Getting to know The Plus Collective, Charlotte’s LGBTQ+ Collective Giving Org
By: Haley Arellano
Started in 2003, then known as the Charlotte Lesbian and Gay Fund, The Plus Collective set out to support the Charlotte community’s LGBTQ+ non-profit organizations. We had the chance to speak with Louis Kemp, the incoming Chair for the organization, to learn more about this nearly 20-year-old organization and its role in philanthropic giving in our area. Below are a few of the topics we discussed.
Q: Your organization currently gives three types of grants, Basic Operating Grants, Project-based Grants, and Grassroots Grants. How has your organization’s grant-making policy changed over the last 19 years?
A: Throughout The Plus Collective’s history as a grantmaking fund, we have modified the types of grants and our policy based on the needs of the local LGBTQ+ community and the organizations we support. Our “Grassroots” grant was created about 5 years ago to help support the growth of new and emerging organizations. We have made decisions as a Board to issue “Special Operating Grants” in unique situations (for example, when Transcend was moving under Carolina’s Care Partnership, but were still in the process of moving over.) This year we are examining our Endowment Fund and looking at ways to make a larger and longer lasting impact in the community. There is much more to come on this initiative, but our goal is to announce our new Endowment Funded Grant (name TBD) by the end of 2024.
Q: WIF has five focus areas for our grant-making, Arts & Culture, Health, Human Services, Environment, and Education. Does the Plus Collective focus on specific focus areas for grant-making? Or is there another way your organization categorizes grants?
A: TPC doesn’t specifically focus on certain philanthropic categories, per se, however, our focus remains on supporting LGBTQ+/Ally grassroots and local organizations in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. We track our grant recipient focus areas and they fall mainly within Youth Support/Services and Arts/Culture. You can see the full breakout at the bottom of this page: https://www.thepluscollective.org/impact-report-2023
Q: The focus of organizations like WIF and The Plus Collective is the needs of the community, but there are some inherent benefits to members (called Stakeholders by The Plus Collective) as well. For example, members of WIF have made connections and found power in joining together with philanthropically minded women. How have you seen your stakeholders benefit from being part of your organization? How has your Stakeholder group grown/evolved?
A: The Plus Collective continues to partner with like-minded individuals from the LGBTQ+ and Ally population in the Charlotte region and has found that oftentimes, we can connect our Stakeholders with local LGBTQ+ organizations that may offer services and support they need but did not know existed. For example, there have been many instances where Stakeholders have found themselves with a child or family member who may be in the process of understanding their sexual orientation and/or identity, and organizations like PFLAG and Time Out Youth have been instrumental in helping both the child/family member and the Stakeholder navigate these sometimes uncharted waters.
Q: Looking at The Plus Collectives grant recipients over the years, there is overlap in some of the recipients of WIF grants (e.g., Planned Parenthood and Theatre Gap Initiative). We also have similarities in our Mission and Vision statements (e.g., valuing diversity and inclusion). Do you have any thoughts on how our two organizations can share information/resources or otherwise collaborate?
A: I believe that TPC and WIF could certainly partner together to maximize funding for organizations that we each feel strongly about. Planned Parenthood is a great example as there are positive impacts through this organization that impact the communities both TPC and WIF serve. A collaboration could include pooling of grant funds or simple information sharing and we would be open to discussing the opportunity.
Q: Do you have any upcoming events or other opportunities for WIF members to learn more about your organization?
A: We will be tabling at the Black Pride EXPO in July (a great opportunity for WIF members to learn more about us) and also marching in the Charlotte Pride Parade (WIF volunteers are welcome to join in solidarity if they would like!). Additionally, we recently held our annual flagship event “The Celebration” on May 16th and plan to hold a Winter Holiday Party to say “thank you” to our generous stakeholders.
Q: Is there anything else you want WIF members to know about your organization?
A: We are always seeking volunteers to help out on our committees or even join our Board – for those that may be interested in splitting their time and have the resources to do so, we would love to have individuals from WIF join us. Additionally, we obtain a large bulk of our annual funding from Corporate Sponsors and would welcome any leads for potential Sponsors in the Charlotte area; often times our best connections come from employees at the Sponsoring orgs and would encourage your members to reach out to us at info@thepluscollective.org if they may have a connection they’d like to introduce us to.
THE PLUS COLLECTIVE MISSION & VISION: Guided by principles. Inspired by diversity. Supported by community. The Plus Collective shares a humanity based in love.
The Plus Collective is a giving program and foundation that awards grants to organizations that support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community in the Charlotte, North Carolina region while also cultivating partnerships with community allies.
