Equality Federation Institute

MOVEMENT BUILDER AND STRATEGIC PARTNER TO STATE-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ADVOCATING FOR LGBTQ+ PEOPLE.

THROUGH OUR ADVOCACY & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR STATE PARTNERS, NATIONAL PARTNERS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO MAXIMIZE STATE ADVOCACY ON PRO- AND ANTI-LGBTQ+ BILLS, MOBILIZE PEOPLE POWER TO BUILD SUPPORT ON OUR ISSUES, AND SET AN EXPANSIVE AGENDA TO MEET OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. IN 2021, WE WORKED WITH OUR STATE PARTNERS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT 390 ANTI-LGBTQ BILLS INTRODUCED IN THE STATE LEGISLATURES, INCLUDING 198 ANTI-TRANS RIGHTS BILLS, AS WELL AS OVER 902 PRO-LGBTQ+ BILLS.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OWE PROVIDED STATE GROUPS ACCESS TO THE EQUALITY FEDERATION INSTITUTE EQUAL TREATMENT MODEL AND TRAINING ON THE STATE VOICES VAN; OFFERED TRAINING IN THE NEWEST NONDISCRIMINATION MESSAGING, INCLUDING ATTACKS ON TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN SPORTS AND MEDICAL CARE. IN 2021, WE WORKED WITH OUR SECOND COHORT OF STATE PARTNERS IN OUR PROJECT GAME CHANGER PROGRAM TO EXECUTE YEAR-ROUND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES THAT BUILD POWER BY INTEGRATING ORGANIZING, VOTER ENGAGEMENT, FUNDRAISING, AND DIGITAL CAMPAIGNS. WE ALSO WORKED WITH OUR STATE PARTNERS IN THREE STATES TO BUILD HIV POLICY COALITIONS WITH LEADERS ON THE GROUND.

THROUGH OUR LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WE PRIORITIZE DEVELOPING STRONG LEADERS, CONNECTING MOVEMENT ADVOCATES, AND BUILDING POWERFUL ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN SUSTAIN THE MOVEMENT FOR EQUALITY AND JUSTICE IN THE STATES. BECAUSE OF OUR ONGOING RELATIONSHIPS WITH STATE LEADERS, WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE TAILORED SUPPORT THAT MEETS THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND FOLLOW THEM AS THEIR ORGANIZATIONS GROW. WE BELIEVE THAT RACIAL JUSTICE IS A CRITICAL AREA FOR GROWTH FOR MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND LEADERS AND STRIVE TO INTEGRATE A RACIAL EQUITY PERSPECTIVE AND STRATEGY INTO ALL ASPECTS OF LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORK.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE ODURING OUR 2021 VIRTUAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, WE BROUGHT TOGETHER OVER 150 STATE AND NATIONAL MOVEMENT LEADERS TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND FROM EXPERTS, WHILE BUILDING THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT FUEL AND SUSTAIN THEM THROUGH CHALLENGING TIMES. WE PROVIDED TAILORED ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO STATE PARTNERS, INCLUDING SUPPORT AROUND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEARCHES AND TRANSITIONS AND STRATEGIC PLANNING. WE DEEPENED OUR SUPPORT OF STATE EQUALITY GROUP LEADERS BY SUPPLEMENTING OUR SUCCESSFUL NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR INTENSIVE WITH SIX MONTHS OF EXECUTIVE COACHING, GIVING LEADERS THE TOOLS, SKILLS, AND NETWORKS NEEDED TO GROW THEIR ORGANIZATIONS. WHILE STATEWIDE LGBTQ+ MOVEMENT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES ON RACIAL EQUITY IN RECENT YEARS, THERE REMAINS MUCH WORK TO BE DONE. TO MEET THIS NEED, WE'VE DEVELOPED A RACIAL JUSTICE COHORT, WHICH LAUNCHED IN FALL 2021, FOCUSING ON ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RACIAL JUSTICE. RECOGNIZING THE BARRIERS TO CHANGE FOR MANY ORGANIZATIONS LIVES AT THE BOARD LEVEL, THIS INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON BOARD DEVELOPMENT, CREATING A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT, OFFERING TOOLS TO SUPPORT INCREASING RACIAL JUSTICE WITHIN EACH ORGANIZATION, AND PROVIDING STRUCTURE FOR EACH ORGANIZATION TO IMPLEMENT THEIR DESIRED CHANGE.