn more about The HOPE Fund