Thank you for expressing an interest in Equality Federation, the national alliance of state-based LGBT advocacy organizations. If you think your organization meets the criteria outlined below, please submit an application electronically. Thank You!

The Federation was organized in 1997 and operated as a coalition until 2005, when we incorporated and hired our first executive director. Equality Federation works to build the capacity of state-based lgbt organizations and to ensure that our national movement incorporates the expertise and knowledge of our state-based movement leaders.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• Email List for State Leaders
• Online Member Library
• Online Advocacy & Fundraising Technology
• Access to Grants for Federation members only
• Unique Collaboration Opportunities
• Annual Summer Meeting
• Ongoing Training & Support
• Vendor Discounts
• National Advocacy

To be approved for membership, all Federation applicants must meet the following six criteria:

1. Member organizations must be working to win EQUALITY for lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people in their state.
   
   Organizations seeking to join Equality Federation must have a central mission of winning equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender people in their state.
   
   
2. Members must be STATEWIDE in official mission.
   
   Organizations seeking to join Equality Federation should be working primarily for statewide policy change. Groups working solely on municipal, county, university, or regional change – especially when not connected to a statewide strategy -- are not qualified for membership. An organization''s statewide mission must be reflected in its mission Statement, bylaws, or articles of incorporation.
   
   
3. Members must be NON-PARTISAN.
   
   Organizations seeking to join Equality Federation cannot be partisan. For example, chapters of Stonewall Democrats or Log Cabin Republicans cannot join the Federation. Any statewide lgbt PAC that seeks to only benefit one party would also be prohibited from joining.
   
   
4. Members must be INDEPENDENT.
   
   Organizations seeking to join Equality Federation cannot operate as chapters of a national organization, such as PFLAG, GLSEN, or an HRC Steering Committee.  State offices or "branches" of national organizations, such as the ACLU or American Friends Service Committee are not qualified for membership.
   
   
5. Members must be ADVOCACY organizations.
   
   Organizations seeking to join Equality Federation must have as a central mission or goal to do advocacy work, usually through legislative work, to benefit the lgbt community. Preference is strongly given to groups that do legislative work, but statewide legal or public education groups may apply, especially if there is no existing lobbying group or PAC in that state.
   
   
6. Member organizations must have a governing BOARD.
   
   Although the Federation may sometimes provide support and advice to start-up groups, organizations seeking membership must have a governing board and should be incorporated or planning to incorporate. Clubs, coffee klatches, Meet-ups and other loosely knit groups are not qualified for membership.

The Federation is led by a Board of Directors elected by its membership. Between meetings we communicate informally, sharing ideas on our electronic listserve, on a one-on-one basis, and in work conducted by various committees. Federation members also meet together twice a year.