Applying for the Equality Fund FY22 Grantmaking Cycle

Deadline: January 28, 2022, 11:00 p.m.

About the Equality Fund 

The Equality Fund at the Boston Foundation was created in 2012 to support Greater Boston nonprofit organizations that serve and strengthen the LGBTQ+ community; a permanent endowment that will benefit the LGBTQ+ community of Greater Boston in perpetuity, so each of our future generations can thrive. The Fund is guided by an Advisory Committee made up of members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies who possess a deep understanding about the most pressing issues affecting our community today.

The 2021-2022 Application Cycle

For this application cycle, grants will be made with partial support from the Boston Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund, thus we will have two funding streams: the “Equality Fund Annual Grantmaking” stream and the “COVID-19 Response Fund” stream.

We will be awarding approximately $450,000 in grants this year in total. Grants will be awarded in May 2022. Please see below for funding and eligibility details. 

  • Grants will be made for general operating support, to organizations serving the LGBTQ+ community in Greater Boston and the Boston’s Foundation “catchment area”
  • Applications will be evaluated based on the organization’s mission, programs, and sustainability 
  • COVID-19 grants will be made in accordance with the guiding principles of the COVID-19 Response Fund
  • Organizations receiving funding will share their experience and impact of the grant via a phone call with TBF staff.

You are welcome to apply to either or both of our funding streams. All applications are due by January 28, 2022, by 11 PM. 

Application requirements:

To apply for the 2022 cycle, please complete and submit: 

a) The appropriate Online Application Form, .

b) A copy of your Organizational Operating Budget in any format you have it.

c) The Organizational Demographic Information sheet (available with the Online Application Form)
Note: We are trying to collect information on DEI efforts so we can better align our funding strategies to the community needs.

Please limit your answers to the word count allotted per question. Brief and specific answers are appreciated.

Equality Fund Annual Grantmaking Stream

Eligibility Criteria and Funding:

1. Grants will range approximately from $5,000 to $20,000.

2. The “Equality Fund Annual Grantmaking” stream will support:

  • Organizations serving primarily LGBTQ+ populations
  • LGBTQ+ serving programs or projects, fiscally sponsored by another organization, in which at least 60% of the program’s participants identify as LGBTQ+
  • LGBTQ+ serving programs or projects, operating within a larger organization, in which at least 60% of the program’s participants identify as LGBTQ+
  • Programs and organizations serving LGBTQ+ communities, and whose composition of boards, staff, and volunteers are representative of the demographics and lived experiences of their constituencies

3. This stream will fund organizations and programs that:

  • Address the general needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Examples include, but not limited to: Artistic projects; advocacy and community building activities; capacity building (except capital construction costs and related); outreach and educational activities; health and legal services; cultural awareness and racial and social justice campaigns; and health and human services. 
Click here to complete the application form  
If you have any questions about the  applications or process, please contact Jose Nino at

COVID-19 Response Fund Stream

Eligibility Criteria and Funding:

1. All grants will be the same size this cycle: $20,000.

2. The“COVID-19 Response Fund” stream will support:

  • Organizations serving primarily LGBTQ+ populations
  • LGBTQ+ serving programs or projects, fiscally sponsored by another organization, in which at least 60% of the program’s participants identify as LGBTQ+
  • LGBTQ+ serving programs or projects, operating within a larger organization, in which at least 60% of the program’s participants identify as LGBTQ+
  • Programs and organizations serving LGBTQ+ communities, and whose composition of boards, staff, and volunteers are representative of the demographics and lived experiences of their constituencies

3. This stream will fund organizations and programs that:

  • Provide relief and/or direct services in response to the pandemic (e.g., mental health services; legal services, assistance to cover basic needs such food, shelter, clothing, hygiene kits, etc.; housing options) and direct services not mentioned here
  • Contribute towards a just and equitable recovery from COVID-19 (policy and advocacy; racial justice and educational activities; violence prevention; economic empowerment and support for small businesses owned by people of color; artistic projects led by communities of color; etc.), and
  • Serve communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 (within Boston’s Foundation “catchment area”). Vulnerable populations include seniors, immigrants (including undocumented individuals), communities of color, domestic violence survivors and incarcerated and returning citizens, individuals with disabilities, and individuals experiencing homelessness.
Click here to complete the application form