New LGBTQI Community Grants Program Launches

A new national LGBTQI community grants program has launched, looking to address a lack of philanthropic and grants funding to LGBTQI specific projects in Australia.

ANZ and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras announced applications were open for their community grants program on Thursday, to coincide with International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT).

The program will provide grants of up to $10,000 to LGBTQI not-for-profit community organisations, charities and individuals to help support local LGBTQI communities.

Funding can be used for “anything under the rainbow”, including education and training, community development and creation, and arts and culture.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO, Terese Casu, said: “This national grants program is important because there’s real grassroots work that needs to be done in Australia for LGBTQI communities, especially in regional Australia where isolation is an issue – and we know these grants will provide much needed support for the important work being done.”

A recent report from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission found just 0.8 per cent of grant-making charities in Australia funded LGBTQI people in 2016.

Casu said she hoped the program would help to address this shortage.

“Philanthropic and grants funding to LGBTQI specific projects is limited in Australia. There are some fantastic state-based organisations that provide funding, but this grants program has been designed to be national and very diverse,” she said.

ANZ chair of the Pride Network, Melissa Tandy, said ANZ was proud to strengthen its 12 year partnership with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

“As a champion of diversity, inclusion and respect, ANZ is proud to launch this new grants program and help LGBTQI communities and individuals thrive,” Tandy said.

“We’re excited to be able to support a wide array of causes and initiatives working to better the lives of the LGBTQI community and hope these grants will make a real difference to Australian’s far and wide.”

Applications for ANZ and Sydney Mardi Gras Community Grants are open until 1 July, with successful applicants announced on 16 July.

For more information please visit the Mardi Gras website.