To help you determine if your project aligns with our current funding priorities and to make the application process as smooth as possible, we have gathered answers to our most frequently asked questions below.
Eligibility & Requirements
- Do you fund organizations outside of the LGBTQ+ community?
Our funding is strictly focused on organizations whose primary, core purpose is to serve the LGBTQ+ community. While we appreciate entities that benefit LGBTQ+ people through other noble causes, our mission requires us to dedicate our resources entirely to LGBTQ+-specific organizations.
- Do you support organizations that are not 501(c)(3) nonprofits?
We require all applicants to be a registered 501(c)(3) public charity or be fiscally sponsored by one. We are unable to provide funding directly to other entity types or to individuals.
- Are there upper or lower limits to organizational budgets?
All budget sizes are welcome. We currently do not place any upper or lower limits on the operating budgets of the organizations we fund.
- How often can we apply, and may we apply to more than one of the grant programs?
Applicants may submit one application per calendar year and must choose just one of our three grant programs for that cycle.
- Do you fund organizations outside the United States?
Our grantmaking is limited to the United States. We are currently unable to fund any organizations or programs based internationally.
Geographic & Program Focus
- Do you only fund organizations in the Northeast US?
Our primary geographic priority is the Northeast US (stretching from West Virginia to Maine), with a heavy focus on:
- Connecticut
- New York
- New Jersey
- New England
- The Mid-Atlantic states
Note: We do expand our reach slightly to fund some Southeast US organizations through our TransPLUS program, and we occasionally consider organizations with a truly national scope.
- What is the difference between Community, TransPLUS, and Silver Connect grants?
We offer three distinct paths for funding:
- Community Grants: Designed for general funding needs across the broad LGBTQ+ community. These needs include health and wellness, crisis intervention, racial justice, community engagement and advocacy.
- TransPLUS Grants: Dedicated specifically to organizations serving the TGNCNBI community.
- Silver Connect Grants: Focused on supporting entities that serve our LGBTQ+ senior populations (ages 65 and older).
- Do you fund Pride festivals?
We support regional Pride festivals exclusively through our Tri-State Pride Convening in early February. We do not accept standard grant applications for Pride events. If your organization is located in Fairfield or Westchester County, we invite you to join the coalition to qualify for annual support, which varies based on specific participation requirements.
- Do you fund LGBTQ+ arts and entertainment?
While we deeply value culture and have funded arts organizations in the past, our funding is currently prioritized on urgent, immediate needs across the community during this challenging time. Because of this focus, we are temporarily unable to fund arts and entertainment activities.
- Do you fund educational organizations or LGBTQ+ student centers?
Eligibility depends on how your program is structured:
- Eligible: Standalone 501(c)(3) educational nonprofits, or those operating under a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, whose primary mission is to support the LGBTQ+ community.
- University/School Programs: If your center is part of a larger high school, college, or university system, please visit our dedicated LGBTQ+ Student Center Initiative for support options [LINK].
- Do you fund GSAs (Genders & Sexualities Alliances)?
Our current guidelines do not include funding for individual GSAs at school or college campuses.
Funding & Awards
- What is the average grant award?
Our grant awards typically range between $5,000 and $50,000, with our average annual award falling between $15,000 and $20,000. The final amount is tailored to the scale of the organization and its specific project goals.
- How competitive is the funding process?
Because we are one of the few foundations dedicated exclusively to the LGBTQ+ community, our application process is highly competitive. We receive many more excellent proposals than we can possibly fund. For context, thus far in 2026, we have received over 250 applications and were able to fund fewer than 30.
- Do you award multi-year grants?
We do occasionally award multi-year grants, but these are generally reserved for existing partners whom we have already successfully funded for several consecutive years.
- Do you provide unrestricted general operating support?
Our strong preference is to provide project-specific funding so that reporting can be tied to a distinct purpose. However, we will occasionally consider unrestricted support if the application outlines a highly compelling rationale and clearly delineates your organizational activities.
- How long does it take to receive funds after approval?
Once a positive funding decision is finalized and shared with you, it generally takes 2 to 4 weeks for us to process and mail your grant check.
- Must we spend all grant funding within one year?
Yes, we ask that all funds be utilized within one calendar year of receiving the grant. If unexpected project delays come up, please reach out to our Executive Director Judy Troilo as early as possible to discuss a potential extension.
- If we are fiscally sponsored, who applies and who receives the funding?
The organization itself, and not the fiscal sponsor, will both apply and receive the grant.
- What documents are required with the application?
The grant application [LINK] contains a short series of questions and requires a description of the actual program to be funded, as well as copies of the most recent organizational budget, Form 990, and IRS determination letter.
Application Process & Criteria
- What criteria do you use to assess grant applications?
In addition to checking basic eligibility (501(c)(3) status, geography, and an LGBTQ+ mission), our review team looks for:
- Strong, diverse leadership
- Replicable and scalable activities
- Solid financial health
- A proven commitment to communities of color
Note: Specialized criteria also apply to proposals submitted under our TransPLUS and Silver Connect programs.
- How often do you accept applications?
We operate several application cycles throughout the year. We are currently rolling out an updated timeline, so please check our website regularly to view upcoming active grant cycles .
- Do you meet with organizations before they submit a proposal?
To keep our process simple and accessible for busy non-profit leaders, we do not host pre-meetings. Once you submit your application and required documents, our team will review them thoroughly. If we need more context to make a fair decision, we will reach out to schedule a virtual or in-person conversation.
- If our application is declined, will we receive feedback?
To ensure we direct as much staff time and funding as possible into the community, we cannot provide individualized feedback on declined proposals. We highly encourage you to review our core guidelines and apply again in a future year and cycle.
Reporting & Engagement
- Do you require grant reporting?
Yes. We view our grants as partnerships, so we expect periodic updates on how the funds are making an impact. This can take the form of brief written reports, a virtual check-in, or a site visit with our foundation representatives
Do you sponsor corporate or community events?
We do sometimes attend or sponsor events, but this is managed outside of our standard grant application process. If you are an existing grantee and your organization is holding an event and seeks involvement of the Foundation, please reach out to info@leonardlitz.org and we will get back to you if the Foundation is able to participate.
- Is there a list of your past grantee organizations?
Yes. We are incredibly proud of our partners. You can view a complete directory of our current and past grantees on our Grantees Page.
Our mission at the Leonard-Litz Foundation is to help LGBTQ+ people fulfill their potential. It is through you, our grantees, that we are able to realize this mission! Thank you for everything you do to build a more just, inclusive, and vibrant world for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Even when our limited resources mean we cannot fund every inspiring proposal we receive, please know that we see your hard work and stand with you in solidarity. If you have any additional questions not covered above, please feel free to reach out to our team at info@leonardlitz.org.