A Look at the Horizons Foundation’s Bay Area Giving
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Photo: spatuletail/shutterstock
The Horizons Foundation is among the most powerful LGBTQ funders in the nation. It prides itself on being “the world’s first community foundation of, by, and for LGBTQ people” and recently gave around a million dollars in emergency grants to LGBTQ groups affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
But while this foundation aims to make the world a better place for LGBTQ people, it also frequently gives close to its home base in San Francisco. Here’s a look at the Horizon Foundation’s recent giving in the Bay Area.
A long history
Some LGBTQ funders in the U.S. have only been around for a decade or less. However, the Horizons Foundation is one of the most experienced grantmakers in the space and has been on the scene since 1980. To fuel its grantmaking, the Horizons Foundation hosts over 150 donor-advised funds and also has giving circles, fellowships and scholarships to offer.
General community support
Although Horizons is first and foremost an LGBTQ funder, it’s also interested in more general community issues in the Bay Area. Horizons funds both LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ causes on a regular basis, with grants going toward specific programs and unrestricted general operating support. These grants often benefit both LGBTQ people and people who do not identify that way.
Recently, Horizons has been funding causes as diverse as a faith justice project, gala sponsorship, a birth justice fund, a medical center, a strategic planning effort and unrestricted operations. Community issues it backs include artistic expression for indigenous peoples and health projects at major universities.
A focus on grassroots solutions
Horizons is a known supporter of grassroots organizations that are often small, new and niche. Typically, Horizons makes grants ranging from $250 to $50,000 throughout the nine counties of the San Francisco Bay Area. It accepts unsolicited grant applications for some of its programs, while other programs are available by invitation only.
It has recently awarded local grants to KQED, Inc., the San Francisco LGBT Community Center and Larkin Street Youth Services. On a more occasional basis, other grants go to groups in New York City, Boston, Palm Springs and other outside communities.
You can read more about the Horizon Foundation and other funders that give in the region by checking out IP’s Bay Area & NorCal funding guide.
