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Strategic Planning


  • Case Study:
    Funders for LGBTQ Issues (2018)

Funders for LGBTQ Issues (“Funders”) is a network of more than 75 foundations, corporations, and funding institutions that collectively award more than $1 billion annually, including approximately $100 million specifically devoted to LGBTQ issues. Over the past five years (2013-2018), Funders for LGBTQ Issues has experienced significant growth, and its most recent strategic plan, which was developed in 2014 and covered the years 2015-2017, re-focused the organization’s efforts on increasing the scale and impact of LGBTQ funding, particularly by engaging funders new to LGBTQ issues. Building on these successes, the board designated 2018 as an assessment and planning year to assess the prior strategic plan in greater depth and to develop a new plan for the next 3-5 years. 

Converge developed a strategy of cohesive, comprehensive, and complementary programs for Funders to catalyze the transformation for greater LGBTQ justice. We also implemented a ladder of engagement, including articulating a strategy for how to build out the work with CEOs and C-Suites, individuals and trustees so Funders can move people from a baseline understanding to a more nuanced understanding of the intersectional nature of the work. We helped track the quality, quantity, and impact of grantmaking. Converge also expanded this organization’s work into new geographies in the South by strengthening key partnerships in the region and experimenting with cost-effective, non-staff-labor-intensive models.