9th Grant Cycle is Now Open!

Dear ITF Community,

We are excited to announce that the 9th grant cycle is now open! This year we are continuing to accept applications exclusively through the ITF’s grants portal. This helps streamline the application process, ensuring that all submissions are managed efficiently and securely. We invite trans-led groups that are interested in applying for a grant to create a profile here. Once you have a profile, you can access the grant application. If you already have a profile simply log into your SmartSimple account and start your submission process.

The ITF is thrilled to accept written and video applications in English, French, Russian, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish.

Eligibility:
We invite applications from trans-led organizations worldwide with annual budgets below $100,000 USD. Please see the full eligibility criteria here.

Grant Types:
The ITF has two grant types:

• SEED Grant (1-year):

  • General support and/or project grant.

  • For organizations not previously funded by the ITF.

  • Grant amounts: $10,000 to $25,000 USD/year.

• THRIVE Grant (1-year):

  • General support grant.

  • Exclusively for trans-led organizations previously funded by the ITF in good standing.

  • Grant amounts: $25,000 to $50,000 USD/year.

Please note that in the grants portal you can only apply one time and for one grant type. Once you start an application you cannot switch to another grant type (e.g. from THRIVE to SEED). We strongly encourage you to read the Application Guidelines before you begin.

Application Deadline:
The deadline to apply for either a SEED or THRIVE grant is December 2, 2024, at 5 pm (ET/New York time).

Application Process:
All applications must be submitted through our grants portal. In order to access the funding application, you will need to create an organizational profile.

>>> Create organizational profile

We accept written and video applications in English, French, Russian, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish. Please select your preferred language in the top right corner of your browser.

You can access Application Guidelines here.

Support Services:
To assist you in the application process, we are hosting Application Walkthrough webinars and Q&A sessions. To register please click here.

Contact Us:
If you experience any issues in the registration or application process, do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected].

We look forward to receiving your innovative applications and to continue supporting trans-led initiatives globally.

Webinars and the 9th Grant Cycle

In September, the ITF successfully hosted a series of funding webinars to help trans-led groups around the world better understand our grantmaking process. These sessions provided valuable insights into how organizations can apply for funding and what to expect during the application process.

As we prepare to open our 9th grant call on October 7, we are also gearing up to announce the grantees from the 8th grant cycle soon. We are excited to continue supporting grassroots trans movements globally.

Starting in October, we will launch our Application Walkthroughs and Q&A sessions, offering applicants the opportunity to engage with ITF Program Offciers, ask questions, and get detailed guidance on completing their applications. To register for the sessions click here.

GMP at the Mexico City Contra Pride

After an amazingly productive and inspiring Grant Making Panel meeting we celebrated at CDMX Contra Pride. Here are some pictures!

Building Resilience and Solidarity: Annual Report 2023

As our community faces growing marginalization, the denial of human rights, discriminatory legislation, restricted access to healthcare, and criminalization for simply being who we are, the need for a strong organization to support global trans movements in the most marginalized regions is more critical than ever. The ITF plays a vital role in this mission.

The ITF operates as a global community-based participatory fund, with trans voices at the core of our decision-making and governance processes. We are dedicated to fostering strong leadership within the organization, thereby strengthening global trans communities. Once again, the ITF has successfully increased our grantmaking, provided ongoing support, and extended our reach to more vulnerable groups worldwide.

We are thrilled to share a moment of pride and accomplishment with you as we present our Annual Report for 2023. This document encapsulates the collective efforts, successes, and milestones that have defined our journey throughout the year. 2023 marked the seventh year of the ITF’s existence, and we are excited to continue building on our achievements.

Future Frontiers of Trans Activism

ITF at HRFN Conference in Georgia

Viviane Simakawa, a Program Officer for the International Trans Fund, co-hosted two notable sessions during the Human Rights Funders Network Conference from April 24 to 26, 2024, in Tbilisi, Georgia. On April 25th, she facilitated a Lightning Talk titled “Trans Rights and the Power of Movement Resourcing,” emphasizing the role of funding in promoting queer liberation and movement building. Additionally, Viviane led a session on “The Power and Responsibility of Being Allies to Trans Individuals, Organizations, and Movements.” This session aimed to enhance funders’ and allies’ understanding of effective support for trans activism by discussing successes, challenges, and strategic grantmaking practices. Furthermore, the ITF contributed to the Open Gallery, which highlighted the transformative impact of trans-led organizations through media.

8th Grant Cycle Update

The ITF is thrilled to provide an update on the progress of our 8th grant cycle. Currently, the GMP is diligently reviewing and scoring the eligible applications we received. Each application undergoes a thorough evaluation process to ensure that it aligns with our mission and that the applying groups are trans-led. The dedication and expertise of our GMP members plays a crucial role in this stage, as they carefully assess each proposal based on various criteria.

As we move forward, the highest-scoring applications will advance to the next phase of review at the GMP in-person meeting, scheduled to take place in Mexico City in June. This meeting presents an opportunity for in-depth discussions and deliberations. At this meeting, the GMP members will select the 8th cycle grantee partners and allocate funding. We look forward to the outcomes of the selection process and the positive impact it will have on supporting trans-led initiatives.

Over the past three months, the GMP has actively engaged in a series of virtual meetings, encompassing a wide range of topics and activities. These sessions have served as opportunities for capacity building, knowledge sharing, and fostering team cohesion.

Training sessions have provided GMP members with essential insights to effectively carry out their roles in the application review process. Regional discussions, where each participant had a chance to present their local context, have deepened the understanding of some of the unique challenges and opportunities faced by trans communities in different parts of the world.

A team cohesion meeting provided an informal space for GMP members to connect, collaborate, and build relationships with one another. Additionally, a recent check-in meeting allowed the GMP to address any questions or concerns related to the application review process, ensuring clarity and alignment moving forward.

Here is an overview of the applications received in our 8th grant cycle by region and language. This diverse array of submissions reflects the global reach and impact of our work at the ITF. The total number of eligible applications we recieved this year is 382.

We extend our gratitude to all the applicants who shared their inspiring projects and visions with us. We look forward to the selection process ahead and the opportunity to support impactful initiatives!

Deputy Director of the ITF at CSW68

The ITF’s Deputy Director recently participated in the 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), a pivotal event focusing on gender equality and women’s empowerment. During the CSW68 panel organized by the Global Philanthropy Project (GPP) and Ford Foundation, the ITF emphasized the critical issue of underfunding for trans groups and movements worldwide, urging urgent support. With over 60 in-person attendees and more than 100 participating online, the event provided a platform for vital discussions, highlighting the intersectionality of gender and funding disparities.

This engagement underscores our commitment to philanthropic advocacy by actively participating in high-profile events. By leveraging our platform to address systemic issues such as underfunding for trans groups and movements, we advocate for transformative change and equitable resource allocation.

Message from Trans Youth Initiative Uganda

Please read below an urgent message from our grantee partner Trans Youth Initiative-Uganda:

“On April 3, 2024, the Constitutional Court pronounced itself on the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023. The ruling was delivered by a panel of five justices, led by Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera, who collectively upheld the Act’s constitutionality except for Sections 3(2)c, 9, 11(2)d, and 14. The Court’s ruling preserves the majority of the Act, including its most deadliest provisions that continue to criminalize homosexuality and allow for the death penalty in cases of ‘aggravated homosexuality.’

This ruling marks a critical moment in our ongoing struggle for equality and justice. The partial acknowledgment of the Act’s infringement on constitutional rights highlights the complexities of advocating for LGBTQ+ rights within the current legal and cultural context of Uganda. While we celebrate the court’s recognition of these fundamental rights, we also recognize the significant challenges that lie ahead, given the Act’s broader provisions remain in effect.

This decision has already refueled hostility toward the LGBTQ+ community in Uganda, reinforcing an environment of fear and persecution. Less than a month ago, the same judicial system upheld the deregistration and shutdown of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), a decision that seriously endangers the lives and rights of LGBTQ+ people in Uganda and has an impact on LGBTQ+ organizing as the regulatory environment increasingly stifles civil society.

In light of these events, we renew our call for the full repeal of this draconian law. we urgently call on you, our trusted partner, to join us in this demand.

Since the passing of the Act, we have documented alarming increases in arrests, violence, job losses, evictions, hate speech, blackmail, harassment, threats, property damage, cyberbullying, torture, and mob justice fueled by the anti-LGBTIQ rhetoric of the Act. The mental health of rural transgender youth women, transgender youth sex workers and gender diverse youth is deteriorating under this weight, with reported cases of depression, anxiety, and stress rising alarmingly.

While the court’s ruling is a mixed outcome, we remain steadfast in our commitment to fight for dignity, equality, and the fundamental human rights of all.

We call upon you, to stand with us during this critical time. Your solidarity has never been more critical. Your support is more important than ever as we navigate the implications of this ruling and strategize our next steps.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude for the solidarity you have shown thus far. In the face of adversity, it is the unity and commitment of our allies that embolden us to persevere and strive towards a just and inclusive world for every individual, irrespective of gender identity or sexual orientation.

With deepest appreciation and in solidarity.”

Welcoming New Voices: Meet Our Latest GMP Members

The ITF is excited to introduce our 2024 Grant Making Panel (GMP). As a participatory grantmaker, we wholeheartedly embrace the principle of ‘nothing about us without us.’ We firmly believe that decisions regarding funding should be made by those most directly impacted by it. These 8 remarkable trans activists bring a wealth of diverse expertise and hail from various corners of the globe. They will join the existing 8 members of the GMP and are entrusted with the crucial task of evaluating eligible applications and selecting our grantee partners, whose selections are subsequently ratified by the Board. The GMP will start reviewing applications for the 8th grant cycle next week, with decisions expected to be announced in July. Learn more about the GMP here.

We recognize the importance of having a diverse and representative panel to ensure that the funds we distribute are allocated to those who need it. We believe that having trans activists from all over the world on the GMP will enable us to gain deeper insights into the issues facing trans communities. This year, the GMP includes members from Argentina, Colombia, Eswatini, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Italy, Vietnam, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Slovenia, UK and USA.

Due to the increasing attacks on trans communities, we also have a GMP member who cannot be named for safety and security reasons. We believe their insight and experiences strengthen our grantmaking and participatory process but also this reality underscores the increased oppression facing our communities.

We are excited to work with our new GMP members and look forward to the positive impact their involvement will have on our grantmaking process.