OVERVIEW: The Trans Justice Funding Project supports grassroots efforts led by and that benefit trans people in the U.S. It is a funding initiative that awards unrestricted grants and has a fellowship program to support this community.
IP TAKE: The Trans Justice Funding Project functions as a non-charitable trust, making it an unorthodox, but particularly accessible funder to know if your trans-led organization lacks official nonprofit status, operates under a budget of $250,000 and is composed of at least two people. In fact, in a recent year it supported 82 grantees had nonprofit status, 88 groups had fiscal sponsors, and 138 groups had no nonprofit status at all. TJFP’s funding model evolved to provide flexible support for organizations of all types working to support the needs of trans communities anywhere in the U.S. and its territories.
TJFP is focused on grassroots, local work and building long-term relationships with donors who are interested in trans issues, but may not be aware of under-the-radar work happening in trans communities. By bringing together a group of six trans and gender-non-conforming activists from across the country, TJFP takes a personalized approach to philanthropy. TJFP aims to make the funding process as easy as possible for grantees without excess paperwork or any reporting standards. In 2026, TJFP expanded from one annual application round to three, with deadlines in February, May and August. This is a great funder to know if you’re newer or just getting started in this funding space.
PROFILE: Established in 2012, the trans-led Trans Justice Funding Project (TJFP) is a community-led funding initiative pursuing a mission to ” move money to trans-led grassroots group and projects with trust and no strings attached.” Gabriel Foster and Karen Pittelman co-founded TJFP. Six trans justice activists came together to run TJFP and award grants annually. The funding group awards unrestricted grants because it believes that its grantees know best how to use the money. A GUTC signatory, TJFP focuses its efforts on trans justice groups with budgets less than $250,000 that are run by and for trans people.
It also maintains a Collective Action Fund at Tides Foundation. This Tides vehicle allows tax-deductible contributions and can make grants to nonprofits, while TJFP’s trust gives it unusual flexibility to fund groups without nonprofit status.
This funders makes grants for trans issues that intersect with issues of racism, economic injustice, transmisogyny, ableism, immigration, incarceration and other intersecting oppressions. In addition to grants, TJFP also has a community grantmaking fellowship program.
Grants for LGBTQ+
TJFP is laser-focused on supporting grassroots, trans-led groups fighting for trans justice in the U.S. and its territories. It is a national funder that understands that trans justice funding looks different in every location across the country and is open to the types of organizations and projects it supports.
- TJFP is willing to help newly forming and well-established organizations regardless of nonprofit status or the presence of a fiscal sponsor. It prioritizes the work of trans Black, Brown, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC).
- TJFP grantees’ work ranges widely and has included, but is not limited to:
Organizing online community trainings
Providing guidance on trans health and wellness
Providing legal support for undocumented communities
Organizing trans support groups
Organizing film and art festivals
Providing housing solutions
Organizing carpools to doctors’ appointments
Donating to clothing and food pantries
- Past TJFP grantees include the following the 20% Theater Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota; 3 of Cups in Houston; A Hateful Homicide in Los Angeles; Albuquerque Queer Trans Community Yoga; Alphabet Soup Atlanta in Decatur, Georgia; and Black Transcendence – St. Louis, Missouri, among many others.
- Additionally, the Community Grantmaking Fellows are the six trans and nonbinary movement leaders who make TJFP’s grant decisions. TJFP says they are hand-selected.
- TJFP role in steering the Trans Futures Funding Campaign is noteworthy. It’s a philanthropic effort organized with Funders for LGBTQ Issues and several trans-focused intermediaries.
- It seeks to drive new general operating, low-barrier and multiyear funding to trans-led organizations, particularly in places facing aggressive anti-trans policies.
- The campaign says it surpassed an initial $10 million fundraising goal and has a new $10 million goal for 2025 and beyond.
- While this isn’t a grant program, it’ representative of TJFP’s field-building intermediary work.
Important Grant Details:
During its first decade of grantmaking, TJFP received 2,177 grant applications, awarded 1,722 grants and delivered over $8.3 million in funds to its grantees. TJFP does not currently publish a standard grant range; its fellows decide award size.
- The grant application and process is relatively straightforward, funds are always unrestricted and reporting is unnecessary.
- TJFP awards grants in all U.S. states and territories; historically, it has awarded the most grants to groups based in and serving California.
- But recently, the funder has been paying very close attention to what is happening in the American South and funding more groups in this region of the country spanning from Texas to the D.C. area.
- The funder runs three application cycles each year, with due dates in February, May and August. See the application page for details about how to apply.
- TJFP leadership reviews applications with decision periods after each of the three cycles.
- Direct general questions to the foundation staff at: operations@transjusticefundingproject.org.
PEOPLE:
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