Equality Federation Institute is the national strategic partner to state-based LGBTQ+ equality organizations. We amplify the power of state-based LGBTQ+ groups by providing essential resources, expertise, coordination, and convening opportunities. 

Today, the states are more critical than ever to achieve meaningful progress. That’s why we take a state-focused approach that allows for localized impact, fostering a resilient movement capable of withstanding setbacks and building momentum for long-term change.

Our primary goal is to strengthen the capacity of our state partners to be strong and effective in advancing LGBTQ+ equality. We will achieve this through the following priorities:

• Enhanced State Support: Redirecting resources to state partners through direct grants, expert consultations, and technical assistance. 
• Leadership Development: Continuing our leadership development programs to cultivate strong and effective leaders within the LGBTQ+ movement. This includes our annual Leadership Conference, ad hoc workshops, and mentorship opportunities. We are committed to prioritizing the development of leaders from marginalized communities to ensure that their voices are heard and their needs are met.
• Coalition Building: Facilitating collaboration and partnerships among LGBTQ+ organizations, allied groups, and community stakeholders to build a broader and more powerful movement for equality. This involves intentionally building bridges with unlikely allies and fostering dialogue across diverse communities.

Our main projects for 2025 include:

• Trans Organizing & Narrative Shift Project (TONS): The TONS project seeks to build durable change for transgender and non-binary people through data-backed and community-informed messaging tools and organizing strategies. Along with robust and in-depth research, what truly sets TONS apart from traditional messaging projects is that it’s rooted in the lived experience of — and guided by — trans and non-binary people across the U.S. TONS is about community organizing, engaging trans people in sharing their stories, continual on-the-ground testing, iteration, and building capacity and power in the states.
• Public Health: Our Public Health Cohorts provide opportunities for our state partners to engage more deeply in a facet of public health in their state. These cohorts come with funding, opportunities for convenings with national HIV partners, state-level HIV education planning, and relationship and coalition-building support with people living with HIV with local and national organizations. We also provide Bi-Monthly Public Health & HIV trainings to help us collectively deepen our public health and HIV knowledge to meet the moment by covering HIV-related needs, effective narratives, and actions we can take to help build and grow our state-level public health infrastructure under the leadership and expertise of LGBTQ+ communities living with HIV.
• Executive Director Support: Host our annual New Executive Director Intensive, convening newly hired EDs at state partner organizations to accelerate power building in their states by fostering healthy and sustainable organizations and leadership practices.
• Organizational Securtity: Provide digital security trainings for our state partners as well as offer personalized support to help better use CRM and tech tools. We also offer training, troubleshooting, and strategic guidance to help partners optimize their data systems for fundraising, communications, outreach, and more.
• Annual Leadership Conference: A cornerstone event that brings together LGBTQ+ leaders, advocates, and organizers from across the country to network, learn new skills, and strategize for the future.
• Critical Training and Workshops: Providing targeted training on topics such as community organizing, communications, and fundraising.
• Black Caucus Meetings: Providing regular meetings and networking opportunities for Black staff and board members from our state partner organizations.

‍Donate now to support Equality Federation Institute! 

Interested in policy and legislation? Click here to learn more about the work of our partner organization, Equality Federation. 

‍Equality Federation Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, meaning it is tax-exempt under IRS regulations, all donations are fully tax-deductible, and it operates as a nonpartisan entity that does not engage in political campaigning or endorse candidates.

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