| Organization information | |
|---|---|
| Organization Name | Out On The Lakeshore |
| Please tell us the amount of funding you are requesting Aware to raise for your organization from the Aware annual fundraising event. | 10,000 |
| If your organization received Aware funding in the previous years, how many clients were serviced and/or how many services were provided with those funds. If you receive Aware funding this current year, how many clients will be serviced and/or how many services will be provided with these funds? | We are incredibly grateful for the funding support we received, which has already made a transformational impact on our community. This funding allowed us to enhance the safety, accessibility, and inclusivity of our community center, creating a more welcoming space for LGBTQ+ individuals. Over 100 people have directly benefited from these improvements. |
| Please provide a listing of the Officers and Board members of your organization. | Larry Jackson |
| Your Contact Information | Jennifer Evans |
| Phone | 2142354748 |
| Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
| Scoring Criteria | |
| 1. Description of the Organization (maximum 5 points, please limit to ½ pages) | Out On The Lakeshore (OOTL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating safe, affirming, and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies along Michigan’s Lakeshore. Our mission is to provide education, advocacy, programming, and community support to foster a welcoming and equitable society. Since our founding in 2015, we have grown into a vital resource, offering support groups, wellness initiatives, youth programs, and large-scale community events like the Holland PRIDE Festival. Through these efforts, we strive to increase visibility, provide essential resources, and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion in our local community. Our target population includes LGBTQ+ individuals of all ages, with a focus on youth, transgender individuals, and those experiencing social isolation or discrimination. Many LGBTQ+ individuals in the Lakeshore region face barriers to healthcare, mental health support, and community acceptance. To meet these needs, OOTL offers support groups, affirming spaces, mental health initiatives, educational workshops, and advocacy efforts to ensure every person can access the resources they need to thrive. By fostering connections, education, and advocacy, we provide a lifeline of support to LGBTQ+ individuals and their families in an area where inclusive spaces are still limited. |
| 2. Funding Request (maximum 35 points, total, please limit to 1 page) | Out On The Lakeshore (OOTL) is requesting funds to support our paid internship program, a critical initiative designed to enhance capacity building, program oversight, and advocacy efforts. These funds will allow us to hire two paid interns who will assist in managing and expanding our programs, increasing organizational efficiency, and furthering our advocacy work in the Lakeshore region. Interns will play a key role in program coordination, ensuring that our support groups, youth initiatives, workshops, and advocacy efforts run smoothly and reach more community members. They will also assist with capacity-building efforts, such as data management, volunteer coordination, and outreach, allowing OOTL to operate more effectively and serve a larger audience. Additionally, interns will support advocacy initiatives, helping to strengthen LGBTQ+ representation in local policy discussions, educational institutions, and community partnerships. By funding this internship program, these operational resources will allow OOTL to expand its impact, strengthen its infrastructure, and sustain long-term growth, ensuring we continue to provide vital services to the LGBTQ+ community in an efficient and strategic manner. |
| 3. Funding Justification (maximum 40 points, please limit to 1 page) | The funding requested from West Shore Aware will partially support the paid internship program at Out On The Lakeshore (OOTL), covering a portion of intern wages and operational costs. The remaining funding for this initiative will be secured through private grants, individual donations, and other community partnerships. We will only bring on an intern to the capacity of the funds received. If we do not receive the full $10,000 requested, we will scale the internship hours accordingly based on the available funding. Once these funds are exhausted, we will complete the intern’s rotation using OOTL’s general operating budget if necessary. This ensures that the internship program remains sustainable and beneficial to both OOTL and the intern while maintaining financial responsibility. Funding Sources Breakdown Private Grants & Foundations: 40-50% of our funding comes from private foundations and grants, including sources like West Shore Aware. |
| 4. Summary | Out On The Lakeshore (OOTL) is requesting $10,000 to support a paid internship program, which will increase our capacity to oversee programs, strengthen advocacy efforts, and enhance community engagement. This intern will play a vital role in supporting youth programming, workshops, event planning, and administrative tasks, ensuring OOTL can continue providing critical services to LGBTQ+ individuals in the Lakeshore region. With this funding, we will hire an intern based on the amount received, scaling their hours accordingly. If the full $10,000 is not awarded, we will fund the remaining internship time through OOTL’s general operating budget as needed. OOTL does not receive government funding and relies entirely on private grants, individual donations, and community support. 40-50% of our budget comes from private grants like West Shore Aware, while the remainder comes from individual and corporate donations, including the Holland PRIDE Festival. This internship will expand our ability to serve the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring that support groups, advocacy efforts, and inclusive programming continue to grow. Funding from West Shore Aware will make a direct impact on LGBTQ+ individuals in need of safe spaces, resources, and representation. By investing in this internship, you are investing in the future of OOTL and the broader LGBTQ+ community—helping us build sustainability, visibility, and inclusion for years to come. |
| Application Agreement | This is an application, otherwise known as a Request for Funding (RFF), from
West Shore Aware. This RFF is a request from your organization to Aware, for Aware to host a
Fundraising Event for your organization. By completing this RFF, your organization is requesting to be considered by Aware’s membership for an Aware fundraising event to be held during the summer of this year, also known as the White Party.
If your organization is chosen for a fundraising event by the Aware membership, your organization will agree to the following terms and conditions for the said fundraising event. 1. Aware will be given and provided full credit for the fundraising event in all of you organization’s publicity and advertising for said event, to include but not limited to event posters, newspaper advertising, handouts, radio and television advertising for the event, and organizational announcements concerning the event. 2. Your organization will only use the funds raised by Aware from said event for the purpose described in the RFF submitted to Aware. 3. Your organization understands that West Shore Aware is a philanthropic organization of LBGTQ+ individuals and their supporters, and that the funds your organization receives from Aware will be coming from the West Michigan lakeshore community. 4. The funds received from Aware as a result of the fundraising event will be net, after expenses for said fundraising event are paid. 5. Aware may use the name of your organization in its own advertising and publicity as a recipient of funds.. 6. Your organization will supply Aware with written approval to hold, or be part of a fundraising event held by Aware. 7. West Shore Aware reserves the right to audit any organization that receives funding to determine whether the funds were used as described in its RFF. 8. Your organization will allow West Shore Aware to use you organization’s name on the West Shore Aware website. In addition, if your organization has a website, you will link that website to the West Shore Aware website and allow West Shore Aware to link to your organization’s site. West Shore Aware’s web site link must remain on your web site for a full year from the date of the monetary disbursement. Failure to do so will disqualify you from requesting future funding. Once you have completed the RFF and agreed to the aforementioned, please submit it. Please sign this document below, indicating acceptance of the aforementioned terms and conditions. By signing the document, you acknowledge your organization is a registered 501(C) 3 Charitable organization. |
| Signature | |
| Date | 02/06/2025 |
| Ready to Submit |
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