NGLTF receives $3
million donation

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Foundation announced Wednesday that it has been awarded a combined gift of $3 million over three years from the Arcus Foundation and its founder and president, Jon Stryker. "This combined award of $3 million by Mr. Stryker and the Arcus Foundation will make a huge difference to the LGBT movement at the state and local level," said Matt Foreman, executive director of the Task Force. "Not only is it the largest award ever made to the Task Force in our 33-year history, it is the largest known gift ever given directly to support movement-building and advocacy in the 50-plus-year history of the modern LGBT rights movement." The contribution comes at a crucial time as LGBT Amercians are facing a tough wave of ballot initiatives, constitutional amendments, and other measures seeking to deny equal rights to LGBT people and their families at the state, local, and national level. The award consists of a three-year grant for 2006-2008, of which $1 million reflects an individual contribution from Jon Stryker and $2 million is from the Arcus Foundation. The award will be used to train leaders, organize local communities, strengthen coalitions between LGBT and nongay allies, build the capacity of statewide LGBT organizations, and strengthen the Task Force's own capacity. (Advocate.com)