Pride Foundation

The Pride Foundation is an LGBT philanthropic foundation in the Pacific Northwest. It was founded in 1985,[1] and has issued over $8 million in grants [2] and over $1.65 million to the more than 50 scholarships it manages.[3][4] In 1993, when The Pride Foundation first began granting scholarships it partnered with the Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) to collaborate on a joint application process.[5]

Pride Foundation
FounderAllan Tonning
TypeLGBT philanthropic foundation
FocusScholarships, grants, fellowships and initiatives
Location
Area served
Pacific Northwest, U.S.
Key people
Kris Hermanns, Executive Director
Employees
17
Websitepridefoundation.org

History

The Foundation's first president was Allan Tonning, a small businessman who donated $1.2 million, dying just a year after helping set up the organization.[6]

In 1995, the Foundation was part of a shareholder proxy initiative which convinced McDonald's Corporation to extend its non-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation. In March 2000, the initiative convinced General Electric to include orientation in both its policy and its diversity training program.[7]

On February 24, 2008, Pride Foundation announced that former Microsoft employee Ric Weiland (d. 2006) had bequeathed $65 million to support gay rights and HIV/AIDS organizations - the largest-ever single bequest for the LGBT community.[8] Through his estate, Weiland established a fund at the Pride Foundation that will provide $46 million over the next eight years to 10 national LGBT and HIV/AIDS organizations[9] that he personally selected and $19 million directly to Pride Foundation[10] for their scholarships and grants supporting the Northwest's LGBT community.[9][11] Weiland, one of the first five people to work at Microsoft, was a Foundation Board member for several years.[10]

On December 10, 2009, the Foundation was given a Seattle Human Rights Award [12] for its advocacy for the LGBT community.

See also

References
  1. "Our History". Pride Foundation. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  2. Pride Foundation, Grants overview
  3. Pride Foundation, Scholarships overview
  4. "Pride Foundation scholarship deadline is Jan. 31 - Volume 38 Issue 03". SGN. January 15, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  5. "Greater Seattle Business Association | Scholarships". Thegsbascholarship.org. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  6. Gary Atkins, Gay Seattle: stories of exile and belonging. University of Washington Press, 2003, p. 346
  7. Raeburn, Nicole Christine (2004). Changing corporate America from inside out: lesbian and gay workplace rights. U of Minnesota Press. p. 127.
  8. "Pride Foundation, Rick Weiland leaves $65 million to support Gay Rights and HIV/AIDS Organizations" (PDF). Retrieved February 4, 2010.
  9. Heim, Kristi (Feb 24, 2008). "Seattle man who helped launch Microsoft left $65M for gay rights". Seattle Times. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
  10. Gillespie, Elizabeth M. (February 25, 2008). "Estate gives millions for gay rights". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
  11. Ustinova, Anastasia (March 31, 2008). "Philanthropists ensure gay community's future". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved May 10, 2008.
  12. seattle.gov, Seattle Human Rights Day
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