MINNEAPOLIS, MN, February 2025 – PFund Foundation is proud to announce its largest TRANSCEND grant distribution yet. A record $300,000 is being distributed across 33 grants to Transgender and Gender nonconforming serving organizations in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.  The TRANSCEND Fund supports Trans+ rights advocacy and general operating support for organizations that support Trans+ & gender nonconforming folks throughout their lives. 

Transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and queer people’s existence and autonomy are under attack across the United States. A series of Executive Orders in January 2025 seek to create chaos and uncertainty in the lives of Trans+ and gender expansive people, while attempting to deny the existence of Trans+ people altogether.

The TRANSCEND Fund is a proud antidote to the chaos and fear sown by the country’s executive leadership.  Funded by LGBTQ+ community members and allies and by the State of Minnesota, this democratically-led grant resource ensures Trans+ serving organizations have financial resources that come from a supportive and affirming community. Shared Aaron Zimmerman, PFund Foundation Executive Director, “the community’s resourcefulness and strength to build a brighter future for all is truly an inspiration!” The TRANSCEND Fund is a strong example of how the community can make a difference.

TRANSCEND organization grant applications go through a participatory grant-making process, where LGBTQ+ community members participate in the grant recommendation process. In November 2024, a panel of 8 Trans+ and Gender nonconforming community reviewers from three different states in our service region reviewed grant applications from Trans+ serving organizations. The selected organizations received grants of between $5,000 and $45,000. 

Milwaukee-based TRANSCEND grant recipient, Sun Seeker MKE, shared that this grant will benefit their MKE Trans survival fund. As they shared with PFund Foundation, “Our work equips community organizers with the tools to counteract oppression and build alternatives to traditional policing and harm, advancing the goals of the TRANSCEND program in both advocacy and organizing for Trans rights and increasing access to essential services.”

Minneapolis-based TRANSCEND grant recipient, Family Tree, a reproductive and sexual healthcare nonprofit, shared with PFund Foundation: “We have a long history of advocacy and organizing around Trans rights, and we have services dedicated to ensuring Trans and gender non-conforming communities thrive through increased access to health care and education.” 

The TRANSCEND Fund is funded by thousands of donations from the Drop Deadlift Gorgeous Fundraiser by Solcana Fitness, and Minnesota-based organizations also received grants funded by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The Drop Deadlift Gorgeous event took place in October 2024, and the third annual event will take place in the fall of 2025, with fundraised dollars going to the TRANSCEND Fund. Additionally, the TRANSCEND Campaign will launch again on March 1 to continue to fundraise and support Trans+ and Gender nonconforming serving organizations. Visit pfundfoundation.org/transcend for ways to support this fund.

Grant recipients include:

The Project of Quad Cities, serving LGBTQ+ communities in Iowa

One Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa

Lavender Legal Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Iowa Safe Schools, Des Moines, Iowa

United Action for Youth, Iowa City, Iowa

Our Space, Minneapolis, Minnesota

RECLAIM, Saint Paul, Minnesota

OutFront Minnesota Community Services, Saint Paul, Minnesota

Family Tree Clinic, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Avenues for Youth, Minneapolis, Minnesota

The LGBTQ Care Coordination Program at Planned Parenthood North Central States, Saint Paul, Minnesota

Trans Northland, Duluth, Minnesota

Telling Queer History, Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Link, Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Aliveness Project, Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Paper Lantern Project, Edina, Minnesota

ArtisTree Community, Alexandria, Minnesota

The Pediatric Gender and Sexual Health Clinic (PGSHC) at Hennepin Healthcare, Minneapolis, Minnesota

QUEERSPACE collective, Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Rainbow Wardrobe of Twin Cities Pride, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Jewish Family & Children Service of Minneapolis (JFCS): J-Pride Program, Golden Valley, Minnesota

Theater Mu, Saint Paul, Minnesota

Transforming Families, Saint Paul, Minnesota

Harbor Health Initiative, Fargo, North Dakota

LGBTQ+ Family Connections Center, Rapid City, South Dakota

The Transformation Project, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Lost&Found Association, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

FORGE, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin, Racine, Wisconsin

Courage Initiative Limited, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Rainbow Alliance Advocacy, Inc., Appleton, Wisconsin

Gay/Straight Alliance for Safe Schools, Madison, Wisconsin

Sun Seeker MKE, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

About PFund: Founded in 1987, PFund Foundation builds equity with LGBTQ+ communities across the upper Midwest by providing grants and scholarships, developing leaders, and inspiring giving. PFund is the only LGBTQ+ community foundation serving the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the First Nations therein.

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