Arcus’ Global Religions program connects leaders within targeted communities—particularly in countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and among Muslim communities, U.S. communities of color, transgender populations, and evangelical communities—with religious bodies, international human rights agencies, and grassroots organizations, to increase inclusion of LGBT people and elevate pro-LGBT religious voices within local, regional, national, and international forums. It also combats those who would misuse religion to deny the full humanity of LGBT people, including under the guise of so-called “religious exemptions” to civil rights laws.
 

Strategic Funding Areas:

1. Support Positive Religious Leaders and Advocates

   Increase diverse pro-LGBT voices within target communities, specifically: the Islamic world, U.S. communities of color, the Global South, and those with influence among UN, regional, and national policy-making bodies. Develop effective faith messages and messengers that impact these communities.

2. Fight the Abuse of Religion to Deny Protection to LGBT people

   Educate justice movements and the public about the abuse of religious freedoms through “religious exemptions,” and develop religious and legal strategies to hold exemptions in check. Challenge religious opponents of LGBT people in the U.S. and internationally. Develop communications strategies to counter the discrimination and dehumanization of LGBT people by some religious institutions.

Priorities:

1. Catalyzing support from other funders and sectors.
2. Investment in Global South leadership and voices.
3. Intersections with targeted communities in U.S. Social Justice program, and with targeted geographical areas and international bodies in the International Human Rights program.
4. Utilizing multiple change levers, including leadership development, alliance-building, policy change, culture change, and resource development.
5. Consideration of transgender populations and concerns.

 

Please note that all Arcus-funded projects must fit clearly within the above stated funding areas. Projects that do not address the targeted communities listed above are not eligible for funding. Information on other funders of work on sexuality and religion may be found on the website of Funders for LGBTQ Issues.

Working on national, regional, and international levels, Arcus contributes to the development of a global movement integrating sexual orientation and gender identity into shared conceptions of human rights. To do this work, Arcus invests in policy and cultural changes in targeted countries—primarily in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe—as well as change-makers and their leadership at the United Nations and within human rights organizations with regional scope.

Arcus Supports:

1. Policy changes at the national level 
to counter discrimination and violence and to support rights such as privacy, free expression, health, and legal recognition of gender identity. Where policy changes are unrealistic, projects may seek cultural change with clear, measurable indicators and outcomes. This support is provided through intermediary organizations that have the capacity to work at the country level with targeted populations.
2. International and regional organizations’ efforts to document human rights abuses related to sexual orientation and gender identity, and to advocate for improvements before the U.N. (for example, through the Universal Periodic Review process) and regional bodies. Particular attention is paid to ensuring national compliance with human rights obligations.
3. Capacity development to better prepare public officials and activists to advocate for respect of human rights and nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Particular attention is paid to gaining support for LGBT rights from countries with regional influence; from mainstream human rights, democracy, women’s, faith, and other movements; and from influential political and social groupings to mobilize others against homophobia and transphobia.

Priorities:

Among Arcus’ priorities are supporting the human rights of transgender people, lifting LGBT and pro-LGBT faith voices particularly at the U.N., and increasing the funding available to the LGBT-related work of other foundations, governments, corporations, and individuals. In addition to the Arcus Foundation’s targeted support for international projects, we are proud to be part of a growing network of funders involved in this work. If your project does not fit within the above funding areas, please refer to the lists of funders maintained by our partners below.

International Gay and Lesbian Association (ILGA) (PDF)
ILGA – European Region
Funders for LGBTQ Issues
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
Planet Romeo Foundation
 

Additionally, information regarding emergency funding for human rights defenders and policy change opportunities is available here:
Dignity for All fund of Freedom House (Washington, D.C.)
Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights Defenders (nonprofit organization located in San Francisco, U.S.)
Front Line Defenders (nonprofit organization in Ireland)
European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights’ emergency fund for human rights defenders at risk

Arcus’ U.S. social justice strategy works at the intersection of sexual/gender justice, racial justice, and economic justice, investing primarily in youth, communities of color, and targeted faith communities, with special priority for youth of color, transgender populations, and work by and for affected communities. The foundation invests in impactful culture, leadership, and protections for LGBT youth and communities of color.  

Strategic Funding Areas:

1. Culture
: Arcus supports relevant and culturally competent message frames, national and grassroots messengers, and high-profile influencers targeted at youth, people of color and faith communities. Contexts may include religion, sports, entertainment, film, and arts; messages include positive sexuality, inclusion, faith, family, diversity, and human dignity.
2. Leadership
: Arcus strengthens and supports leadership of young people and people of color to build a diverse network committed to sexual/gender justice. Arcus increases capacity of LGBT and allied organizations working on intersecting issues to build a movement with a strong organizing base, infrastructure, and sophisticated national advocacy strategy.
3. Protections
: Arcus supports advocacy efforts to increase social and economic protections affecting LGBT youth of color. Arcus seeks to identify, enact and replicate tested programs; build a network of local and national organizations advancing such protections; and lessen marginalization and rejection of LGBT youth of color.

Priorities:

1. Projects that address intersections of sexuality with issues of racial, gender, and economic justice. Examples may include reproductive justice, the school-to-prison pipeline, employment nondiscrimination, homeless/out-of-school youth, and immigrant justice.
2. Organizations “by and for” target populations (i.e., led by youth, people of color, and people of faith), or alternatively with credibility within target populations. Such organizations may or may not be LGBT-specific in mission. Non-LGBT organizations must demonstrate authentic partnerships with the base constituency and a reputation as a strong ally.
3. Intersections with faith and culture as change drivers, supporting the work of Arcus’ Global Religions Program.
4. Projects that are transformative rather than remedial in nature.
5. Catalyzing support from other funders and sectors.
6. Special priority to transgender populations and concerns.

  Please note that all Arcus-funded projects must fit clearly within the above stated funding areas. Information on other funders of LGBT and HIV/AIDS work in the United States may be found on the website Funders for LGBT Issues.