| 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? | If Grand Rapids Trans Foundation (GRTF) receives Aware funding this year, we will use it to support a couple of our Trans-affirming programs. Specifically, 1) provide guidance, advocacy, and financial assistance to 60 Transgender residents seeking legal name changes, and 2) provide recurring monthly bus fare to low-income Transgender residents (variable number of clients, but 100 months’ worth of fares). |
| Please provide a listing of the Officers and Board members of your organization. | Patti Thelen, President, She/Her (Steelcase retiree) |
| 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 mission of Grand Rapids Trans Foundation (GRTF) is to nurture and sustain Trans futures by creating equitable opportunities, removing barriers, and fostering community in Kent County, MI. Founded in 2015, GRTF is a 501(c)(3) organization that also aims to challenge tragedy/deficit narratives surrounding the Trans experience, uplift and celebrate Trans voices, and tangibly remove barriers that prevent our community from thriving as their most authentic selves. Especially as the Trans community finds itself increasingly targeted, we pride ourselves in offering robust programming (paired with robust financial aid) to assist Trans residents as they access systems and resources that are sometimes difficult to secure, due to discrimination and/or low-income status. Our primary programming includes Trans scholarships for further education or training, guidance and financial aid for legal name and document updates, free brand-new gender-affirming items, and transportation assistance! To date, we’ve granted over $190,000 in scholarships and direct fee coverage for these life-changing services and items. Additionally, we also host social events to foster belonging with and for the Trans community, publish an annual Trans-vetted resource guide to build community trust, provide education on and access to safe gender-affirming items, and work with local businesses and organizations to encourage a more inclusive West Michigan. |
| 2. Funding Request (maximum 35 points, total, please limit to 1 page) | The Grand Rapids Trans Foundation (GRTF) requests a $10,000 investment, to be split between our “Update!” Name Change Program and our TRANSportation Assistance Program. “Update!” Name Change Program 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 Michigan respondents had all of their identifying documents updated to their accurate name or gender marker. We are seeking to change that. TRANSportation Assistance Program Lack of transportation can severely limit one’s ability to secure reliable employment, attend vital medical appointments, secure groceries, and just live one’s life. Our program aims to alleviate some of this pressure specifically for low-income Trans individuals who are struggling to survive. The funds from Aware, if awarded to us, would help us maintain consistent bus fare coverage for our clients who have signed up for this service. |
| 3. Funding Justification (maximum 40 points, please limit to 1 page) | GRTF is funded largely through a diverse network of private foundations, businesses, and individual donors who are committed to the health and wellbeing of the LGBTQ+ community in West Michigan. Anticipated revenue for all GRTF programs in 2025-26 includes 30% individual contributions, 60% foundational support, and 10% corporate sponsorships. The operational design of our programming allows us to scale our capacity to match the funding received. For example, it costs GRTF on average $300 (to cover court fees and staff labor) to guide one individual through the legal name change 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. Our total combined 2025 budget for our “Update!” and TRANSportation programs is $55,000, meaning that the $10,000 requested from West Shore Aware will cover 18% of program expenses for our projected outcomes. These funds would largely be spent on direct fee coverage, but may also include a small portion for staff salaries, and direct expenses like supplies, postage, and occupancy. |
| 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, access to name and legal document updates, gender-affirming resources, transportation assistance, and more! GRTF requests a $10,000 investment to be split between our “Update!” Program to extend guidance, advocacy, and financial assistance for name changes for 60 Trans individuals through June 2026; and our TRANSportation program to provide monthly bus fare coverage to low-income Trans residents. Our organization provides personalized start-to-finish name change support via our “Update!” Program: we host three mini-workshops each week to provide responsive paperwork assistance and navigation, we cover all court fees, we follow up with each participant at regular intervals to provide next-step assistance, and we offer accompaniment to court hearings. Our organization offers recurring monthly bus fare via our TRANSportation Program. The requested $10,000 from West Shore Aware will cover 18% of program expenses for our projected outcomes in these two areas, and will contribute largely towards direct fee coverage, but a smaller portion may be utilized towards staff salaries and direct expenses such as supplies, postage, and occupancy. |
| 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 | 03/31/2025 |
| Ready to Submit |
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