Transgender Grants Fund Reassignment Surgery and Social Justice

While transgendered individuals make up the smallest segment of the LGBT community, there are several grants available that offer support specifically to those that consider themselves to be transgender and to organizations involved with social justice issues that affect these individuals. To those unfamiliar with the concept, transgender is a state of gender identity where a person relates more to the opposite gender than the one they are born with. And while the transgender community is rather small with a 2011 Williams Institute study suggesting that only 0.3% of the United States population considers itself such, these grants exist to focus on the issues that this small group often face in their daily lives.

Jim Collins Foundation
While not all who consider themselves to be transgender choose to undergo sexual reassignment surgery, thousands do decide to pursue this medical procedure annually and many of those simply cannot afford the costs associated with this gender-confirming solution. Named in honor of well-known transgender advocate and social worker Jim Collins following his death, this foundation raises funding for and distributes support to those who seek SRS on a yearly basis. Applications are accepted between April and August with decisions on grants announced by November. Applicants must show financial need and prove an understanding of and preparedness for becoming a patient for surgery. Payments provided by the foundation are paid directly to the medical facility. Those applying for help must also supply a letter of recommendation from a licensed health professional to be considered for this grant.

Trans Justice Funding Project
Crime rates involving transgender victims is disproportionately high compared to similar instances involving the United States population as a whole. In fact, homicide rates alone involving LGBT victims is 2.5 times higher than what is found with non-LGBT victims. And much of this crime finds those who consider themselves to be transgender as the targets of this very violence. The Trans Justice Funding Project seeks to fund organizations that focus on these issues facing the transgender community. The project funds groups from coast to coast which seek to foster a better understanding of transgender issues and improve conditions in their own local areas. The project accepts applications from established groups and those starting organizations as well. Proposals are accepted at the beginning of each year with decisions made in March when the project’s panel of activists meet to consider grant funding. Last year, 22 organizations were awarded $1,000 to $5,000 each. To be added to the mailing list to receive information about future grant cycles, send an email to info@transjusticefundingproject.org.

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Kipp Shives

Tags: Grants for Transgender

Category: Medical Grants, Minority Grants, Non Profit Organization Grants, Personal Grants