By Sebastián Arcos, GiveOut Germany Philanthropy Consultant
At the end of 2023, GiveOut began laying the groundwork for a new LGBTQI community foundation in Germany: one that could turn local solidarity into practical, sustained support for LGBTQI organisations around the world.
Through its work in the UK, GiveOut has already shown how an LGBTQI community foundation can bring donors together, pool their support and direct flexible funding to trusted organisations. Germany was a natural next step. Many people here care deeply about equality and international human rights, but there was no simple, dedicated way for them to support LGBTQI movements globally.
From early foundations to a growing community
This work started in Berlin, where committed local supporters formed the GiveOut Germany Steering Committee. Together, they established a tax-efficient giving route, held our first donor events and began connecting supporters in Germany with GiveOut’s wider community of grant partners.
In 2025, I joined GiveOut as its Germany Philanthropy Consultant, bringing dedicated capacity to the initiative. Since then, my focus has been on building relationships, organising events and growing a community of regular donors.
In May this year, we held an event in Berlin that brought supporters, partners and allies together to hear directly from The Queer Muslim Project, a digital and cultural platform that uses art, media and storytelling to challenge harmful stereotypes and amplify underrepresented LGBTQI voices in South Asia.
Building beyond Berlin
Our ambition has always extended beyond one city. Germany’s decentralised landscape means that meaningful communities of supporters can grow in Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg and elsewhere. On 22 October, we will hold our first event in Frankfurt, hosted in partnership with Deutsche Bank and featuring Legal Dignity, a LBQ-led feminist legal organisation from Malaysia.
We are also creating more ways for people to stay connected wherever they live. Our new German-language newsletter will share regular updates from GiveOut Germany and stories from the activists and organisations our community supports. Our WhatsApp community offers shorter, more timely updates between editions.
Why this work matters
LGBTQI organisations are defending their communities, challenging discriminatory laws and changing public attitudes, often with very limited resources. At the same time, development funding is being cut and organised opposition to LGBTQI rights is growing across many regions.
GiveOut helps supporters respond with confidence. We identify trusted partners, carry out due diligence and pool donations so that organisations can receive flexible funding for the work their communities need most.
For me, this work is personal. I grew up in Medellín, Colombia, where I became involved in LGBTQI activism, which eventually led me to found Maricafest! — a festival celebrating queer identities, merging my creative skills with my passion for LGBTQI rights to offer a safe space for queer people in the country. I moved to Berlin to complete my master’s studies and have a wider impact on the LGBTIQ advocacy movement. As a non-binary person, I have been fortunate to build my life in a city where I can live openly and express my identity as loudly as I want. But that comfort and safety are not universal.
That is exactly why GiveOut’s work matters to me. It is a way for those of us with more privilege in the community to give to those still struggling for basic rights, and to support each other in this fight. We all deserve the freedom to love who we want and to be as loud as we want about our identities.
What comes next
Our next priority is to grow the GiveOut Germany Giving Circle: a community of people making monthly donations at a level that is meaningful for them.
Something I have learned from working for social change is that no contribution is too small. Whether someone gives €10, €50 or more each month, that consistency can have a powerful impact because it means organisations can rely on sustained funding rather than one-off donations.
We will also continue building relationships with businesses, foundations and individual supporters; bringing LGBTQI activists and donors together through events; and strengthening the structures needed for GiveOut Germany to grow sustainably.
Get involved
There are many ways to be part of GiveOut Germany. You can join the Giving Circle, come to an event, introduce us to someone in your network or help share the stories of our grant partners.
Every new relationship helps us build a stronger community in Germany and more sustained support for LGBTQI movements worldwide.
JOIN THE GERMANY GIVING CIRCLE
Questions or ideas? Contact us at germany@giveout.org.