Every day, Our Fund Foundation is providing the financial muscle to help make South Florida a safer, more welcoming place for the LGBTQ community.
Whether funding groups that serve homeless youth, backing legal foundations or supporting inclusive churches and arts organizations, the Wilton Manors nonprofit has become a powerful force with a broad reach into the area’s large LGBTQ population.
“It always amazes me how many people out there are doing great things under the radar,” says Coleman Prewitt, co-founder of Our Fund and chairman of the board. “When our donors see this, that’s the best way to sell them on what we do.”
Since it was established in 2011, the group has granted $10.5 million to support and advance LGBTQ causes. And it’s just warming up: Our Fund expects to double that amount in the next three to five years.
Today, it’s the third-largest LGBTQ community foundation in the country, with an asset base of $18 million. It’s the only foundation that serves South Florida’s LGBTQ community. However, Our Fund extended its philanthropy to the Orlando area after the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in 2016, providing more than $1 million to heal LGBTQ communities there.
The nonprofit furthers its mission through grant programs, philanthropy initiatives, community networking and education. The bulk of its grants in 2019 went to programs that serve LGBTQ youth. Often rejected by their families, classmates and other support systems, these kids are at high risk of becoming homeless and spiraling into substance abuse and other problems. In addition, Freedom Fund, one of Our Fund’s partners, posts bail to keep low-income LGBTQ individuals out of jail, where they are often abused.
“Freedom Fund has helped us keep hundreds of LGBTQ people out of the prison system,” says Our Fund CEO David Jobin. “It illustrates why there is a need for us and why we do so well.”
Prewitt says the group’s founders weren’t certain it would be a success before they launched.
“We have proven to the rest of the country that you can do this with local donors,” he says. “You can build this and thrive.” O
For more information, call 954-565-1090 or visit our-fund.org.