June 25, 2020 Update: This month, we wrapped up this 1:1 impression matching offer, which aimed to provide support to LGBTQ non-profits serving populations that are especially vulnerable during the pandemic. Our goal was to match 3M ad impressions, and we are excited to say that we were able to match over 9M impressions for The Trevor Project, Family Equality, The Ali Forney Center, SAGE, and The National Center for Transgender Equality!
Thank you to the many brands that participated in this matching program including HBO, Nulo, Reebok, PNC, and AARP.
From transgender people who face critically high rates of unemployment and discrimination to teens who face homelessness in alarming degrees, many in the LGBTQ community are especially vulnerable right now.
Fortunately, there are wonderful non-profits working to serve these vulnerable populations, and we wanted to highlight a few of them. We’d strongly encourage you to pitch in what you can.
Your brand can also work with us to help support them as part of our new 1:1 ad matching initiative – and you can scroll to the end of this post to learn how.
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ youth. They offer a 24/7 hotline for struggling young people, along with other vital crisis intervention services like TrevorSpace.
Trevor has reported an increase in the number of calls they’ve received since the beginning of the pandemic. There are a number of reasons to explain this rise, which is highlighted in their recent report detailing COVID-19’s impact, and what the organization is doing to help. In the report, Trevor highlights the mental health consequences that result from the pandemic (decrease in positive social interactions, increase in negative social interactions at-home, rising unemployment, etc.). During this trying time, their work is even more essential.
Anna Kendrick recently gave them a huge shout out (from quarantine) on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, which you can check out below (starting at 5:36).
For more information on The Trevor Project, including how to donate, click here.
The Ali Forney Center
The Ali Forney Center is a leading New York-based non-profit empowering LGBTQ homeless youth with the tools they need to live independently.
Though many shelters and organizations have closed during this time, the center is committed to staying open in the face of overwhelming challenges. In a recently published statement, the Forney Executive Director explains why:
“With the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), many service organizations are understandably making the difficult decision to temporarily suspend their onsite services.
This is not possible for the Ali Forney Center. We cannot close and ask our clients to call from home. We are their home. For LGBTQ youth experiencing the terrors of homelessness, we are their first responders. And now they need us more than ever.
In such a time of fear, we have to stand firm and keep our doors open.”
We admire the center’s staff for their bravery and dedication to those they serve, and we encourage you to support them right now if you’re able.
SAGE
New York-based non-profit SAGE advocates for and provides vital services to LGBTQ seniors who face enormous challenges year-round that have only increased during this pandemic. This population is even more vulnerable to not only the mental health consequences of social distancing and isolation, but the life or death danger that COVID-19 poses to seniors of all identities.
As a result of the pandemic, SAGE launched SAGEConnect. This new program matches LGBTQ seniors with community members and allies to share stories and chat, in order to combat social isolation. I’ve personally signed up to participate, and would encourage others to do the same.
You also can donate to SAGE here in order to help support this powerful work.
Family Equality
Despite major advances in equality, LGBTQ families and aspiring LGBTQ parents face daunting discrimination. Family Equality works not only to support existing LGBTQ families, but advocates for building a world in which any LGBTQ person who wants to start a family can start a family.
During this unprecedented time, the organization has continued to serve as an invaluable resource. It recently launched The Neighborhood, a virtual hub for LGBTQ families. This digital space offers a calendar of activities for children of all ages that take place in an LGBTQ-affirming environment, where community support is the priority. Today (4/13), for example, Family Equality is hosting an LGBTQ+ Parents Virtual Meetup, and tomorrow it’s hosting Music Time with Queer Kid Stuff designed for kids under 7. The organization is also publishing vital resources for parents from all backgrounds that help them navigate difficult conversations around COVID-19.
To support Family Equality, click here.
The National Center for Transgender Equality
Transgender folks often face horrific levels of discrimination in employment, housing, and healthcare, and The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) is at the forefront of combatting these inequities.
NCTE is instrumental in educating the rest of the LGBTQ community and our allies on the unique ways that this pandemic affects trans folks. For instance, many trans folks have had to postpone long-awaited gender affirmation surgeries due to the pandemic, and are at higher-risk due to disparities in healthcare.
In response to the pandemic, they also created a COVID-19 guide entitled, What Trans People Need to Know About Coronavirus. In it, they outline creating a plan of action, and list several health and financial resources for trans folks everywhere.
To support the National Center for Transgender Equality, click here.
How Your Brand Can Help Support These Essential Organizations
For every digital ad impression that your brand runs through May, we’ll be donating the same amount of ad impressions to these life-saving organizations; helping them to drive donations and raise awareness.
Our goal is to match 3M impressions for these charity partners, and at the end of May, we’ll announce the final number, along with the partners who helped us get there. If you’re interested in helping us meet this goal, please email Justin Garrett to get started.
We have also been working closely with the Ad Council to run banners targeted to at-risk populations, equipping them with vital information to help keep them safe, in addition to running banners for the #AloneTogether campaign.
In these difficult times, we are continually monitoring the situation and looking for new ways our platforms can help connect the most vulnerable among us with the support they need.