17 April 2019
(LONDON) – GiveOut and Consortium stand in solidarity with LGBT+ communities in the U.S. and Australia as they celebrate Give OUT Day on Thursday 18 April 2019. The two UK-based charities plan to mark the national day of LGBT+ giving from 2020, to support the LGBT+ movement in the U.K. and internationally.
Give OUT Day first launched in the U.S. in 2013 as the only national day of giving for the LGBT+ community and, since 2016, has been organised by the Horizons Foundation. Over a 24-hour period, the event unites the LGBT+ community from all 50 states in the U.S. to raise critically needed funds for LGBT+ organisations through an online giving platform. Since its inception, over 45,000 people have donated more than $5 million towards supporting 600+ organisations.
For more information and to donate, visit: www.giveoutday.org/c/GO
In Australia, Give OUT Day is taking place this year for the first time. Inspired by the day in the U.S., the mission is the same: providing an online platform for the LGBT+ community to fund social change and raise awareness. The day is organised by The Channel, a giving circle which offers members the opportunity to vote on community projects they want to support with grants from pooled donations. For more information and to donate, visit: http://www.giveoutday.org.au/
Next year, Consortium and GiveOut intend to bring Give OUT Day to the U.K. to celebrate the vital work of LGBT+ community and voluntary sector organisations at home and around the world. Give OUT Day U.K. will be an annual day of giving, encouraging giving by and for the LGBT+ community.
Paul Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of Consortium said:
“Most LGBT+ groups in the UK are small and volunteer-led. They do amazing work, but struggle to raise funds. An LGBT+ day of giving would bring people together in recognising and meeting the needs of our communities. Consortium’s work with the LGBT+ Futures Fund has shown the diverse funding needs of our communities and any opportunity to bring new money into the LGBT+ sector should be welcomed. Through collaborative efforts we will be able to focus our message to maximise the fundraising possibilities and look forward to working with GiveOut on this going forward.”
Rupert Abbott, Executive Director of GiveOut said:
“Around the world, LGBT+ people face appalling abuses for being themselves. LGBT+ activists are defending communities and campaigning for change, but they are drastically under-resourced.
We send all our best wishes to the LGBT+ movement in the U.S. and Australia on Give OUT Day 2019. We look forward to working with Consortium to bring Give OUT Day to the U.K. from 2020, providing an opportunity for the LGBT+ community to help fund the movement in solidarity, here and internationally.”
Notes
GiveOut (@GiveOut_Org, giveout.org) is an award winning UK-based charity raising funds for LGBT+ human rights activism worldwide, ensuring that activists and their organisations have more of the resources they need to defend their communities and campaign for change. The charity enables individual donors to give tax efficiently in one place to support a broad portfolio of activist-led country, regional and international organisations.
To donate to GiveOut and support the LGBT+ movement internationally, visit: www.giveout.org/donate
LGBT+ Consortium (@LGBTConsortium, lgbtconsortium.org.uk) is a UK-based specialist infrastructure and membership organisation, focused on the development and support of national LGBT+ groups, organisations and projects so they can deliver direct services and campaign for individual rights.
To donate to Consortium and support the LGBT+ movement in the UK, visit: www.lgbtconsortium.org.uk