UPDATE!  (June 11)

• Thank you to the groups from across the U.S. who applied! 
• The Association received submissions from across the country from innovative LGBTQ+ organizations. After narrowing down a highly competitive field of applicants from across the country, four finalists were invited to a virtual business pitch session to present their projects to a panel of consultants who work with nonprofit organizations. 
• After a careful selection, the judges selected the Supply Hive as the finalist who would be receiving the financial award and six pro bono consulting sessions. The other finalists, the National Queer Theater, Equality Chamber, and Affinity Community Services, will each receive consulting support from ACN volunteers.

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When the Association of Consultants to Nonprofits created its mutual-support EMPOWER groups in 2022, providing support so members could help each other was one of the main goals. Now members of the LGBTQ+ Empower Group have added helping others to their goal.

“The LGBTQ+ EMPOWER Group was formed to raise the visibility and profile of members within the Association of Consultants to Nonprofits who work to support LGBTQ issues and beyond,” says David Dow, a. member of the LGBTQ+ Empower Group that created the grant.

“As a group we decided to create and collaborate on this award to recognize the important work of nonprofits serving our communities at such a critical and contentious time and to provide needed exposure, funds, and mentoring from ACN member consultants,” Dow adds. 

The grant initiative the group created marks the first time ACN has provided a grant of cash and technical assistance to another organization in this way.

One organization will receive a financial award of at least $1,500 as well as six months of support from ACN-member consultants whose collective expertise covers every aspect of working in the nonprofit and social impact sector and who will be available for an established meeting schedule.

David Dow said that the LGBTQ+ Empower Group, which is leading the consulting initiative, looks forward to helping. Some examples of how they envision the work going forward might include:

• Developing a new service area or program that brings direct benefits to LGBTQ+ populations
• Incorporating LGBTQ+ concerns into existing DEI efforts
• Launching a new outreach campaign to expand service to LGBTQ+ individuals
• Revising existing documents to incorporate more inclusive language.

These are just examples; group members say they are open to whatever needs candidates for the grant put forward.

Pro bono consulting for finalists

All finalists will receive one pro bono consulting session with a volunteer consultant.

More than 150 consultants from across the U.S. and Canada make up the ACN, which was started more than 30 years ago in Chicago. Members work with local and national organizations in areas from Association Management to DEI and from Social Media to Strategic Planning.

More details on our website here. 

Questions? Email acn.Igbtq@gmail.com

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