History

In the fall of 2000, an opportunity arose for the gay and lesbian community of Dallas to come together and make a meaningful contribution to the Dallas Latino Cultural Center, an extremely important new additional to Dallas's cultural fabric.

A small group of individuals joined forces or organize a fund raising event, Noche de Gala, and the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Dallas was born. The idea of the Fund quickly took hold and the overwhelmingly positive response from the gay and non-gay communities alike has fueled its growth.

Shortly after this first event in 2000, the Fund formed its first board of directors. It incorporated as a non-profit organization in the State of Texas in 2001. In the spring of 2001 the Fund was recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity.

Since its inception in 2001, the Gay & Lesbian Fund has raised and over $600,000 for Dallas area non-profits. Significant contributions have been made to the following organizations through our events and on-going programs:

Bark Park Central (Downtown Dog Park) ($7,000)
Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) ($55,000)
Dallas Children's Theater ($55,000)
Dallas Latino Cultural Center ($75,000)
Dallas Museum of Art ($150,000)
Dallas Public Library ($5,000)
Dallas Women's Museum ($100,000)
Friends of Katy Trail ($15,000)
KERA 90.1 Public Radio ($30,000)
Oak Lawn Triangle ($5,000)
Parkland Hospital ($90,000)
The Stewpot ($5,000)
Twelve Hills Nature Center ($15,000)
The Wilkinson Center ($5,000)

Gays and lesbians of Dallas have long made significant contributions to local area non-profit organizations that benefit all citizens of Dallas. But this patronage has been, until the birth of the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Dallas, largely illusive. The support from the gay and lesbian community for gay and lesbian causes has always been widely acknowledged, but its support for citywide non-profit organizations and causes has largely been invisible.

The Fund changes this dynamic by shining a light on the contributions to the larger Dallas community of local gays and lesbians and their allies. This increased exposure raises the awareness of Dallas's citizens, both gay and straight, that we all are part of the same community and share common concerns and dreams for Dallas.

GLFD has been featured in major local publications such as the Dallas Morning News, Paper City, Philanthropy in Texas, and the Voice.

Major corporate sponsors of past events include Affiliated Computer Services, American Airlines, Blockbuster, JP Morgan Chase, Merrill Lynch, Shelter Mortgage, Tiffany, Washington Mutual, and Caven Enterprises.

The Gay and Lesbian Fund for Dallas is proud to be the first member of the Gay and Lesbian Fund Affiliates Program of the Gill Foundation. The Fund continues to be inspired by the work of Tim Gill, the Gill Foundation, and the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado. Although the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Dallas remains loosely affiliated with the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado, the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Dallas is completely independent and is locally funded by gays, lesbians and their allies in Dallas.

The following sites in Dallas contain permanent recognition of the philanthropy of Dallas gays, lesbians and their allies:

The Sculpture Garden at the Dallas Latino Cultural Center
The Next thing Theater at The Dallas Women's Museum
Executive Conference Room and Main Lobby of the Dallas Children's Theater
Conference Room, Dallas CASA
Parkland Hospital Ambulatory Surgery Center Lobby
Bark Park Central (Deep Ellum)
Water feature at David's Way Plaza on the Katy Trail
Entrance to Twelve hills Nature Center (under construction)