Horizons Foundation

Promoting Philanthropy: A lack of financial resources has long limited the capacity of nonprofit organizations to meet the varied and serious needs of the LGBTQ community, both in the Bay Area and beyond. Horizons is committed to bridging this gap not only through grantmaking but also by increasing community giving. This work included: (A) Horizons promoted giving by LGBTQ people for LGBTQ causes by offering expert seminars to educate donors and the LGBTQ community about current issues, giving strategies, and funding opportunities. (B) The foundation convened and worked with scores of financial and legal advisors serving the LGBTQ community in the San Francisco Bay Area. (C) Horizons also worked with individual donors to define their philanthropic goals and develop giving strategies for both life-time and legacy gifts. (D) Horizons led national Give Out Day, the only national day of giving for the LGBTQ community, which raised over $1,272,886 for LGBTQ organizations - and more than $10 million over nine years - across the country. (E) The Foundation led innovative research and testing efforts to strengthen the fundraising capabilities of LGBTQ nonprofits in the Bay Area and across the country.

Securing the LGBTQ Future: There is a significant opportunity to bring additional financial resources to the LGBTQ community through legacy giving (giving from donors' estates). Horizons has long been a regional and national leader in efforts to realize this opportunity. In the Bay Area, the foundation continually promoted legacy giving as a way for donors - larger or smaller - to have profound impact through a legacy gift. We also continued to build the LGBTQ Community Endowment Fund to provide permanent resources for promoting rights and well-being of LGBTQ people. The Endowment is being built almost entirely through estate gifts, and more than 380 people have informed Horizons that the foundation is included in their estates. On a national level, Horizons continued to lead development of the groundbreaking National LGBTQ Legacy Giving Initiative. This unprecedented initiative is designed to help other communities across the country also realize the opportunity in legacy giving.