Samara Fund Grants

Elisabeth Marx
802.388.3355 Ext. 241
emarx@vermontcf.org

Samara Fund Grants provide funding for LGBTQ+ led projects and organizations in Vermont. Projects should address the core values of the Vermont Community Foundation and support activities including empowerment, health, and safety of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV positive people.

Funding priorities include:

• Queer and trans-led projects and organizations
• Projects that center, are led by, and/or prioritize BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) and/or transgender Vermonters
• Elders and youth
• Queers with disabilities
• Work that is harm reduction, including HIV/AIDS prevention and advocacy
• Projects meaningfully working beyond Chittenden County
• Smaller budget projects
• Long-term projects

Funding types include:

• General organizational support
• Project-specific support
• Emergent (unplanned) needs
• Sponsorship of queer events
• Scholarships for LGBTQ+ high school students seeking to enroll in a college, university, or vocational program

Eligible organizations include nonprofit organizations serving Vermont. Otherwise eligible projects that do not have IRS 501(c)(3) status may still apply using a fiscal sponsor. Fiscal sponsors must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or be a public agency, school, or municipality in the state of Vermont.

Award amounts are not specified.

A link to the online grants center is available on the program website.