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

Funding is now available through the Samara Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation. Led by a group of queer and trans Vermonters, the fund supports transformational grants and scholarships for individuals and organizations working to strengthen the power, health, joy, and safety of LGBTQ+ and HIV-positive people across Vermont.

The Samara Fund will accept applications for LGBTQ+ led projects and organizations in Vermont. Funding for 2026 will be guided by the Samara Fund’s values, which include:

• Being anti-racist and anti-oppressive by practicing intersectionality, power-shifting, and transformative justice internally and externally
• Being proudly trans-inclusive at 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 2026 grantmaking cycle include:

• Queer and trans-led projects and organizations
• Projects led by and centering BIPOC and trans Vermonters
• Elders and youth
• Queer and trans Vermonters with disabilities
• Harm reduction work (including HIV/AIDS prevention and advocacy)
• Projects working meaningfully 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 Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC).

Nonprofits or community groups may apply at any time during the application period for up to $5,000. Applications will be accepted now through 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Emergent and sponsorship funding is available year-round as long as funds last.

Visit vermontcf.org/samara to learn more and apply.