In 2018, the LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi carried out a comprehensive, statewide needs assessment of LGBTQ+ Mississippians. The timely and important findings and outcomes of the needs assessment have informed the funding of grant dollars since the very first round of grant-making in 2020. Some notable findings from the 2018 needs assessment are presented below. Since 2020, the LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi has provided nearly $450k in funds to 30 LGBTQ (and LGBTQ-adjacent) organizations across the state! This funding has supported direct health and mental health services, programming and events, emergency services and housing, and training and educational opportunities, among other things.
This year, 5 years later, the LGBTQ Fund is supporting a second, follow-up statewide needs assessment. It is noteworthy that the LGBTQ Fund places such focus on data-driven decisions and strategy. This needs assessment will inform funding priorities and direction for future funding periods.
While the 2018 needs assessment provided a vivid snapshot of the lives of LGBTQ+ Mississippians, the state and our community’s needs have changed. We’ve seen some Mississippi LGBTQ+ organizations dissolve and new organizations form during this time. Laws and policies in the state have changed. The climate toward our community has changed. So where do we stand now, and where do we go from here?
Help us shape the future of our LGBTQ+ communities in Mississippi by sharing your experiences. Please consider taking ~10-15 minutes of your time to respond to our survey. The survey asks about experiences and perspectives across multiple life domains: health and mental health, work, school, religion and the church, neighborhoods and communities, and legal and justice. Your responses are anonymous and confidential.
You can access the survey by scanning or saving the photo and tapping the QR code in the image below… or go to the link below!
Please be sure to share our survey with your queer family and friends who live in or have lived in MS within the previous 5 years!!
