LBTQ Giving Council
Who We Are
We mobilize resources and support for, and invest in, community-based organizations that are advancing the gender, racial, and economic equity of LGBTQIA+ girls, womxn, and gender non-binary people in the Chicago region.
We represent a community of lesbian, bisexual, and queer women, femme, trans, and gender non-binary individuals who are engaged in community-based philanthropy. We are committed to advancing economic security, freedom from violence, and access to healthcare and information for LGBTQIA+ people. Furthermore, as an identity-based fund, we intend to be a reflection of the communities we seek to serve through our membership, collective fundraising, and grantmaking efforts.
2025 – 2026 Co-Chairs
Gabby Kreszchuk, Lindsey Clark, Taryn Beaudoin
Who We Support
We have awarded nearly $300,000 to organizations serving LBTQ folks in the Chicago region since 2004.
FY25 Grantees: $34,000 total awarded
FY24 Grantees: $30,000 total awarded
FY23 Grantees: $11,000 total awarded
How It Works
- Membership is on a fiscal year basis (July 1–June 30). Membership for fiscal year 2027 opens on July 1, 2026. For more information about the LBTQ Giving Council, please fill out the Interest Form here.
- Meets monthly (virtual until further notice).
- Events are scheduled and organized by members.
- Grantmaking occurs in the winter and spring, with funding being awarded in June.
- You choose your level of participation.
Member Benefits
- Amplify your giving by leveraging your dollars with those of other members.
- Give voice to the issues affecting the women and girls in your community by deciding which programs to fund with your peers on the Council.
- See the impact of your giving as funded programs share with membership accomplishments made possible by the Council’s grants.
- Develop new personal and professional relationships with like-minded folks.
- Learn from trainings, workshops, and conversations on philanthropy, women in philanthropy, women’s issues and needs, how organizations serve women, and trends and gaps in funding.
Member Responsibilities
- Make an annual contribution of at least $100 with various options to make payments affordable, including a $10/month plan.
- Participate in group and individual fundraising, including soliciting donors, sponsors, and in-kind contributions, serving on an events committee, or recruiting members.
- Participate in the Giving Council grantmaking process, a cooperative effort to select the recipients of grants. This may include identifying organizations and programs to fund, reviewing proposals, conducting site visits, and voting on grant recommendations.
- Provide good stewardship and thought partnership to the Council with your active and positive participation. This may include attending meetings or contributing to discussions about fundraising and grantmaking.
- Connect Chicago Foundation for Women with organizations and stakeholders doing work on behalf of women and girl-identified people in the LBTQ communities in the Chicago region.
Contact
Interested in becoming a member? Membership for fiscal year 2027 opens on July 1, 2026.
For more information about the LBTQ Giving Council, please fill out the Giving Councils and Circles Interest Form here.