Our Commitment to Transparency

Transparency is essential to accountable and equitable grantmaking. We share information to help organizations, partners, and supporters understand how ITF works and how collective power is distributed.

How Grantmaking Decisions Are Made

All decisions related to ITF's main grant cycle are made by the Grant Making Panel (GMP), a group composed entirely of trans activists from around the world.

ITF opens an application call in English, French, Russian, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese. ITF staff review submissions against the eligibility criteria. Eligible applications move to Stage 2.

Eligibility Review

1

Two GMP members, one from the applicant's region and one from outside the region, review and score each eligible application. This brings both local insight and a broader perspective. Members use a scorecard based on the application questions and assign a score out of 10 for each response. Each GMP member reviews approximately 50–60 applications at this stage.

The highest-scoring applications move to Stage 3.

GMP Review

2

Collective Decision-Making

3

The full GMP reviews the highest-scoring 70+ applications and collectively decides which groups will be funded and how much each will receive. Discussions are organized by ITF's five regions to support global equity, while also considering intersectional approaches and organizations working with the most marginalized trans communities. Every GMP member has an equal voice.  

Ratification and Due Diligence

4

After the GMP makes its funding decisions, ITF's Board reviews and ratifies the final list. ITF staff conduct reference checks and due diligence before grants are issued and funds are disbursed.  

The Board

  • Board Members: 10 — 12 trans activists and 2 funder representatives (both trans)

  • Role: Provide fiscal and legal oversight, set strategic direction, ensure accountability, and support ITF’s long-term sustainability

  • Term: 3 years

  • Selection: Applications accepted annually or when vacancies arise; a Selection Committee reviews applications, valuing regional representation, lived experience, and a wide range of skills and perspectives

  • Requirements: Confidentiality and conflict of interest agreements

  • Responsibilities: Reviews and ratifies the final grantee list, helps ensure due diligence, and can request further review in exceptional cases

  • Honorarium: US$1,500/annually

The Grant Making Panel

  • GMP Members: 15 trans activists from around the world

  • Role: Bring community knowledge, lived experience, regional context & movement expertise to ITF’s grantmaking

  • Term: 3 years, with members rotating off annually upon completion of their terms.

  • Selection: Annual open call; Selection Committee prioritizes regional representation, movement experience, and diverse identities/perspectives

  • Commitments: Confidentiality & conflict of interest agreements; training and application-review guidelines

  • Workload: 100+ applications/cycle, reviewed across multiple stages, plus training and collective decision-making

  • Honorarium: US$1,500/cycle in recognition of members’ labor