Project Studies GLBT Movement

by Jason Whipple

Donna Red Wing led the discussion entitled "Envisioning a Fully Funded National Movement for the GLBT Community" with community members at the Unitarian Universalist Society in Burlington on September 11. photo:Barbara Dozetos

More than 30 members of Vermont’s GLBT community gathered in Burlington on September 11 to talk about where the state’s movement stands now, where it could go in the future, and what it would take to get there.

Donna Red Wing, director of the Gill Foundation’s OutGiving Project, moderated the discussion, entitled “Envisioning a Fully Funded National Movement for the GLBT Community.”

Red Wing explained that the Colorado-based philanthropic organization is committed to the future of the GLBT community, but wants to base its funding decisions on reality, rather than assumption. “We don’t know what our community looks like,” she said. Gill designed the Blueprint Project to provide this information to themselves and other potential funders.

The project seeks to answer the following questions: Why and how do we, as a movement, give? What would a fully funded movement look like? Where should we invest resources? How do we compare to our adversaries? How do our organizations reflect our potential?

Researchers are gathering data from organizations and communities across the country to answer these questions. Additionally, deep core samplings are being done in five communities, of which Burlington is one.

“Vermont has envisioned the future and done something about it,” said Red Wing, explaining why Burlington was chosen to be a part of the intensive research.

The meeting’s purpose was to brainstorm and discuss possibilities, not come to conclusions or make plans. The unusual topic and the opportunity to dream a little was compelling to most of those who attended.

Impressed by the turnout, Virginia Renfrew of Vermont Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights said, “It is evident that there is a hunger for organization from everyone’s willingness to listen. Ideas ranging from training for fledgling organizations to some kind of central funding process were bandied about.”

“This was really an excellent opportunity to get people together and think about what’s possible,” said Tim Palmer of Vermont CARES.

“In the past 15 years, Vermont has accomplished a lot, but we need to talk about things that need to be done to help our organizations to continue,” said Renfrew. “So many volunteers were instrumental in that success and to have them paid is what would be wonderful — to get people specifically working on issues that are important to this community.”

Joint funding and the tensions around almost-uncomfortable competition drew some of the most passionate conversation of the night. “Non-profits in the GLBT infrastructure all have needs; they are all at different stages, and all require support,” said Bennett Law, president of the Mountain Pride Media board of directors. “Those needs became apparent to me even as a donor.”

Problems with finding local resources to assist new or struggling non-profits garnered a lot of attention. Frustrated by what she felt was rehashing familiar conversations, Jane Van Buren of the Vermont Alliance of Non Profits said there needs to be operating funds available and concentration on helping ourselves. “We shouldn’t rely on sparsely attended training from outsiders,” she said. “We have the ability and the talent here in Vermont.”

Although he felt the discussion was helpful in identifying resources within our own community, Keith Elston, executive director of Outright, is tentative about being too excited though until he actually sees some money.

The Blueprint Project research continues with more information gathering, and eventually, a final report that Gill hopes will paint a clear picture of what the national GLBT community is, what is wants to be, and what it needs to get to that goal. With this tool, funders, including Gill, will be able to make educated decisions about how and when to give money to the community.

Palmer said he hopes the Gill Foundation finds a way to work with Vermont to further its national leadership. “In the 50 years that I have been out, it has never been possible to think outside ’The Box,’” he said. “To think in such a large context has never been a consideration.”