The Arcus LGBT Program
Fund Goal: The goal of the Arcus LGBT Program is to advance social justice inclusive of sexual orientation, gender identity and race.
Fund Goal: The goal of the Arcus LGBT Program is to advance social justice inclusive of sexual orientation, gender identity and race.
Summary of Program Areas within the Arcus LGBT Program:
- Advancing LGBT Rights: Local to Global
- Michigan
- National
- International
- Religion & Values
- Racial Justice, Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity
Advancing LGBT Rights in Michigan More Information
- The goal of our work in Michigan is to achieve equality and respect for LGBT people and advance racial justice. Michigan remains the only U.S. state in which the Foundation has a dedicated program.
Our funding emphasis in Michigan consists of:
- Advancing statewide and local LGBT rights through policy and institutional change.
- Building the power, voice and leadership of LGBT people of color in Michigan.
- The Michigan Racial & Economic Justice Initiative, which is being piloted in Kalamazoo. The Initiative supports a network of nine grassroots community organizations.
Advancing LGBT Rights Nationally in the U.S. More Information
- The goal of our work on the National level is to advance LGBT rights in the U.S.
Our funding emphasis in this area consists of:
- Advancing LGBT policy at the state level
- through collaborations with other funders and
- through support of national organizations or networks engaged in policy research, training of organizers and other technical assistance designed to strengthen state policy outcomes.
- Advancing federal level policies, including, but not limited to, those involving LGBT aging, access to military service and immigration policy affecting LGBT people. Strategies focused on policy change at the federal agency level are of particular interest.
- Transforming the national LGBT movement to effectively address gender identity discrimination and transgender inclusion.
Advancing LGBT Rights Internationally More Information
- The goals of our work at the international level are to advance LGBT human rights in global policy arenas, to build capacity of pro-LGBT advocates in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and to substantially increase the funding for organizations that work on LGBT international human rights.
Our funding emphasis in this area consists of:
- Policy change at the global level and at the country level throughout the world.
- Improved capacity of pro-LGBT advocates working in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The Foundation engages in building the capacity of grassroots advocates by supporting intermediary organizations that have the experience, knowledge, skills and cultural competency to work with grassroots activists in these regions.
Please note: the Foundation does not directly support grassroots NGOs based in these three regions. - Substantially increase the funding for NGOs working on international LGBT human rights.
Religion & Values Program More Information
- The goal of the Religion & Values Program is to achieve LGBT moral equality.
Our funding emphasis in the Religion & Values Program consists of:
- Achieving policy change within religious denominations (e.g., Episcopal, Methodist, Lutheran) in the United States and globally.
- Influencing leaders and leadership structures in denominations where the potential for significant impact exists, e.g., Catholicism, the Baptist movement and Islam.
- Creating an effective pro-LGBT faith-based movement.
If your organization or project falls within this program, please call or email: Lucia Leandro Gimeno, Program Assistant, 212.488.3000 or
Racial Justice, Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Program More Information
- The goal of the Racial Justice, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Program is to achieve respect and equality for LGBT people of color.
Our funding emphasis in this area consists of:
- Building powerful LGBT people of color organizations and leaders and a strong autonomous movement to define and advance a coordinated policy agenda
- Advancing LGBT people of color policy priorities as part of core racial justice and LGBT movement agendas
- Supporting anchor institutions in communities of color to fully include their LGBT constituents and proactively address LGBT people of color policy priorities
While the Arcus Foundation does not have an arts funding program, we welcome your ideas about how cultural projects can help us achieve the goals of our existing programs by changing hearts and minds and working to strengthen the efforts of advocates and organizers. In this area, we will support the dissemination and educational aspects of arts and cultural projects. We do not fund film production.
From time to time, the Arcus Foundation may support organizations and projects that do not fall within the guidelines of The Arcus LGBT Program or the Arcus Great Apes Program. Such opportunities are limited and occur only at the initiation of the Foundation. The Foundation will not accept unsolicited requests for funds in this area.