This document summarizes funding for LGBTQ communities in the Midwestern United States between 2011-2014. It finds that while total funding fluctuated between $7-10 million annually, the Midwest receives only 7-8% of domestic LGBTQ funding and 14% of state/local funding when excluding national organizations. The top issues funded are civil rights (33%) and health/well-being (25%), and the most common funding strategies are advocacy (39%) and direct services (32%). Discrimination protections and economic challenges also face LGBTQ individuals in the Midwest.

1. Foundation Funding for
Midwestern LGBTQ Communities
money for
the midwest
1 in 5 LGBT adults
in the U.S. lives in
the Midwest.
104 west 29th street, 4th floor
new york, ny 10001
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www.lgbtfunders.org
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8 of the 12 Midwestern
states have no legislation
to explicitly protect
LGBT people from
discrimination in
employment and housing.
Gay and lesbian
students in
Minnesota are 4
times more likely to
struggle with drug
and alcohol
addiction and
undergo treatment.
35% 24%
LGBT
MIDWESTERNERS
NON-LGBT
MIDWESTERNERS
TIDES FOUNDATION � STATE EQUALITY FUND
ALPHAWOOD FOUNDATION
ARCUS FOUNDATION
THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION
PROTEUS FUND � CIVIL MARRIAGE
COLLABORATIVE
CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST
$1,190,849 �7%�
$1,085,000 �7%�
$828,100 �5%�
$699,990 �4%�
$675,000 �4%�
$625,200 �4%�
FORD FOUNDATION
FREEDOM TO MARRY
BUSH FOUNDATION
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN
OTHER DONORS
$600,000 �4%�
$580,000 �4%�
$547,000 �3%�
$530,198 �3%�
�55%�
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$9.69M
2011
$7.28M
2012
$8.64M
2013 $7.81M
2014
$0
$2,000,000
$4,000,000
$6,000,000
$8,000,000
$10,000,000
While funding for LGBTQ communities in
the Midwest has fluctuated over the years,
between 2013 and 2014 the region received
$16.4 million from more than 80 funders.
The top ten funders provided 45 percent
of the funding.
The Midwest receives only 7-8
percent of domestic LGBTQ
funding. Excluding funding for
national organizations, the Midwest
receives 14 percent of state and
local LGBTQ funding.
The top issues addressed in the Midwest are similar to the top issues addressed by
local and statewide LGBTQ funding across the U.S.
LGBTQ FUNDING BY ISSUE ADDRESSED
LGBTQ FUNDING BY STRATEGY FUNDED
MIDWESTERN
LGBTQ FUNDING
U.S. STATE AND LOCAL
LGBTQ FUNDING
MIDWESTERN
LGBTQ FUNDING
U.S. STATE AND LOCAL
LGBTQ FUNDING
CIVIL RIGHTS
33%
CIVIL RIGHTS
28%
DIRECT SERVICE
32%
DIRECT SERVICE
37%
OTHER
29%
OTHER
28%
HEALTH & WELLBEING
25%
HEALTH & WELLBEING
30%
COMMUNITY,
FAMILY & VISIBILITY
30%
COMMUNITY,
FAMILY & VISIBILITY
25%
OTHER
ISSUES
17%
OTHER
ISSUES
13%
ADVOCACY
39%
ADVOCACY
35%
Likewise, advocacy and direct service were the top funded strategies in the Midwest,
mirroring local and statewide funding across the U.S.
NOTE: For the purposes of this infographic, the Midwest is defined as Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
REFERENCES: Cunningham, Nancy (2012) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Grantmaking by U.S. Foundations-Calendar Year ‘11. Funders for LGBTQ Issues. http://www.lgbtfunders.org/resources/
pub.cfm?pubID=69 | Hanson, Brady (2015) Invisible Youth: The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning Adolescents in Minnesota. Rainbow Health Initiative. http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/
research/lgbt-divide-dec-2014/ | Hasenbush, Amira; Andrew R. Flores; Angeliki Kastanis; Brad Sears; and Gary J. Gates (2014) The LGBT Divide. Williams Institute. http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-
content/uploads/LGBT-divide-Dec-2014.pdf | Kan, Lyle Matthew and Ben Francisco Maulbeck (2016) 2014 Tracking Report: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Grantmaking by U.S. Foundations.
Funders for LGBTQ Issues.http://www.lgbtfunders.org/resources/pub.cfm?pubID=86 | Kan, Lyle Matthew and Ben Francisco Maulbeck (2014) 2013 Tracking Report: Lesbian Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and
Queer Grantmaking by U.S. Foundations. Funders for LGBTQ Issues. http://www.lgbtfunders.org/resources/pub.cfm?pubID=77 | Kan, Lyle Matthew and Ben Francisco Maulbeck (2013) 2012 Tracking Report:
Lesbian Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Grantmaking by U.S. Foundations. Funders for LGBTQ Issues.http://www.lgbtfunders.org/resources/pub.cfm?pubID=72
35 percent of LGBT people
in the Midwest earn less than
$24,000 a year.
U.S.
LGBTQ
FUNDING
STATE
AND LOCAL
LGBTQ
FUNDING
MIDWESTERN
FUNDING
© JANUARY 2016, FUNDERS FOR LGBTQ ISSUES
Infographic Curator: Lyle Matthew Kan
Infographic Designer: Trevor Messersmith - 80east Design