Equality Federation
Equality Federation is a Portland, Oregon-based public charity that describes itself as an advocacy accelerator rooted in social justice, building power among state-based LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations. It supports state partners through organizing resources, policy expertise, leadership development, and funding.
Equality Federation at a glance
In short: Equality Federation gave $113K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $14K), top state Virginia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $112,500
- -81.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -70.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $14,063
- -36.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,500
- Total assets
- $1,153,346
- -27.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Virginia (27% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated November 2026.
How to apply to Equality Federation
- Contact
Mailing address: 1336 Nw Flanders St Pmb 174, Portland, OR 97209
Phone: (929) 373-3370
Website: https://equalityfederation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Equality Federation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Equality Virginia Advocates ($30K). Together the top 8 received $113K.
Grant Size Distribution
64 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 62 grants of 64 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Equality Federation says it has state partners in over 40 states. Its 2024 grant dollars went to organizations in multiple states; the largest shares by recipient state were Maryland (10%), Pennsylvania (9%), Georgia (8%), North Carolina (6%), and Wisconsin (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Equality Federation gives
- Giving fell 33% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $42K (2023) to $598K (2024). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $113K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Equality Virginia Advocates Richmond, VA | Policy Advocacy; Voter Engagement | $30,000 |
| Equality North Carolina Durham, NC | Policy Advocacy | $25,000 |
| The Southern Empowerment Collective Humble, TX | Policy Advocacy | $12,500 |
| Equality Michigan Action Network Kalamazoo, MI | Policy Advocacy | $11,000 |
| Fairness West Virginia Harrisburg, PA | Policy Advocacy | $10,000 |
| Silver State Equality Los Angeles, CA | Policy Advocacy | $9,000 |
| Garden State Equality Asbury Park, NJ | Policy Advocacy | $7,500 |
| Outfront Minnesota St. Paul, MN | Policy Advocacy | $7,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,153,346 | $334,497 | $759,640 | $112,500 | 8 | $28,038 |
| 2024 | $1,582,902 | $818,408 | $1,235,794 | $597,500 | 27 | $31,863 |
| 2023 | $1,997,312 | $1,906,619 | $339,990 | $42,250 | 5 | $7,581 |
| 2022 | $424,300 | $566,809 | $645,722 | $168,450 | 6 | $8,625 |
| 2021 | $528,463 | $707,984 | $385,150 | $211,000 | 18 | $103 |
| 2020 | $200,078 | $147,432 | $116,500 | — | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Equality Federation’s mission is to build power in its network of state-based LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations. Its work includes helping members advance pro-LGBTQ+ policies and public health, oppose anti-LGBTQ+ policies, and strengthen organizational and movement leadership. Its 2024 filing says it tracked LGBTQ+-related state legislation and provided advocates with strategy, organizing, messaging, communications, and policy resources.
The 2024 grants supported organizations working on policy advocacy and voter engagement. For example, Georgia Equality says its mission is to empower LGBTQ people through political and educational advocacy in communities across Georgia. Fair Wisconsin says it works to protect and advance LGBTQ+ civil rights through community organizing, electoral participation, and legislative advocacy. FreeState Justice says it advocates for and offers legal advice and representation to LGBTQ community members in Maryland, as well as education and student opportunities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Equality Federation reported 27 grants totaling $597,500. Grants ranged from $6,000 to $58,500, with a median of $20,000. Listed grant purposes include policy advocacy and voter engagement. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 8 grants totaling $112,500.
The largest listed awards included $58,500 to FreeState Justice in Baltimore, Maryland; $45,000 to Georgia Equality in Atlanta; $35,000 each to Equality North Carolina, Fair Wisconsin, and Fairness West Virginia DBA Fairness PA; and $30,000 to To Protect LGBTQ Coloradans. Fairness West Virginia describes its mission as promoting protection of LGBT rights in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Equality Federation’s website says state partners can use its partner portal to apply for funding. Its membership information says prospective members must be independent, statewide, nonpartisan LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations with a governing board; the application process also considers readiness to receive capacity-building services and ability to engage with the network. The organization says grantees sign grant agreements and have a phone conversation at the end of the grant period to confirm funds were used for the proper purpose.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Gia Drew as board chair; Shea Waldron as secretary; and Rebecca Gorena as treasurer. Directors listed are Abbi Swatsworth, Andre Wade, Brielle Winslow-Majette, C Scott Miller, Daniel Reyes, Eric Paulk, Joe Saunders, Justin Smith, and Kat Rohn.
Equality Federation is led by Fran Hutchins, Executive Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 6 of 21 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Fran Hutchins
Executive Director
Deputy Director → Executive Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $47K (2025)
Gia Drew
Board Chair
Director → Board Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Wilson
Director, Culture & Belonging
On filings since 2024
6 hrs/week
$16K (2024) → $17K (2025)
Vivian Topping
Director, Advocacy & Civic Engagement
On filings since 2024
12 hrs/week
$33K (2024) → $36K (2025)
Jenn Curtin
Senior Director of Communications
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
$5K (2025)
Eric Paulk
Director
Director → Treasurer, 2021
Treasurer → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Abbi Swatsworth
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andre Wade
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Saunders
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shea Waldron
Director
Secretary → Director, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brielle Winslow-Majette
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Reyes
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peyton Rose Michelle
Director
Director - → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justin Smith
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nadine Bridges
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Narissa Rahaman
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Elizabeth
Senior Director of Public Health Policy
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Dan Yonker
Vice President of Finance
Finance Director → Vice President of Finance, 2023
On filings since 2021
12 hrs/week
$21K (2021) → $45K (2025)
Mel King
Vice President of Operations
On filings since 2023
8 hrs/week
$11K (2023) → $30K (2025)
Rebecca Gorena
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kat Rohn
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Ian Palmquist (2020–2024) — Deputy Executive Director
- Former: C. Scott Miller (2024) — Director
- Former: Joellyn Weingourt (2024) — Development Director
- Former: Alana Jochum (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Ian Tzeng (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Nancy Haque (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Tony Hoang (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Kevin Wright (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Kim Abbott (2022) — Director
- Former: Allie Shin (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Troy Williams (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Chris Hartman (2020) — Director
- Former: Monica Meyer (2020) — Board Chair
- Former: Rebecca Isaacs (2020) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $47K, to Fran Hutchins (Executive Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Equality Federation
How much does Equality Federation give each year?
Equality Federation gave $113K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $598K across 27 grants.
What is Equality Federation's typical grant size?
Equality Federation's median grant in 2025 was $10,500, and its average grant was $14,063, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Equality Federation give grants?
Equality Federation's top state is Virginia, with 27% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were North Carolina (22%) and Texas (11%).
Does Equality Federation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Equality Federation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Policy Advocacy" (7 grants).
Who are Equality Federation's largest grantees?
Equality Federation's largest 2025 grantees include Equality Virginia Advocates ($30,000), Equality North Carolina ($25,000) and The Southern Empowerment Collective ($12,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Equality Federation?
Equality Federation reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $334K.
What does Equality Federation fund?
Equality Federation’s mission is to build power in its network of state-based LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations. Its work includes helping members advance pro-LGBTQ+ policies and public health, oppose anti-LGBTQ+ policies, and strengthen organizational and movement leadership. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Equality Federation?
Equality Federation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check equalityfederation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Equality Federation's EIN?
Equality Federation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-0670152. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 2, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 3, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Equality Federation funds
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Equality Federation's focus areas in our free grants database
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