Strategic Synergy: Highlights from the ITF Board Meeting

This week’s ITF Board Meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand, marked a milestone in the organization’s journey. Board members engaged in strategic discussions aimed at fortifying the ITF’s governance structures, ensuring a robust foundation for effective decision-making and long-term sustainability.

The meeting was also a place to discuss operational matters, fostering a collaborative environment where key strategic decisions were made. Integral to the proceedings was the review and approval of the 2024 Budget, demonstrating the Board’s commitment to transparency and fiscal responsibility. The Board also reviewed and approved the Annual Report (which we will publish next week).

Heartfelt congratulations to the newly appointed members of the Executive Board! We are excited to announce Alex Rodrigo Castillo Hernández and Sara R. Phillips as Co-Chairs, Liberty Matthyse as Treasurer, and Mikee Inton-Campbell as the Secretary of the Board. As members of the Executive Board, they will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing the strategic vision. Each of them brings a unique set of skills that will define the success and growth of the ITF for years to come.

We are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to the five amazing activists who have recently joined the Board. Each one brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our organization, stemming from their diverse backgrounds and outstanding contributions as trans activists. The selection process was highly competitive, reflecting our commitment to ensuring that our leadership team represents a broad spectrum of perspectives and skills.

As we usher in this new era, we are confident that the innovative ideas, passion, and dedication these Board Members bring will further the ITF’s mission on a global scale. We look forward to the positive impact their collective wisdom and experience will have on our organization and the communities we serve. To read more about the new Board Members click here.

We also extend our gratitude to the outgoing Board Members for their extraordinary contributions and dedicated service. Alejandra Collette Spinetti Núñez, Barbra Wangare Leone, Chaber, and Zhan Chiam have played instrumental roles in guiding and shaping the ITF for the past several years. Their commitment and passion have left a lasting impact, and we appreciate everything they have accomplished during their tenure on the Board. As they transition to new endeavors, we thank them for their efforts and wish them continued success in their future pursuits.

Funding Webinars

Are you interested in applying to the ITF’s 8th grant cycle and looking for more information? The ITF hosts funding webinars for trans-led groups to provide details on the application process. During these webinars, we will share information about the eligibility criteria, funding priorities, and our new grantmaking portal. We will give helpful tips on how to write a strong and competitive application. There will also be the opportunity to ask our Program Officers questions. The webinars are held in multiple languages. To participate please register via the links below:

Welcoming a New Era: 8th Grant Cycle Update

Dear ITF Community,

Today I am writing to share an important update about the 8th grant cycle which will launch on December 1, 2023.

The ITF is in the process of transitioning to grants management software. For the first time, organizations that want to apply for funding will do so in our new grantmaking portal. We believe this change will mark a significant step towards enhancing the applicants’ experience, removing barriers to applying and streamlining our grantmaking process.

In our new system, you will be asked to create a profile for your organization. This will allow you to apply for funding opportunities at the ITF. The benefit of this is that you will not have to keep filling out the same information about your organization each time you apply because it will be saved online. You will have the opportunity to work with colleagues on drafts in the system and save them as you go. You will still be able to apply in English, French, Russian, Simplified Chinese and Spanish and you will continue to be able to submit either a written or video application for our SEED and THRIVE grants.

We have been working on this transition for the past 6 months and we are almost ready to launch. We’re committed to making sure the system runs smoothly and that our application process remains accessible and transparent. We know that some organizations may not have experience applying online or may struggle with this transition, please know that the ITF team will be on standby to assist. We will be running informational webinars in December and January to support trans-led organizations to apply.  

Each year we receive hundreds of eligible applications from incredible trans-led groups building their communities in different corners of the world. As a participatory grantmaker, our process is lengthy. With the integration of our new system, we are poised to significantly enhance the efficiency of our grantmaking  processes and provide an improved experience for applicants and grantee partners.

Please stay tuned for the launch on December 1! 

In Solidarity,

Broden and the ITF Team