Funding Available to Support Vermont’s LGBTQ+ Communities through the Samara Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation

image courtesy of Camp Outright

Funding is now available through the Samara Fund, which is directed by a group of Queer and Trans Vermonters committed to a vision of transformational grants and scholarships to the people and groups throughout Vermont who demonstrate their dedication to the empowerment, health, and safety of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV positive (LGBTQ+) people.

The Samara Fund will accept applications for LGBTQ+ led projects and organizations in Vermont.

Funding for 2023 will reflect the Samara Fund’s new guiding values, including:

• Being anti-racist and anti-oppressive by practicing intersectionality, power-shifting, and transformative justice both internally and externally. This includes being proudly trans-inclusive in every level of Samara’s work
• Being transparent with the community and funders about how Samara works
• Queering fundraising and redistributing wealth for a bigger impact on the Vermont LGBTQ+ community
• Prioritizing accessibility, gratitude, and accountability while queering Samara’s work to make it fun, connective, and sustainable

With these values in mind, the Samara Fund’s priorities for the 2023 grantmaking cycle include:

• Queer and trans-led projects and organizations
• Projects that center, are led by, and/or prioritize BIPOC and/or trans Vermonters
• Elders and youth
• Queers with disabilities
• Work that is harm reduction (including HIV/AIDS prevention and advocacy)
• Projects meaningfully working beyond Chittenden County
• Smaller budget projects
• Long-term projects

Samara offers four distinct types of grant funding: general organizational support, project-specific support, emergent support for organizations (unplanned needs), and sponsorship of queer events. Samara also offers scholarships to Vermont LGBTQ+ youth, which is a separate process through the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC).

Nonprofits or community groups may apply at any time this summer for up to $5,000. Applications will be accepted through 5 p.m. Thursday, August 31, 2023. Emergent and sponsorship funding is available year-round as long as funds last. Visit vermontcf.org/samara to learn more and apply.