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SAN FRANCISCO - By all indications, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people are at least as generous as other Americans. So why are less than 5% of them giving to support LGBT causes? More importantly, how can LGBT nonprofits capture more LGBT dollars? These are the central questions raised by new research released today by Horizons Foundation.

The first multi-part study of its kind, Building a New Tradition of LGBT Philanthropy offers a snapshot of current giving to LGBT organizations, and points to ways to expand the pool of individual donors whose untapped potential can power both the immediate and long-term success of the LGBT movement. The research is based on giving data from 39 LGBT and HIV organizations in the Bay Area, an extensive online donor survey, and a series of focus groups with LGBT donors.

"When asked to guess what percentage of the LGBT community gives to LGBT causes, people almost universally overestimate, often by a factor of 10," said Roger Doughty, Executive Director of Horizons Foundation. "If everyone assumes everyone else is giving, then they may not realize just how vital their own donations are to our movement."

The study also found that a remarkable 52% of LGBT donors said they were somewhat to very likely to make a bequest or other planned gift to LGBT organizations. With baby boomers and the first "post-Stonewall" generation making their estate plans in the next 15-25 years, the LGBT movement has an unprecedented window of opportunity to build significant community resources.

The findings in Building a New Tradition of LGBT Philanthropy indicate that LGBT people themselves are a formidable resource for funding LGBT organizations. One key to tapping into this philanthropic potential is for LGBT organizations to connect with donors on multiple levels. "LGBT donors don't tend to think about their giving in discrete categories, so organizations that can speak to a donor's complex identity will likely have more success," noted Robert H. Martin, a strategy and planning consultant who led the study's focus groups. Individuals can also play a major role by reflecting on their own giving to LGBT nonprofits and by inspiring others to give.

"Whether you talk about penny jars sitting next to cash registers or sophisticated fundraising campaigns," said Doughty, "the generosity of individuals has fueled everything we've accomplished over the years and strengthened the very fabric of our community. We all recognize that money is never enough in itself to power a movement or build strong organizations - but it is absolutely necessary."

Founded in 1980, Horizons Foundation was the world's first community foundation focused exclusively on LGBT issues.