Transgender People of Color (Trans POC) RFP

Overview

Transgender People of Color (Trans POC) RFP

Horizons Foundation is issuing this Request for Proposal (RFP) to support the growth and sustainability of nonprofit organizations led by and serving Transgender People of Color (Trans POC) in the San Francisco Bay Area. Despite the Bay Area’s high concentration of LGBTQ individuals and its rich racial and ethnic diversity, Trans POC communities face significant economic and social challenges, exacerbated by systemic inequities and limited philanthropic support. This RFP aims to address the critical funding gap by investing in the infrastructure improvement and workforce development of Trans POC-primary organizations. By strengthening their operational capacity and leadership, this initiative seeks to build more resilient organizations that can better serve and advocate for transgender communities, particularly those facing intersectional forms of discrimination. The funding will help these organizations overcome barriers, expand their impact, and contribute to a more robust and equitable nonprofit ecosystem, fostering long-term positive change for Trans POC communities in the region.

Funding

Through the Trans POC Initiative, Horizons is committing to investing and partnering with Trans POC-primary organizations by providing funding towards multi-year, transformative infrastructure grants (higher impact-sized grants up to $100,000 per year for up to three years.)

Eligibility

_We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's [website]().
_

Application Details

Horizons Foundation is the world’s first community foundation
of, by, and for LGBTQ people, Horizons invests in LGBTQ nonprofits,
strengthens a culture of LGBTQ giving, and builds a permanent endowment
to secure our community’s future for generations to come.
Request for Proposal (RFP)
Transgender People of Color Initiative
December 20, 2024
Content:
Introduction
Summary & Background
Purpose
Scope of Work – Key Deliverables
Eligibility
Grantmaking Timeline and Process
Addendum: Data Tables
Page 1 – Request for Proposal – Trans POC Intiative

Request for Proposal – Transgender People of Color Initiative
Deadline for Submission: Monday, February 3, 2025 by 12:00 PM PT
INTRODUCTION
Horizons Foundation (Horizons) is issuing this Request for Proposal (RFP) to support
the growth and sustainability of nonprofit organizations led by and serving Transgender
People of Color (Trans POC) in the San Francisco Bay Area. Despite the Bay Area’s high
concentration of LGBTQ individuals and its rich racial and ethnic diversity, Trans POC
communities face significant economic and social challenges, exacerbated by systemic
inequities and limited philanthropic support. This RFP aims to address the critical
funding gap by investing in the infrastructure and workforce development of Trans
POC-primary organizations. By strengthening their operational capacity and leadership,
this initiative seeks to build more resilient organizations that can better serve and
advocate for transgender communities, particularly those facing intersectional forms of
discrimination. The funding will help these organizations overcome barriers, expand
their impact, and contribute to a more robust and equitable nonprofit ecosystem,
fostering long-term positive change for Trans POC communities in the region.
Through the Trans POC Initiative, Horizons is committing to investing in and
partnering with Trans POC-primary organizations by providing funding towards multi-
year, transformative infrastructure (higher impact-sized grants up to $100,000 per year
for up to three years).
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
Horizons is issuing this RFP to partner with and support nonprofit organizations led by
and serving Trans POC. We aim to invest in the long-term sustainability of Trans POC-
primary organizations, strengthening their ability to serve their communities, fulfill
their mission, and contribute to a more inclusive and equitable nonprofit ecosystem.
The San Francisco Bay Area stands out within California for its higher concentration of
LGBTQ individuals (particularly transgender individuals), rich ethnic and racial
diversity, and greater income inequality. The Bay Area’s transgender community is
incredibly diverse, reflecting broader state trends in racial and ethnic composition.
However, the economic challenges faced by LGBTQ individuals, especially transgender
individuals, are more acute in this region than in other parts of the state, particularly in
terms of income inequality.
Despite the growing visibility and needs of the transgender community, philanthropic
dollars allocated to transgender issues and transgender-led organizations remain
severely limited. According to Funders for LGBTQ Issues, in 2022, for every $100
awarded by U.S. foundations, only 4.6 cents specifically supported transgender and
gender nonconforming communities and issues in that year. The stark contrast between
the limited philanthropic investments and the exacerbated disparities affecting
transgender communities is especially pronounced when considering the intersecting
challenges faced by Trans POC.
Page 2 – Request for Proposal – Trans POC Intiative

This RFP seeks to address the funding gap by making a deliberate investment in Trans
POC-primary organizations in the Bay Area. Our goal is to help build the infrastructure
and workforce capacity of these organizations, enabling them to address the unique
needs of transgender communities and sustain their critical work. This funding will
empower these organizations to thrive, advocate for their communities, and contribute
to the broader movement for justice, equity, and inclusion.
By investing in Trans POC organizations, we aim to foster a more robust and equitable
nonprofit ecosystem that supports the continued growth and sustainability of
organizations that focus on an underserved segment of the LGBTQ community. These
organizations are essential for addressing the needs of transgender individuals—
particularly transgender people of color—who continue to face systemic inequality and
limited access to resources, support, and opportunity.
Purpose of the RFP
The LGBTQ nonprofit sector plays a vital role in addressing the social and political
challenges faced by all parts of the LGBTQ community. However, Trans POC
organizations often face additional barriers, including limited access to funding,
resources, and capacity-building opportunities. This RFP aims to support projects that
will improve the internal infrastructure and strengthen the workforce capacity of these
organizations, enabling them to scale their efforts and ensure long-term sustainability.
Investing in Trans POC-primary organizations is critical to improving the lives of the
Trans POC community, who face systemic inequalities in areas such as healthcare,
employment, and civil rights. By providing these organizations with the necessary tools
to strengthen their infrastructure and develop their workforce, we are ensuring that they
are better equipped to meet the needs of their communities and advocate for
transformative social change.
Participatory Grantmaking Process
As a community foundation of, by, and for the LGBTQ community, Horizons has
consistently reflected and been guided by its values in the way it has conducted the
grantmaking process. For the Trans POC Initiative, a Participatory Grantmaking (PGM)
approach was implemented. The PGM process is consistent with Horizons’ grantmaking
approach, especially when the focus is a key segment of the LGBTQ community that has
been underrepresented and under-resourced.
PGM significantly shifts power to make philanthropy more democratic, inclusive, and
effective. Although PGM presents challenges, e.g., can bring additional complexity in
decision making and it is time- and resource-intensive, we find that when PGM is done
well, the results lead to more impactful and sustainable outcomes while harnessing
collective community wisdom, in particular from the Transgender POC community.
Page 3 – Request for Proposal – Trans POC Intiative

During the PGM process, much discussion took place about using “POC” or “BIPOC”
(Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) to name and describe the initiative. Even
though the PGM process strives to build consensus whenever possible, continuing the
use of POC for this initiative was decided by the majority of our participants after much
discussion and reaching a compromise among supporters for POC and for BIPOC. The
preference for the use of either term represents the evolving nature of racial and ethnic
discourse and the ongoing struggle for equity and inclusion.
As further background, the use of both terms (POC and BIPOC) is part of a broader
social justice lexicon to address issues of racial and ethnic identity and systematic
discrimination faced by non-white populations in the United States. POC has a much
longer history of use as a form of a more inclusive term to refer to non-white groups
under a single umbrella. Using POC promotes a collective identity that emphasizes
commonalities of systemic discrimination and thus becomes a powerful term in the
advocacy of human rights and social justice principles. While POC serves as an inclusive
term, it sometimes obscures the unique experiences and severe forms of discrimination
and violence faced by different racial groups, particularly those of Black and Indigenous
people. This realization led to the coining of the term BIPOC. BIPOC aims to highlight
the specific injustices and forms of systemic racism faced by Black and Indigenous
communities, recognizing their historical and ongoing struggles.
The discussion of the use of POC and BIPOC also included examining the ethnic/racial
demographic composition, sexual orientation and gender identity, and income
inequality of the San Francisco Bay Area in order to inform the discussion. Data tables
can be found at the end of this RFP.
OBJECTIVES AND GOALS FOR THE RFP
The objective of this funding opportunity is to strengthen Trans POC-primary
organizations in the SF Bay Area by improving their infrastructure and workforce
capacity. Below are examples of possible objectives and goals that an organization may
propose to improve their infrastructure and workforce capacity. Applicants are
encouraged to speak with Horizons staff about objectives and goals that they would like
to propose for their organization and that may align with the purpose of this RFP –
organizational infrastructure improvement and/or organizational workforce
development and capacity building.
1. Enhance Organizational Infrastructure
o Improve internal systems, operations, and governance structures to
support long-term growth and sustainability.
o Strengthen financial management, administrative processes, and
technology systems to increase operational efficiency and effectiveness.
o Develop or improve facilities, tools, or resources to enable the organization
to better serve its community.
2. Build Workforce Capacity and Leadership
Page 4 – Request for Proposal – Trans POC Intiative

o Invest in leadership development programs for staff, executive leadership,
and volunteers, with a focus on enhancing skills and leadership within
Trans POC-primary organizations and community.
o Support succession planning and leadership pipeline initiatives to ensure
sustainable, effective leadership in the future.
o Foster a positive, inclusive organizational culture that supports the
retention and growth of talented individuals, particularly from
underrepresented communities.
3. Support Transition to 501(c)(3) Status
o Provide resources and guidance to help fiscally sponsored organizations
transition to independent 501(c)(3) status, including legal, financial, and
administrative support.
o Build capacity to ensure the organization is prepared to operate
autonomously as a fully independent nonprofit with all necessary
structures in place for compliance and sustainability.
4. Sustain and Diversify Funding Streams
o Develop strategies to secure additional, sustainable funding and reduce
reliance on a limited number of funding sources.
o Increase the organization’s capacity to build partnerships and collaborate
with other stakeholders in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors to
diversify support.
5. Address Intersectional Challenges
o Focus on addressing the unique, intersectional challenges faced by
transgender POC communities, ensuring that solutions are culturally
competent and tailored to their specific needs.
6. Other
ELIGIBILITY
• Population Focus of Organization: Applications will only be considered
from Trans POC-Primary organizations that meet the following three criteria:
1. an organization whose mission centers Trans POC as the primary focus of the
work;
• please note that Trans POC is the primary focus, not “Trans and POC”
or “Trans or POC.” For example, an organization whose mission
primarily centers Trans API qualifies, while a trans organization that
happens to serve Trans API does not.
2. an organization whose staff and boards predominantly reflect the Trans POC
community they serve (65% or more);
3. and an organization which primarily serve Trans POC community (65% or
more).
Page 5 – Request for Proposal – Trans POC Intiative

• Type of Organization: be a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, or provide
documentation that the organization is fiscally sponsored by an organization that
has 501(c)(3) status
• Please note: a Trans POC project imbedded within a nonprofit is not
eligible for funding under this RFP.
• Size of the organizations: There is no annual budget cap, so organizations of
any size can apply. A funding priority will be given to organizations with an
annual budget under $3 million.)
• Geographical Location: Applicant must be based within one or more of these
SF Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San
Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma
• Size and length of the initiative: The maximum grant award is $100,000 per
year for up to three years for a total of $300,000.
GRANTMAKING TIMELINE AND PROCESS
• Friday, December 18, 2024 – RFP release and application portal open
• Monday, January 6, 2025, at 11 a.m. PT – Zoom Information Session.
• Monday, February 3, 2025, by 12 p.m. PT – Application deadline
• Funding decision will be announced late February / early March 2025
Horizons staff will be available for individual consultations between January 7 and
January 30, 2025, by emailing grants@horizonsfoundation.org.
Submission Portal
All applications and required material must be submitted through Horizons’ online
portal by Monday, February 3, 2025 by 12 p.m. PT. No late applications will be
accepted. https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=horizonsfoundation
ADDENDUM: DATA TABLES
According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2020), the nine counties of the San Francisco Bay
Area—Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara,
Solano, and Sonoma—present a diverse microcosm of California’s broader ethnic and
racial diversity, with some notable distinctions.
California SF Bay Area Notes
Latino: 39.4% Latino: 23.5% The Latino population is significantly lower in
the Bay Area (23.5%) than in California as a
whole (39.4%). This discrepancy can be
attributed to the historical settlement patterns
and economic opportunities that have attracted
Page 6 – Request for Proposal – Trans POC Intiative

different ethnic groups to various parts of the
state.
Black or Black or The percentage of Black or African American
African African residents is marginally lower in the Bay Area
American: 6.5% American: 5.8% (5.8%) compared to California (6.5%). Within the
Bay Area, there are notable concentrations of
Black communities.
This is a stark shift from 1980- where the Black
population in the Bay Area exceeded 24% of the
region’s population.
Asian: 15.5% Asian: 28.8% The Bay Area has a significantly higher
percentage of Asian residents (28.8%) compared
to the state average (15.5%). This is a result of
historical immigration patterns, particularly the
influx of Chinese, Filipino, Indian, and
Vietnamese immigrants who have settled in the
region over the past century.
Native Native Both the Bay Area (0.8%) and California (1.6%)
American and American and have relatively small Native American and Alaska
Alaska Native: Alaska Native: Native populations. The lower percentage in the
1.6% 0.8% Bay Area might be due to the urban nature of the
region.
Native Native The percentage of Native Hawaiian and Other
Hawaiian and Hawaiian and Pacific Islander residents is slightly higher in the
Other Pacific Other Pacific Bay Area (0.6%) compared to California (0.5%).
Islander: 0.5% Islander: 0.6% This small difference highlights the presence of
Pacific Islander communities, particularly in
specific parts of the Bay Area.
White: 36.5% White: 39.2% The proportion of White individuals is slightly
higher in the Bay Area (39.2%) compared to the
overall state (36.5%). However, this slight
increase does not substantially alter the
multicultural fabric of the region, which remains
one of the most diverse in the nation.
Two or more Two or more The proportion of individuals identifying as two
races: 5.4% races: 5.3% or more races is fairly similar in the Bay Area
(5.3%) and California (5.4%). This similarity
indicates a broad acceptance and
acknowledgment of mixed heritage in both the
region and the state.
Page 7 – Request for Proposal – Trans POC Intiative

The San Francisco Bay Area stands out within California for its higher concentration of
LGBTQ individuals. This distinction is shaped by historical, political, and social factors
that continue to attract and support the LGBTQ community.
California SF Bay Area Notes
Sexual Sexual
Orientation Orientation
● The PPIC's ● According to Estimates suggest that around 6-7% of the
population identify as LGBTQ+ in the Bay Area,
2019 study a 2019 study
which is higher than the national average of
estimated by the PPIC,
about 4.5%.
that approximatel
approximatel y 6.2% of
y 4.5% of adults in the
California's San Francisco
adult Bay Area
population identify as
identifies as LGBTQ+
LGBTQ+
● The Williams
● The Williams Institute at
Institute UCLA School
reports that of Law found
Los Angeles that San
County has a Francisco Bay
large Area has an
LGBTQ+ LGBTQ+
population, population of
but the 6.7%, one of
percentage is the highest in
slightly lower the nation
than that of (2020).
San Francisco
County
(2020).
Transgender Transgender
Identity: Identity:
Data from the Data from the Estimates indicate that approximately 0.8% of
2015 U.S. 2015 U.S. the Bay Area population identifies as
transgender, compared to the national average of
Transgender Transgender
0.6%.
Survey indicated Survey revealed
that around 0.5% that the Bay Area
of California's
Page 8 – Request for Proposal – Trans POC Intiative

population has a higher
identifies as percentage of
transgender, transgender
which is slightly individuals
lower than the compared to
percentage in the other regions,
SF Bay Area. with San
Francisco County
having about
0.8% of its
population
identifying as
transgender.
Income inequality is a significant socio-economic issue affecting various regions across
the United States. According to the 2019 and 2021 U.S. Census Bureau reports, the San
Francisco Bay Area, comprising nine counties, is often highlighted for its stark economic
disparities despite being one of the wealthiest regions.
California SF Bay Area Notes
Income Income
Inequality: Inequality:
The Bay Area exhibits the highest income
California, as a The San Francisco inequality in California. Overall, the income
whole, exhibits Bay is known for gap in the Bay Area is stark, with top earners
substantial income its high cost of making 12.2 times more than those at the
inequality, though living and bottom, e.g., top 5% of households in San
not as pronounced significant Francisco County earn an average of $808,105
as in the Bay Area. disparities in annually compared to $16,184 for the lowest
According to the income distribution. 20%.
U.S. Census According to the
Bureau, California's U.S. Census
median household Bureau, the median
income was household income
$80,440 in 2020. in the Bay Area
While this is higher was $112,447 in
than the national 2020, significantly
median, it reflects a higher than the
broad range of national median of
incomes across $68,700.
different regions.
Page 9 – Request for Proposal – Trans POC Intiative

Gini Coefficient Gini coefficient The Gini coefficient is a statistic that measures
the inequality of income distribution in a society
The Gini The Gini was 0.514
coefficient for for San Francisco The Bay Area's Gini coefficient is among the
California was County in 2019,
highest in the nation.
0.489 in 2019, indicating
higher than the significant income
national average of disparity.
0.481.
Page 10 – Request for Proposal – Trans POC
Intiative