Queer Eye for the Straight Organization

Before starting any type of marketing or fundraising activities focusing on the LGBT community, make sure your organization’s nondiscrimination policies include sexual orientation and gender identity; also make sure your personnel policies and practices include equal provisions for domestic partners and families by adoption. Many inquisitive LGBT donors will (and should) check on such things before opening their wallets. Also take a quick audit of openly LGBT staff and board members. Enlist their support early for your efforts. If there are no openly LGBT members of your board and staff, it might indicate a need to do some work on your organizational culture.