Rainbow Endowment - What We Do

We recognize that the LGBT community is unique, not defined by geographic borders. What happens in a courtroom in Boston or a field in Wyoming can have a profound impact on all our lives. While some wonderful LGBT foundations have been developed to address local needs, the Rainbow Endowment supports programs and services on a national level and provides gays and lesbians access to philanthropic tools no matter where they live or work.

Once a year, the Rainbow Endowment invites non-profit organizations having a national impact on the LGBT community to submit a request for funding. The proposals are reviewed by the Endowment's Grant Committee, which makes funding recommendations to the Board of Directors. Since 1996, 78 grants totaling nearly $1.5 million have been distributed by the Rainbow Endowment.

Bank America is the Rainbow Card's issuing bank and sponsor of the Rainbow Endowment. They help us keep funds flowing into organizations and programs serving the unique needs of the LGBT community.

The Rainbow Endowment has established a variety of tools to encourage gays and lesbians, regardless of where they live, to provide financial support to the organizations working on their behalf. With less than 2% of private philanthropic dollars devoted to our issues and little coming from government sources, we must recognize that the burden of funding LGBT litigation, education, advocacy and services will always fall most heavily on us, our friends and our families.

Ways to Give

Although currently most Rainbow Endowment grants are made from revenues earned annually through its relationship with corporations like MBNA, the Board of Directors has recently established a permanent endowment fund. By setting aside and investing a portion of its assets now, a long-term, financially stable source of funds is being created with capacity to meet future challenges.