Best Grants for LGBTQ Nonprofits in Indiana

The Indiana Climate and Democracy Catalyst Fund aims to empower frontline organizations in Indiana by enhancing their capacity to address climate and democracy challenges. Supported by local, state, and national funders, the initiative focuses on community-driven outcomes and storytelling to inspire further funding. This strategic collaboration seeks to uplift BIPOC-led, LGBTQ+ serving, and rural organizations, fostering an inclusive environment for all Indiana residents to thrive while advocating for environmental justice.

The XENO PRIZE for Performance Arts, awarded by Franklin Furnace, supports early-career LGBTQ+-identifying performance artists creating new work in 26 states with restrictive gender-affirming laws. This annual prize, established in 2023, offers $5000 to a selected recipient from proposals submitted for the Franklin Furnace FUND for Performance Art. The deadline for submissions is April 1, 2025, encouraging innovative voices in the contemporary performance art landscape.

The Leonard Litz LGBTQ+ Foundation, via its TransPLUS Resource Center, supports transgender, gender-nonconforming, non-binary, and intersex individuals. By providing grants and resources, the Foundation aims to address urgent needs in healthcare, housing, and legal services while fostering community connections. They build peer-support networks, publish updates, and support initiatives to empower TGNCNBI individuals and their allies, ensuring that marginalized voices are heard and uplifted.

The Looking Out Foundation Grant supports social justice and humanitarian initiatives, having donated nearly $6 million to various causes globally. With an average donation of $25 per campaign, it aids organizations focused on disaster relief, racial justice, and support for marginalized communities. Eligible applicants must be tax-exempt public charities under Section 501(c)(3). The foundation prioritizes diverse funding sources and encourages organizations to adapt to changing needs, with grant allocations ranging from $5,000 to $25,000.

The It Gets Better Project is offering 50 grants of up to $10,000 each to public and charter schools across the U.S. to enhance inclusivity for LGBTQ+ youth. Schools can propose projects such as enhancing library resources, artistic installations, or establishing support groups. The initiative aims to empower LGBTQ+ students and foster a supportive environment, ensuring that every school can participate in uplifting their communities and promoting equality.

The We Rise LGBTQ Scholarship, funded by the Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation, aims to uplift individuals and the LGBTQ community through educational support. Grants of up to $3,500 for vocational training and $2,500 for higher education will be awarded to applicants dedicated to advancing LGBTQ rights. This initiative encourages diverse candidates, particularly those from underserved backgrounds, to pursue their educational goals and create pathways to financial stability, fostering a brighter future for all.

The Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation offers Tier B grants to 501(c)(3) organizations supporting the LGBTQ community in the Greater Bay Area. Annually, two $10,000 grants are selected through a voting process by event hosts, ensuring community involvement. Eligible organizations can apply during the specified application period after an initial screening. This initiative underscores the Foundation's commitment to empowering local nonprofits and enhancing support for LGBTQ initiatives.

The Leonard Litz Foundation supports LGBTQ+ organizations through grants that promote health, wellness, crisis intervention, racial justice, advocacy, and social assistance. Priority is given to organizations in the northeast U.S. and those serving communities of color and transgender individuals. Applications that clearly link funding requests to specific needs will receive stronger consideration. The foundation aims to foster a supportive environment for the LGBTQ+ community to thrive.

The Gamma Mu Foundation, established in 1988, aims to support the LGBT community in rural and underserved areas through various grants. Initially focused on HIV/AIDS projects, it now funds scholarships and services for diverse LGBT subpopulations. With over $2 million awarded, the Foundation prioritizes initiatives that enhance community support, public education, and health programs. It emphasizes projects that build organizational capacity and provide essential services where resources are limited, ensuring ongoing support for vital health and social services.

Excellence in Medicine Awards

The AMA Foundation’s Excellence in Medicine Awards honor physicians and medical advocates who exemplify the highest values of the profession—volunteerism, community engagement, leadership, and service to underserved populations. Each recipient is recognized at a ceremony during the AMA Annual Meeting in Chicago and receives a $2,500 grant honorarium directed to a nonprofit health organization of their choice. Since 2005, more than 100 honorees have been celebrated through this program, with over $250,000 awarded to strengthen community health and advance equitable care nationwide. 

Excellence in LGBTQ Health Award

Honors physicians, residents/fellows and final-year medical students that have demonstrated outstanding work, innovation and leadership in LGBTQ policy, advocacy, patient care, academics (teaching and research), workforce diversity and/or health care administration.

The Leonard-Litz Foundation's LGBTQ+ Advocacy Fund Grant aims to empower LGBTQ+ individuals by funding organizations that advocate for their rights and well-being. With a focus on health, wellness, and racial justice, the fund supports projects that require significant investment for impactful change. Prioritizing partnerships that serve vulnerable communities, including people of color and transgender individuals, this grant fosters equality and addresses systemic inequalities faced by LGBTQ+ people, especially in the northeast U.S.

The B.W. Bastian Foundation Grant supports organizations committed to equality for all Americans, including the LGBTQ+ community. Grants typically range from $100 to $15,000, and applicants must have 501(C)3 tax status. Funding is primarily for projects in the Intermountain West and may include general operating support or specific programs. Organizations should first inquire before applying, especially if requesting more than previous grants. The foundation does not fund individuals or lobbying efforts.

The Pride in the Hills Scholarship, established by the Connecticut Community Foundation, offers a one-time award to graduating high school students who identify as LGBTQ+ or as allies of the LGBTQ+ community. This initiative, part of the Foundation's commitment to support local students, reflects over a century of dedication to enhancing educational opportunities in the Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills region. With generous donor support, this scholarship aims to help students achieve their college dreams.

The Betsy Frabotta Educate and Engage Scholarship for Q+ Youth honors the legacy of a dedicated educator and community builder, providing $2000 to outstanding LGBTQ+ and ally students in the Miami Valley. This scholarship supports individuals who demonstrate a commitment to learning and equity, encouraging applicants who are actively involved in advocacy and community service. By fostering inclusion and empowerment, this initiative aims to honor the fight against discrimination and promote a fulfilling life for all.

The Pride Foundation Scholarship is designed to support LGBTQ+ students who demonstrate leadership in their communities and fields of study. Open to residents of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington, applicants must pursue post-secondary education in the 2025-2026 school year. The scholarship prioritizes those facing systemic barriers, including discrimination and financial need, ensuring resources reach LGBTQ+ students who need them most.

The Call for Kindness Grant, offered by Riley's Way Foundation, empowers young leaders aged 13-23 to launch impactful social projects focused on kindness and community connection. With grants up to $5,000, recipients receive essential mentorship, coaching, and community support. This initiative has already benefited over 3,500 youth nationwide, promoting values of empathy and social change. Applicants can pursue projects in diverse areas, including environmental justice, ensuring a broad impact in their communities.

The Alexandra Hallock Capacity Building Grant for Small Nonprofits, established in 2024, honors the legacy of Alexandra Hallock by supporting small nonprofits focused on human rights, women's empowerment, and LGBTQ+ causes. This grant offers a one-time $20,000 unrestricted funding along with pro-bono capacity building support. It aims to strengthen organizational infrastructure and governance, ensuring impactful community engagement. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)3 nonprofits with revenue under $400,000, operating for at least one year, and based in the U.S.

The Kadel & Gerhardt Internships, funded by the Point Foundation, aim to enhance the representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in HIV/AIDS research and advocacy. These internships support academically talented students pursuing unpaid opportunities in the summer of 2025, addressing the critical need for culturally competent care within the community. By investing in future leaders, the program seeks to combat the stigma surrounding HIV and increase access to essential services for those affected.

The Cultivate: Leadership Grant Program empowers women and nonbinary leaders of color in Chicago by enhancing their skills in social, economic, and racial justice. Since 2013, it has fostered collaboration among diverse leaders, promoting gender and racial equity through intentional developmental support. Participants receive mentorship and coaching to strengthen their professional capabilities while building a connected community. This initiative is a partnership among significant local foundations, focusing on sustainability and growth within organizations led by women of color.

The Gender Justice Organizing Fund Grant supports initiatives led by women, girls, trans, gender nonconforming, and LGBTQI+ individuals to achieve gender justice. Organizations must prioritize community organizing and demonstrate an understanding of systemic oppression. Grants from the Bread & Roses Community Fund are crucial for groups that lack traditional funding due to their commitment to amplifying marginalized voices. The fund emphasizes long-term strategies that foster sustainable social change in the Philadelphia area.

The ArtsWave Pride Grant Program aims to foster inclusive arts experiences that resonate with the LGBTQIA community. By funding arts and cultural heritage projects, it seeks to enhance Cincinnati's reputation as an inclusive city. This program supports both the development of new creative initiatives and the operational needs of existing ones, encouraging projects that extend beyond traditional Pride celebrations. Applicants are urged to craft projects that align with these goals throughout the year.

The Mobilize Power Fund Grant, offered by the Third Wave Fund, supports youth-led gender justice activism. This rapid response fund targets organizations led by young women of color and LGBTQ+ youth, providing up to $10,000 for urgent needs. It prioritizes groups addressing recent incidents that threaten their work, fostering community power and leadership. Organizations with budgets under $500,000 can apply, aiming for impactful, time-sensitive initiatives that promote social change.

GCEF Scholarship Fund

Established by the Gay Community Endowment Fund to provide scholarships for LGBTQ+ and allied students.

Amount:

• Varies

Number of awards:

• Varies

Renewal:

• Must maintain good academic status and reapply annually by submission of a new application.

Sisters of the Sacred Heartland Dr. Allan French Memorial Scholarship

Provides a scholarship to students in Oklahoma who identify as members of the LGBTQIA2S+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Two-Spirit, and the countless affirmative ways in which people choose to self-identify) and a minimum GPA of 2.7 or higher.

About Us

Interact for Health works so that people in our region are healthy and thriving, regardless of who they are or where they live. We advance health justice by tackling the root causes of unfair systems, amplifying community power and partnering with trust.

Responsive Fund

The goal of the Responsive Fund RFP is to address immediate, emerging, or unanticipated needs within the community, recognizing that opportunities to build resilience require dedicated funding.

2) In-Kind Support for Sustainability Consultations and Capacity Building

Participants in this program will receive 1:1 consulting services tailored to an organization’s identified needs. Interact for Health will work with local consultants and community partners based on needs shared by grantee organizations.

Examples of needs include the following:

• Scenario planning  
• Legal support 
• Sustainability and development planning and implementation
• Diversified funding strategies and implementation
• Exploring collaboration, partnerships/alliances, shared services, and/or mergers
• Strategic planning and revisions 

Sustainability Consultations will include up to 30 hours of 1:1 support and will begin in late 2026. 

The We Are Moving The Needle Scholarship supports women, trans, and non-binary creators in the music industry by offering two full scholarships for a masterclass with GRAMMY-nominated producer Alissia in Paris. This initiative aims to empower underrepresented voices through education and mentorship, fostering a more inclusive music industry. Participants will engage in hands-on workshops designed to enhance their production skills and gain insights from a leading industry professional, contributing to lasting cultural change.

About Us

Interact for Health works so that people in our region are healthy and thriving, regardless of who they are or where they live. We advance health justice by tackling the root causes of unfair systems, amplifying community power and partnering with trust.

Responsive Fund

The goal of the Responsive Fund RFP is to address immediate, emerging, or unanticipated needs within the community, recognizing that opportunities to build resilience require dedicated funding.

Grant Funding for Critical Services – Sustaining Civic Infrastructure: Total investment up to $1.5 million  

This funding supports the continuity of critical community infrastructure and services by addressing the time-sensitive operational and programmatic needs. Proposals for funding should focus on critical gaps or unmet needs with deep ties to community relationships. Organizations should demonstrate readiness to deploy resources quickly if funding is provided. This RFP will prioritize funding organizations essential to advancing health justice and youth well-being among our priority populations. Grants are available at three levels: $50,000, $75,000, or $100,000 for general operating or programmatic support.