The third edition of The State of Trans Organizing report is out now. This report presents new research demonstrating how global trans movements are under attack and severely under-resourced. With participation from 449 respondents worldwide, the research provides a critical snapshot of the priorities, activities, and needs of diverse trans organizations. This research is also a call to action for funders to step-up and provide support to address the needs of global trans movements.

This research was led by Global Philanthropy Project and GATE. The ITF joined as a donor partner alongside American Jewish World Service, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice and Dreilinden. Notably, an earlier edition of The State of Trans Organizing report was instrumental in laying the foundation for the creation of the ITF as it underscored the urgent need for dedicated funding to sustain and amplify trans activism globally. Today, the ITF is proud to contribute to this updated research, which reinforces the essential role of responsive, sustained funding for the resilience and advancement of global trans movements.

Key Findings
Challenges of Violence and Harassment: Nearly all trans organizations (90%) report facing violence or harassment, including physical attacks, online harassment, and event disruptions. Additionally, 67% report threats from oppositional groups or individuals (e.g., “anti-gender,” etc.) and 36% face increased scrutiny from law enforcement or government agencies. This hostile environment forces organizations to divert resources toward security, impacting community support.

Limited Budgets: Trans organizations provide essential support to their communities, addressing advocacy, healthcare, safety, and arts & culture. Yet, the majority operate with very limited resources; half have budgets below $20,000, and 14% have no budget at all. This funding gap severely restricts their ability to meet growing needs.

Chronic Under-resourcing: Trans organizations also receive smaller grants than other LGBTI organizations, with most funds being short-term and project-specific. The vast majority of trans organizations (76%) received less than $50,000 of external funding in 2022, with nearly one-third (30%) receiving none.

Unbalanced Geographic Funding Support: Trans organizations operate across local, national, regional, and international levels, yet funding remains heavily concentrated in the Global North—93% of it directed toward the United States. Most trans organizations work nationally (72%), at city (36%), or state levels (25%), with additional work at regional and international levels (14% each), addressing issues from local to global scales.

However, the distribution of funding does not match this geographic reach. Regions like Asia and the Pacific receive disproportionately low funding compared to their large populations.

Call to Action for Funders:

• Increase overall funding with larger grants and a broader donor base.
• Promote sustainable funding through multi-year and core funding to provide stability.
• Prioritize Global South and East organizations, where funding needs are highest.
• Ensure responsive funding that addresses healthcare, employment, and movement-building as identified by trans activists.
• Join efforts to mobilize, activate, and defend global trans funding. 

Report Launch Webinar

Global Philanthropy Project (GPP) is hosting a launch webinar in December to present key findings and recommendations. Join to learn how these reports, used since 2013 to improve trans and intersex funding, can now help advocate for greater support and be shared throughout the coming year.

Date: December 11, 2024
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. EDT (GMT-04:00).

Join the Launch Webinar

This webinar is open to all. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in English, Spanish, and French (with additional languages to be confirmed).

Why Support Trans Organizing?
Around the world and across time, people who defied gender norms have held diverse roles, from healers to outcasts, warriors to divine figures. With colonization, these identities were suppressed, deemed sinful, criminal, or disordered, forcing trans and gender-diverse people to navigate severe medical, legal, and social repression. Even in places where minimal recognition was granted, it often came with harsh conditions, leaving many in poverty and facing violence and stigma.

Over the past 80 years, trans activists have organized locally and globally, challenging injustice and securing rights such as legal gender recognition, gender-affirming healthcare, and research into trans issues. Despite these gains, today’s movement faces threats from social exclusion, war, climate change, and anti-trans campaigns. Supporting trans organizing is crucial to sustaining progress and advancing trans justice.