TAMPA, Fla. (Jan. 18, 2019) – The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay is pleased to announce The Plus Projec+, an innovative and inclusive funding source dedicated to filling gaps and unmet needs for organizations that provide services to the LGBTQ+ community in the Tampa Bay area.
The Founding Board for The Plus Projec+ collaborated with the Community Foundation and Study Hall Research to identify challenges among nonprofits that serve the local LGBTQ+ community to determine how to make a positive impact.
Some of the research findings included:
• A complex and difficult grant application landscape, often for small grants issued by funding organizations that have little connection to Tampa Bay.
• A lack of awareness of new, different or other funding sources, and a need for greater opportunities to collaborate with others serving the LGBTQ+ sector.
• The challenge of generating interest and engagement among new potential funders in Tampa Bay.
• An ongoing need for operational support.
In response, The Plus Projec+ was created within the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay to pool gifts for greater impact for the LGBTQ+ community. The Plus Projec+ grants will fund specific organizational needs that often don’t qualify for other grant opportunities.
The Plus Projec+ leverages support for the LGBTQ+ community by offering an efficient way for donors of all types to address needs for programs and services. It also broadens the impact of donor gifts to underscore the Tampa Bay region as an LGBTQ+-friendly place to live, work and play.
“There’s a need in the Tampa Bay area for more funding and an increase in awareness for organizations and nonprofits that serve the LGBTQ+ community,” said Trevor Price, a founding donor of The Plus Projec+. “We are committed to The Plus Projec+ because we believe it fills a void and creates a neutral way for people and businesses to strengthen the LGBTQ+ community.”
Almost $100,000 is already committed to the fund from individuals and businesses, including lead support from Florida Blue. In addition, ten donors have named The Plus Projec+ in their estate plans, building a long-term legacy for the effort.
The Plus Projec+ is currently raising additional funds through a variety of philanthropic efforts and contributions that will help meet immediate needs in the LGBTQ+ population, and legacy gifts or endowments, which help ensure a permanent, reliable revenue stream to address emerging needs in the sector.
“The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay is very pleased to partner with The Plus Projec+ team on this important initiative,” said Marlene Spalten, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay. “We’re excited to work with them to improve funding resources available and to further the great work of nonprofits serving the LGBTQ+ community.”
The Plus Projec+ expects to award its first grants later this year. For more information or to make a contribution, please visit www.cftampabay.org/plus.
About The Plus Projec+
The Plus Projec+ is a donor advised fund administered by the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay. It was created to provide an equitable and just community where all LGBTQ+ individuals can thrive, and aims to be an innovative and inclusive funding source for those organizations serving the Tampa Bay LBGTQ+ community. The Founding Board consists of 11 members with a committee structure that addresses Governance, Grants, and Fundraising. The Grants Committee is comprised of 9 members, and operates independently of the Governance Committee. For more information, visit www.theplusproject.org.
About the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay
Founded in 1990, the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay (CFTB) connects donors, nonprofits, community and business leaders, professional advisors, volunteers and residents to make the maximum positive impact in the Tampa Bay region. For more than 25 years, the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay has been dedicated to making giving easy and meaningful for donors as a way to strengthen nonprofit organizations and build a better, more vibrant community. Since its inception, its donors have enabled the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay to award nearly $200 million in grants to nonprofit organizations across the country. CFTB serves as the backbone organization for the LEAP College Access Network.
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