The LBTQ Giving Council of the Chicago Foundation for Women ( CFW ) was founded, according to former co-chair Laura Stempel, "for queer women to bring issues that plague our community to the attention of the rest of CFW." Back then, in the larger CFW, "people didn't say the word 'lesbian' at board meetings," she recalled.
"What we do is raise money for in order to give smallish grants to organizations that support the LBTQ community." Stempel explained. Grants are issued through the council's Lavender Fund, for which the Council organizes fundraisers such as events, yard sales, annual and house parties. Stempel stressed that aside from the cost of events and a nominal amount in the bank, "all the money that comes in, goes back out into the community."
To aid this year's fundraising efforts, the Council made a video highlighting both select grantees and board members. "It's twofold," said Ellie Marsh, a current co-chair of the council. "It's really to bring awareness to these organizations and projects, and the needs that are very much present and often overlooked, as well bring awareness to who we are as a council, and why what we do is important.
"People can give money knowing that it will go back into their own community, every dollar," said Betsy Rubinstein, another past co-chair. "I think that's a really compelling thing. We're looking for more ways for other folks to learn about what we're doing and hopefully cultivate new members."
The video features the Lesbian Community Care Project, the Chicago Women's Health Center and the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, among others. "It's a nice array of the kind of groups that we give money too," Stempel said. Like the council itself, the video is a volunteer effort, a donation from the filmmaker and producer.
Rubinstein said that by forming giving councils, CFW hopes to cultivate women philanthropists from populations who either aren't seen as philanthropists or don't see themselves that way. "You don't have to be a millionaire, you don't have to give big amounts of money, but if you give to something, that's philanthropy," added Stempel.
The average Lavender Fund grant is around $1,000 to $3,000. Most grantees are small, mostly volunteer-run organizations. "Maybe doesn't even qualify for grants because they're so small." Stempel explained. "They're not going to apply for grants. They can't. Nobody's going to give them money, and their budget is so tiny that what we give them is like one-third of their budget. What to the rest of the world is small and to them is huge. That can help them build their capacity so that eventually they can look for other money.
"We look at the groups that are eligible because we've worked with them before, or we've invited them to give a proposal. We give to some of the same groups over and over again, but things come up that weren't there last year."
A project Stempel cited as "a great moment in our grant-making history" was with the Chicago Women's Health Center and focused on trans health. "They're trying to make a space more inclusive for trans folks and particularly for trans men." Rubinstein said. "It's important to be sensitive and to have providers that are culturally competent in the needs of the trans community. It's really about body positivity and about taking care of your body regardless of how you identify. I think they've gone above and beyond to make sure that their space and their staff are completely competent and accessible to trans men who are looking to get access to gynecological care."
"It's starting to change the way that [CFW] defines gender, which is one of the effects [our council has] on them." Stempel said, "We've done something that really affects individual people as part of this whole project of being trans-positive and trans-inclusive."
Marsh mentioned Youth Outlook, which she said is the only agency in DuPage, Kane and DeKalb counties dedicated to serving LGBTQ youth. "The LGBTQ community is not solely an urban community. To have this innovative initiative really take a stand for those youth in their counties is incredible. I'm really excited to see how they grow, and what momentum they can generate."
"It's one of those small operations where it isn't necessarily in a position to get money from every single place that gives money, so we know what we do matters and we can watch what happens afterwards," Stempel added.
While the video and a crowd-funding page will launch mid-November, Stempel said anyone who wanted to donate could at any time access the LBTQ Giving Council page of the CFW website and donate online. "Whenever people donate to CFW they can earmark their donation for us saying this money goes to the council," she said. The council's Facebook page is another resource to check out current events and connect with members.
