| Organization information | |
|---|---|
| Organization Name | Grand Rapids Trans Foundation |
| 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? | The Grand Rapids Trans Foundation (GRTF) will extend guidance, advocacy, and financial assistance to 300 Transgender residents seeking legal name change and document updates in Kent County, Michigan. |
| Please provide a listing of the Officers and Board members of your organization. | Liam Bailey, President, They/Them (University of Michigan) |
| Your Contact Information | Ximón Kittok |
| Phone | 616-719-1623 |
| Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
| Scoring Criteria | |
| 1. Description of the Organization (maximum 5 points, please limit to ½ pages) | The Grand Rapids Trans Foundation (GRTF) was founded in 2015 as a 501(c)(3) organization to support and empower Trans individuals in their pursuit of a better future. We promote prosperity within the LGBTQ+ community by providing Transgender individuals in Kent County with academic scholarships, gender-affirming resources, and access to legal document updates. GRTF aims to challenge the deficit narrative surrounding the Trans experience and remove the barriers preventing our community from thriving as their most authentic selves. These efforts include hosting social events to foster belonging with and for the Trans community; publishing a Trans-vetted local resources guide to build community trust; providing education on and access to safe, gender-affirming care items; and working with local businesses and organizations to encourage a more inclusive Grand Rapids. Our primary initiatives include the Academic Scholarship Program to remove financial barriers for low-income Trans residents attaining post-secondary education, and the “Update!” Program to assist individuals as they update their legal documents to represent their full selves. Since 2016, we have awarded $80,000 to Trans students applying to local colleges and trade schools. The “Update!” Program, launched in 2019, has engaged 212 Trans residents and provided over $41,500 in financial assistance to cover application and other associated fees. |
| 2. Funding Request (maximum 35 points, total, please limit to 1 page) | The Grand Rapids Trans Foundation (GRTF) requests a $10,000 investment in our “Update!” Program to extend guidance, advocacy, and financial assistance for name changes and document updates to 300 participants through June 2025. Updating legal documents is a complex and costly process. In Kent County, the average cost of legally changing a name via the judicial system for any reason other than marriage is $300 and can take up to four months to complete. This figure does not include the cost of obtaining an updated birth certificate, ID, or passport, nor does it account for the knowledge base required to navigate the process. Accurate documentation is essential for Transgender individuals not only for their mental health and physical safety, but also to obtain necessary resources such as healthcare, housing, education, and employment. According to the U.S. Transgender Survey, 33% of Michigan respondents who had shown an ID that did not match their gender presentation were verbally harassed, denied benefits or service, or assaulted; only 9% of respondents had all of their identifying documents updated to their accurate name or gender marker. In addition to costs, the legal process can be dehumanizing and even dangerous for Trans individuals, who are required to obtain two sets of fingerprints, publish notice of the name change in a local news outlet, and attend a court hearing. (MCL - Section 711.1). GRTF is committed to equitable outcomes for Trans individuals. Our “Update!” Program offers direct support to make updating legal documents accessible to Kent County residents. The program is coordinated and managed by GRTF staff and supported by local attorneys providing volunteer legal assistance. We host three mini-workshops for groups of 2-4 each week, provide personalized paperwork assistance and process navigation, financial support to cover court, legal, and other associated fees, and offer accompaniment to court hearings. We follow up with each participant at regular intervals after the workshop to provide next-step assistance. A key component of the “Update!” Program is providing nuanced and responsive support to the Trans community. GRTF staff walk alongside each participant to guide them through every step of the judicial process, depending on their individual needs. This can include helping to complete and mail paperwork, sending reminders and encouragement via email and text, providing a safe companion to accompany participants to obtain fingerprints, and advocating for participants at their mandated court hearings. Our programs are responsive to the individuals we serve in order to best support the unique needs and identities within our community. In the past year of programming, we have reported the following outcomes: |
| 3. Funding Justification (maximum 40 points, please limit to 1 page) | GRTF is funded largely through a diverse network of private foundations and individual donors who are committed to the health and wellbeing of the LGBTQ+ community in West Michigan. The “Update!” Program, specifically, receives additional revenue through an MDHHS: LGBTQ+ Health and Human Services Disparities grant, aimed at addressing health inequity in low-income, LGBTQ+ populations. Anticipated revenue for the 2024-25 “Update!” Program includes 35% government grants, 12% individual contributions, 48% foundational support, and 5% corporate sponsorships. The operational design of the “Update!” Program allows us to scale our capacity to match the funding received. It costs GRTF, on average, $300 to guide one individual through the legal name change and document update process. With this number in mind, we are able to track program capacity in real time and adjust the scope of our project over the course of the funding cycle. The $10,000 requested from West Shore Aware will cover 11% of program expenses for our projected outcomes. These funds will contribute a portion of salaries for program staff, direct expenses related to the program such as supplies, postage, and occupancy, and contribute to a modest emergency fund used by participants to further remove barriers to program participation. |
| 4. Summary | The Grand Rapids Trans Foundation (GRTF) promotes prosperity within the LGBTQ+ community by providing low-income Transgender individuals in Kent County with academic scholarships, gender-affirming resources, and access to name and legal document updates. GRTF requests a $10,000 investment in our “Update!” Program to extend guidance, advocacy, and financial assistance for name changes and document updates to 300 participants through June 2025. Updating legal documents is a complex and costly process. Accurate documentation is essential for Transgender individuals not only for their mental health and physical safety, but also to obtain necessary resources such as healthcare, housing, education, and employment. Our “Update!” Program offers direct support to make updating legal documents accessible to Kent County residents. We host three mini-workshops for groups of 2-4 each week and provide personalized paperwork assistance and process navigation, financial support to cover court, legal, and other associated fees, and offer a safe companion to accompany participants when obtaining fingerprints and appearing at mandated court hearings. The requested $10,000 from West Shore Aware will cover 11% of program expenses for our projected outcomes. These funds will contribute a portion of salaries for program staff, direct expenses related to the program such as supplies, postage, and occupancy, and contribute to a modest emergency fund used by participants to further remove barriers to program participation. |
| 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 | 04/30/2024 |
| Ready to Submit |
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