Trans POC Initiative

Thank you for your interest in the Trans POC Initiative. Unfortunately, we are not currently accepting applications at this time. For more information, please email us at grants [at] horizonsfoundation.org.

Horizons Foundation is issuing this Request for Proposal (RFP) to support the growth and sustainability of nonprofit organizations led by and serving Transgender People of Color (Trans POC) in the San Francisco Bay Area. Despite the Bay Area’s high concentration of LGBTQ individuals and its rich racial and ethnic diversity, Trans POC communities face significant economic and social challenges, exacerbated by systemic inequities and limited philanthropic support. This RFP aims to address the critical funding gap by investing in the infrastructure improvement and workforce development of Trans POC-primary organizations.

Through the Trans POC Initiative, Horizons is committing to investing and partnering with Trans POC-primary organizations by providing funding towards multi-year, transformative infrastructure grants (higher impact-sized grants up to $100,000 per year for up to three years.)

For more information on the purpose and background behind the Transgender People of Color Initiative, please review the full RFP.

Objectives and Goals

The objective of this funding opportunity is to strengthen Trans POC-primary organizations in the SF Bay Area by improving their infrastructure and workforce capacity. Applicants are encouraged to talk to Horizons staff about objectives and goals that they would like to propose for their organization and would align with the purpose of this RFP – organizational infrastructure improvement and/or organizational workforce development and capacity building.

Eligibility

A. Population Focus

Applications will only be considered from Trans POC-Primary organizations as defined as and that meet all three criteria:

An organization whose mission centers Trans POC as their primary focus of work

An organization whose staff and boards predominantly reflect the Trans POC community they serve (65% or more)

An organization which primarily serves the Trans POC community (65% or more)

Note: A Trans POC-primary focus is not "Trans and POC" or "Trans or POC." For example, an organization whose mission primarily centers Trans API qualifies, while a trans organization that happens to serve Trans API does not.

B. Organization Type

Applicants must be a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, or provide documentation that the organization is fiscally sponsored by an organization that has 501(c)(3) status.

Note: A Trans POC project embedded within a nonprofit is not eligible for funding under this RFP.

C. Organization Size

There is no annual budget cap, so organizations of any size can apply. A funding priority will be given to organizations with an annual budget under $3 million.

D. Geographical Location

Applicants must be based within one or more of these San Francisco Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma

E. Grant Size

The maximum amount of grant is $100,000 per year for up to three years for a total of $300,000.

Grantmaking Timeline and Process

Friday, December 20, 2024 – RFP release and application portal open

Monday, January 6, 2025, 11 a.m. PT – Zoom Information Session

Monday, February 3, 2025, 12 p.m. PT – Application Deadline

February – March, 2025 – Funding Decisions Announced

Note: Horizons staff will be available for individual consultations between January 7 and January 30, 2025 by emailing [email protected].

Proposal Process

Prospective applicants can view the application and eligibility requirements below.

View the Application

We look forward to receiving your proposal and hearing about your work and your goals. Thank you for your interest in the Transgender People of Color Initiative — and for all the work your organization does for the LGBTQ community.