Sharing Hope: Starting A Transgender Assistance Fund In Your Community
Why You Should: Starting an emergency fund for transpeople in your community is one of the most important things you can do. Due to widespread stigma and discrimination, many transpeople live in poverty throughout the United States. An emergency fund not only provides much needed help to those in distress, but also raises awareness regarding this painful social injustice. An emergency fund also provides much needed empowerment and leadership opportunities for transpeople in the planning and administration of the fund. All of these are reasons why you should consider creating an assistance fund in your community.
Planning and Leadership: Any new organization or project is only as strong as those involved in its undertaking. Talk with friends, family, trans community members, allies, and others who you think would be interested in helping with a fund. It’s important to involve the input, if not direct leadership, of as many diverse trans community members as possible.
Structure and Organization: Consider finding a fiscal sponsor for your fund. Fiscal sponsorship from an established 501c3 organization can provide needed financial accountability and allow donations to your fund to be tax-deductible. Ideally, your fund would become its own free-standing organization, but gaining 501c3 status can be a lengthy process. Meet with transgender or transgender supportive organizations in your area that might be willing to help: HIV/AIDS organizations, GLBT community groups, churches, synagogues, or other faith communities that are GLBT-affirming might be good places to start.
Fundraising: Raising money for your fund can seem like a daunting task, but with a little creativity and perseverance you can be quite successful. Before beginning, set an initial goal that is realistic. For example, the Massachusetts fund began as a regional effort in Central Massachusetts with the goal of raising $3,000 to be distributed locally. Fundraising can be accomplished through a number of ways: events such as drag shows or performances, dinners or brunches or cocktail parties, casino nights and raffles, putting a can out for donations at GLBT pride events and conferences, or direct solicitation of individuals. If you decide to hold an event with a casino night or raffle, check with your local government in order to acquire required permits and tax documents. Also consider applying for grants to help support your fund. But above all, don’t be afraid to ask for financial support for your fund and be ready and willing to answer any questions that a potential donor has about your organization. As your fund grows and establishes itself, consider creating a permanent endowment with a local foundation in order to ensure longevity of your organization.
Administration: Proper administration of funds is crucial to the survival of your organization—you are accountable to your donors and funders and above all the community that you have committed to serving. If you appoint a treasurer or treasury team to oversee the organizations monies, be very careful to appoint someone who is trustworthy. It is important to figure out a workable system to properly distribute money to those who need it. The Massachusetts fund created an application process where community members fill out a short application, complete with proof of income and copies of any bills that require assistance. A small team bound by confidentiality agreements then read through each application and, if approved, a check is sent directly to companies, individuals, or organizations that require payment. We are careful to ensure the confidentiality of each applicant and that the applicant is not outed as being transgender-identified to third parties that receive payment.
Support and Assistance: The Massachusetts Transgender Emergency Fund believes strongly in the vision of transgender people helping each other. If you are interested in starting a fund in your community, we are available to provide technical support and assitance to you. Please contact us with any questions you may have.
