U.S. Grants Program

ASTRAEA’S U.S. GRANTS PROGRAM Astraea invests in lesbian, trans and LGBTI communities across the country. For over 30 years, we have supported brave and innovative organizations and projects in effective and strategic social change work in every region of the U.S.

In fiscal year 2010, Astraea’s U.S. Program issued a total of $516,031  to 49 organizations and 16 individuals based in 24 cities across 28 states.

U.S. FUND
U.S. Fund Grants are issued to U.S.-based lesbian, trans and LGBTI social change organizations and projects, including cultural and film/video projects.

U.S. MULTI-YEAR MOVEMENT-BUILDING INITIATIVE
Multi-year grants are made to organizations that demonstrate significant movement, leadership and creative community organization strategies for social change within and beyond LGBTI communities.

U.S. EMERGENCY FUND
Astraea’s Emergency Fund is a rapid-response grantmaking mechanism, providing timely support for organizations to address urgent and strategic political opportunities and crises affecting LGBTI communities.

U.S. MOVEMENT RESOURCE FUND
Astraea’s Movement Resource Fund provides grants to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of LGBTI organizations to engage in movement-building work. Grants are generally provided in three areas: Technical Assistance, Travel and Peer-to-Peer Learning, and Historic Convenings.

U.S. COLLABORATIVE GRANTS
U.S. Collaborative Grants are issued to organizations with whom we work in partnership.

U.S. PHILANTHROPIC GRANTS
U.S. Philanthropic Grants are issued to philanthropic entities with whom we work in partnership.

ASTRAEA VISUAL ARTS FUND
The Astraea Visual Arts Fund promotes the work of contemporary lesbian visual artists who share Astraea’s commitment to LGBTI visibility and social Justice. Each year, three grants of $2,500 are awarded to artists working in an array of media, including sculpture, painting, prints, mixed media and works on paper. Two grants are supported by an endowed gift from artist and Astraea Founding Mother, Joan Watts. A third grant is made possible by Skip’s Sappho Fund, established at Astraea by a bequest from Skip Neal, a lesbian artist. The awards are determined by a distinguished panel of artists and art professionals.

LESBIAN WRITERS FUND
The Lesbian Writers Fund provides grants to emerging lesbian poets and fiction writers across the U.S. This year, the Fund awarded a total of $26,600 to 12 women whose work shows extraordinary promise in the arenas of fiction and poetry. Grants are determined by a distinguished panel of writers. A portion of these grants was made possible by Skip’s Sappho Fund at Astraea.

MARGOT KARLE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The Margot Karle Scholarship Fund was established to honor the life of Margot Karle, who made significant contributions to the struggle for human rights. The Margot Karle Scholarship is available to women enrolled full-time in an undergraduate program at a City University of New York school.

U.S. DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS & GRANTS
Astraea’s Donor-Advised Fund program enables donors to establish a fund at Astraea through which they may recommend specific organizations or projects for support. Astraea staff also work with donors to identify organizations in need of support whose work matches the interests of the donor.
Donor-Advised Funds include: Heller-Bernard Fund, Loving Lesbians Fund, Lynn Campbell Memorial Fund, Lynn Hart Memorial Fund, Marsha Day Memorial Fund, Pass the Butter Fund, Purple Lady Fund, Right Action Fund, Roots and Wings Fund, Tamar Fund, and Yolanda Ritter Memorial Fund. Donor-Advised grants are included in the regional listings.