Executive Director Transition

New York, NY, March 11, 2010—Katherine Acey, Executive Director of the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice and a beloved leader in the movement for social, racial, economic and gender justice, will step down as Executive Director at the end of 2010. Acey was Astraea’s first staff member and has served as its Executive Director  since 1987, leading the organization to international prominence as an outspoken and unwavering advocate of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) human rights.

Astraea is the world's only foundation solely dedicated to providing critically needed financial support to lesbian-led, trans, LGBTI and progressive organizations in both the United States and internationally. Among many victories, Astraea grantee partners have secured constitutional protections for LGBTI people from Ecuador to Serbia. In the U.S. they have made headway on issues of immigration, employment and violence. Astraea has funded the only mobile legal services responding to state violence of trans people in Ecuador, initiatives in the U.S. that have established LGBTI youth as effective policy advocates, and the first regional Arab-language LGBTI hotline in the Middle East. On nearly every continent, in myriad languages and cultures, Astraea grantees are collectively seizing opportunities and laying the groundwork for LGBTI people to claim their human rights.

“We cannot adequately express our gratitude to Katherine for her exceptional leadership over the last two decades,” said Kimberly Aceves, Astraea Board Co-Chair. “During her tenure, our staff grew from one to 21 positions and Astraea’s grants programs and philanthropic advocacy expanded and set new standards in the field.” In this past year alone, Astraea provided more than $2.2 million in grants to 210 organizations and 21 individuals in 109 cities and 43 countries around the world.

A fierce advocate of building bridges between people and communities, Acey has overseen a number of successful initiatives to bring donors and grantees together as well as to convene grassroots organizations to share knowledge and establish strategic collaborations. As Board Co-Chair Rebecca Rolfe asserts, “Because of Katherine’s work at Astraea, people who have been marginalized and denied their human rights—around the world—have more allies and resources than ever before.”

In 1987, after serving on Astraea's Board of Directors for four years, Katherine was hired as its first Executive Director. Under her stewardship, Astraea has enjoyed tremendous growth. Astraea developed a national board and a global advisory committee. The Foundation's grants programs expanded in focus from regional to national to global. Astraea established the nation's first fund for lesbian writers in 1991 and in 2002, the first fund for lesbian visual artists. In 1996, Astraea started the first international fund in the U.S. dedicated to supporting LGBTI communities worldwide. Astraea’s Multi-Year Movement-Building Initiative, begun in 2006, provides multi-year financial and structural support to queer people of color-led organizations with strong social-change agendas. In just three years, Astraea has invested over $3 million in general support funding, grantee convenings, skill building and resource sharing to build collaboration on common visions and strategies for change. Acey notes that none of this program expansion could have been possible without the persistence of those working on the ground and the generosity of several lead individual and institutional donors.

During Acey’s tenure, Astraea has played an instrumental role in the formation of networks that thrive today, lifting up the lives and work of women and LGBTI people—most notably the Women’s Funding Network and Funders for LGBT Issues. Astraea is also an active partner in the International Network of Women’s Funds.

Acey’s advocacy and perseverance to ensure that everyone has a place at the table has inspired many. “Katherine has acted as the conscience of our movement,” said Kate Kendell, Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. “She has frankly and respectfully made certain that we are always mindful of how we all have a key stake in the dismantling of oppression and committing to a vision of true justice. Her departure/retirement leaves a void which we all must commit to fill.”

“Astraea has been my heart and soul for the past 23 years, and I will always be part of the Astraea community,” said Acey.  “I have no doubt that Astraea will continue to be a leader working for social, racial, economic and gender justice in the U.S. and internationally. I feel privileged to have worked with so many committed staff, board, volunteers and colleagues and I’m looking forward to continuing those relationships for years to come.”

Aceves said the Astraea Board of Directors will work with senior staff and other community stakeholders to conduct a search for Acey’s successor and to ensure a smooth transition to new leadership.

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The Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice works for social, racial, economic and gender justice in the U.S. and internationally.  Our grantmaking and philanthropic advocacy programs help lesbians and allied communities challenge oppression and claim their human rights. www.astraeafoundation.org

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