Contigo Fund

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OVERVIEW: The Contigo Fund supports LGBTQ+, racial and other social justice causes in Central Florida.

IP TAKE: In Central Florida, the Contigo Fund is a “backbone organization” that works to “heal, educate, and empower Pulse-affected and LGBTQ+ communities historically marginalized by society.” This is an accessible funder for smaller organizations in Central Florida, but guidelines, specific areas of focus and due dates have changed from year to year, so be sure to check Contigo’s application page before submitting a proposal. This funder welcomes contact, so reach out at any time with questions and ideas. Of important note: this funder conducts all of its grantmaking through an intersectional lens, so make sure to frame grant applications through these terms in order to get on this funder’s radar.

PROFILE: The Contigo Fund was established in response to the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida. It is “the first and only LGBTQ+ Latinx fund in the United States” and operates as a sponsored project of the Proteus Fund. The Contigo Fund’s mission is “to honor the lives of those who were lost at Pulse – nearly all of which were both LGBTQ and Latinx – by making sure their identities, lived experiences, families and communities are never forgotten.” This funder is a signatory of the GUTC Pledge.

  • In terms of grantmaking, Contigo’s mission translates into support for “projects and efforts that center around the most marginalized and oppressed members of our LGBTQ and Latinx, immigrant, and people of color communities.”

  • While the specific focus of annual or biannual grantmaking may shift somewhat from year to year, grants mainly support organizations working to support rights and equity of LGBTQ, BIPOC, racial justice, immigrant and other marginalized groups of people.

  • In addition to its grantmaking, Contigo runs the annual Orlando Strong Symposium, which “brings together hundreds of key community stakeholders, including grassroots leaders, funders, policymakers, corporate and business leaders, and elected officials across Florida and the US South.” The fund also publishes research on local issues relating to local LGBTQ+ resources on its website.

Grants for LGBTQ, Racial Equity and Immigrants

The Contigo Fund’s philanthropy addresses the needs of marginalized communities in Central Florida through an intersectional lens but names “several types of movements” that it seeks to support.

  • The Contigo Fund makes grants to organizations and projects that promote Healing and Empowerment for people affected by “escalating and often ivisibilized cases of murder and violence” including victims of “police brutality, white supremacy, and transphobia.”

  • Grants also target programs aimed at Advancing Racial Equity and Justice, including efforts that address health inequity, systemic barriers to economic security, civic engagement and combating “disinformation and hate.”

  • Another focus is Leadership Development that prioritizes “political education and grassroots training and skills building among Black LGBTQ+ communities historically marginalized by society from equal opportunity and power.”

  • The fund also provides support to work led by Black trans/gender-expansive/intersex individuals and women, undocumented leaders, sex workers, and youth.

  • Bridge-building refers to grantmaking “opportunities for meaningful connection, mutual learning, and coalition among Central Florida’s diverse communities.”

  • Finally, the fund articulates interest in supporting projects focused on Racial, Economic, and Gender Justice, particularly those that address issues of “homophobia, transphobia, patriarchy, gender inequity or inequality, gender-based violence, Islamophobia, xenophobia, racism, economic inequity, and/or other forms of bigotry and disparities.”

Past grantees include the Orlando Queer & Tans Asian Association, Peer Support Space of Central Florida, the Orange County Regional History Center, QLatinx, Divas in Dialogue and the Zebra Coalition, a network of youth organizations serving LGBTQ+ people between the ages of 13 and 24.

Important Grant Details:

Contigo’s grants range from about $20,000 to $200,000. Funding decisions are made by the Contigo Fund Advisory Board, which is comprised of “12 remarkable local leaders in Orlando that were directly and deeply impacted by the Pulse tragedy and highly reflective of this community’s diversity.” Grantmaking prioritizes but is not strictly limited to Central Florida’s Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Polk, and Volusia Counties.

  • Contigo’s grantmaking has so far been limited to organizations operating in the Central Florida area, although organizations of all sizes have received support.

  • The fund does not support health service organizations, regranters, scholarships or event sponsorships.

  • Grants prioritize organizations with annual budgets of less than $1 million with strong reputations in the communities they serve and a willingness to work collaboratively with other leaders in the area.  

  • Grants appear to provide both general operating and project support.

  • This funder accepts grant applications, but guidelines and due dates may change from year to year. See the application page for updates and new opportunities.

  • For additional information about past grantmaking, see Contigo’s grantees page.

The Contigo Fund welcomes communication via its contact page. The fund can also be reached by telephone at 407-797-0674.

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