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Mubarak Dahir is
editor of the Express Gay News, a publication
affiliated with this paper, and can be reached at mdahir@expressgaynews.com
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HOME > VIEWPOINT > EDITORIAL
By: Mubarak Dahi COMMENTS
 
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San Francisco, with one of the most organized, motivated and politically astute gay communities, charitable giving to organizations is woeful.
A study by the San Francisco-based Horizons Foundation found that only one in 300 people give $1,000 or more per year to gay and lesbian causes. The study also showed that gay and lesbian groups themselves often do a poor job of organizing long-term fund-raising campaigns.
As a result of the study, in late 2005 the group intends to launch a public awareness campaign called “Out Your Pocketbook,” about the importance of gay philanthropy. It also plans to launch the Legacy Fund, a sustainable financial endowment.
In these political times, more than ever, gay and lesbian groups need to be mustering the forces — and the money — to combat the next inevitable wave of anti-gay referendums and ballot measures.
Just because a group says it works for gay rights, or has a national office in Washington, D.C., doesn’t mean it’s worth writing a check to. Before you give out your money, check on the group’s accomplishments and history. Ask them for a copy of their annual report. Find out what projects they have recently undertaken, or what their most recent successes have been.
And don’t be shy about asking how much of their money goes into specific, hard programs that work for gay rights, versus how much of their money goes into overhead and salaries. Whatever your personal preferences, there is an untold number of gay organizations on the local, state and national level that are doing admirable work, and that need and welcome your money.
Find out who they are, and be as generous as you can. Put your money where your rights are.
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