- $150M emergency fund targets 45+ countries through 2027
- 20 private foundations provide 58% of global LGBTQ+ support
- Better Preparedness framework coordinates 300+ organizations
When political winds shifted in early 2024, Matthew Hart’s team at the Global Philanthropy Project recognized an urgent pattern. Authoritarian regimes and religiously-aligned governments formed what he describes as a 'toxic convergence' against gender-diverse communities. Their response – the Fund Our Futures initiative – became operational six months before the Trump administration formalized its foreign aid reductions.
Private philanthropy now accounts for 63% of international LGBTQ+ support according to GPP’s 2024 data. This marks a 22% increase from pre-crisis funding levels as governments like the Netherlands and Sweden reduce assistance. The $150M emergency fund targets grassroots organizations in 14 priority regions including Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.
Kellea Miller of the Human Rights Funders Network reveals their crisis response strategy evolved from Afghanistan withdrawal lessons. 'Our 2021 emergency protocols prevented duplicate efforts when Haiti’s government collapsed,' she notes. The network’s Better Preparedness framework now enables 178 foundations to synchronize rapid-response grants.
Three critical insights emerge from this funding shift. First, multi-year commitments allow sustained operations despite political volatility. Second, decentralized grant-making protects recipients when specific regions face crackdowns. Third, anonymized donation channels help high-risk donors contribute safely.
The Biden administration’s $25M LGBTQ+ foreign aid program – terminated in February 2024 – took three years to develop. By contrast, private networks activated replacement funds within 90 days through pre-negotiated pledges. Hart emphasizes this agility saves lives: 'Every 48 hours, we verify protection funds reach activists facing immediate deportation or violence.'
Regional impacts show stark contrasts. Brazilian transgender health clinics lost 40% of federal support but gained equivalent private funding. Conversely, Hungarian LGBTQ+ shelters report only 18% of vanished EU grants have been replaced. GPP’s tracking system identifies these disparities, enabling targeted supplemental grants.
As Miller observes, 'Philanthropy can’t replace systemic government support, but strategic giving buys crucial time.' With 68% of emergency funds already deployed, Hart’s coalition now pressures Canada and Germany to maintain their commitments as last major state-backed donors.