Social Justice

The Fleishhacker Foundation’s Social Justice Grants program builds on its long-standing tradition of directing resources and attention toward people and groups that have been historically marginalized and denied access to opportunity. This initiative is currently focused on supporting Bay Area organizations that offer programming and services to LGBTQ+ youth, particularly those who are experiencing separation from their families of origin, lack of shelter, or housing insecurity.

The exceptional LGBTQ+ Youth grantees listed here were identified through an open application process conducted in 2023.

The Foundation is not accepting further inquiries or proposals for this grant program at this time.

This initiative supports Bay Area organizations that provide services that are uniquely tailored to nurture LGBTQ+ youth.

The Foundation strategically invests in Bay Area LGBTQ+ organizations and other Bay Area nonprofits that provide caring and responsive social, physical and mental health, housing, educational, and/or career development services specifically designed to help LGBTQ+ youth successfully transition to healthy, confident, thriving, economically self-sufficient adulthoods.

Goals and Overview

The goal of this initiative is to support Bay Area service providers in their efforts to address the needs of LGBTQ+ youth and young adults (up to age 25) facing lack of shelter or housing insecurity. The program focuses on organizations that:

• Work with LGBTQ+ youth and their families to prevent youth from becoming unhoused and/or that provide youth with critical support when they cannot return to their families of origin;

• Engage and empower LGBTQ+ youth of color;

• Provide social programs and mental health services to help LGBTQ+ youth find community and support;

• Provide housing and basic needs support such as housing assessments, referrals, and the distribution of food, toiletries, and other necessities;

• Provide services to promote educational and career development that help LGBTQ+ youth improve their financial health, achieve educational goals, or gain career-oriented work experience; and/or

• Offer health and wellness services such as HIV/PrEP use counseling, medical appointments, insurance navigation, and the like.

The Fleishhacker Foundation awards general support to Bay Area LGBTQ+ youth organizations as well as program support for other Bay Area nonprofits with a proven track record of providing services that are specifically designed to meet the unique needs of this population. Special project or capacity building support is also considered.

The Foundation initially awarded one-year grants to the organizations listed here. These grants may be renewed through a streamlined process for a second and perhaps third year.

Grantees are:

• Organizations incorporated as 501(c)3 nonprofits (including fiscal sponsors applying on behalf of a fiscally sponsored project) that offer programs that are specially designed to meet the unique needs of LGBTQ+ youth.

• Located and primarily offering programming in San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Sonoma, San Mateo, and/or Santa Clara counties.


• Organizations with strong support from their Board of Directors as evidenced by the percentage who make annual gifts.

Not eligible are:

• Fundraising events and galas.

• Capital or endowment campaigns.

The most important considerations in assessing funding requests in this grant program are as follows:

• Does the organization have a strong track record of and sound plan for providing effective services to help LGBTQ+ youth to thrive?

• What are the organization’s programmatic plans for the coming year, how many youth does it intend to serve, and what role does it play in service delivery structure for LGBTQ+ youth in the Bay Area?

• Does the organization engage and empower youth of color?

• How well has the organization responded to the impact of COVID-19, and how viable are its plans for the future

• Is there strong evidence of Board and community support for the organization; specifically, what percentage of Board members made financial contributions and what other income has been raised or generated within the last year?

• Does the organization use its resources efficiently and well, seeking to collaborate and share resources when appropriate

• What are the financial needs of the organization?