Pride Foundation

Record Applicants- How Did That Happen?

The first question everyone asks when I tell them that we have a 113% increase in scholarship applicants is; how did that happen? I have heard some people make assumptions that it is due to the economy, and so many people returning to school, but I don’t think that tells the full story.

I believe there are two major factors that attributed to this record increase, and those are outreach and accessibility. We had a significant increase in outreach efforts this year as more and more past scholars are volunteering to do scholarship workshops at their schools and in their local communities. I think it is tremendously helpful when a prospective scholar can talk directly to someone who has received a scholarship. It demystifies the process and can make their...

Thank you, Kevan Gardner!

After 11 years as Pride Foundation’s Regional Director, Kevan Gardner is leaving Pride Foundation. Please help us thank Kevan for building community all over the Northwest.  Learn more about this job transition here.

For so many people, Kevan Gardner was the first person they met at Pride Foundation. In his job as Regional Director Kevan roamed the Northwest,...

Regional Program Director

We have been incredibly lucky to have Kevan Gardner as our Regional Program Director for over a decade. Under his watch the program has grown tremendously.  I hope you join us in thanking him for his incredible devotion and work.

We anticipate posting the job opening for the Regional Program Director position very soon.  You can watch for it here. The position will based out of our Seattle office. I welcome any questions you may have about our regional work or this position, and you can reach me via email or by calling 206.323.3318.

Update on 2010 Scholarships

The 2009/10 scholarship applications are in and the application cycle is now closed.

I’m sure some of you are curious about what is happening with the applications right now.

If you applied you should have received an email confirmation that your application was received.  Over the next six weeks hundreds of volunteers are reading and rating applications to decide who will be selected for interviews. You’ll hear back from us in late March or early April regarding your interview status. Interviews might happen in your local community and/or in Seattle.

After that, award announcements are made in early May and our scholarship awards ceremony takes place that same month.

Best of luck to all of you who applied!

Scholarship Timeline

January...

25 Years of Giving Together and Building Community

Welcome to Pride Foundation’s 25th year!

In 1985, as AIDS took its toll on our community, many of us wondered about our charitable legacy. Nonprofits addressing LGBT needs were nowhere near as prolific or as stable as they are today. Scholarships for LGBT students would be unheard of for 5 more years.

It was in this climate that a small group of creative and dedicated people started a new resource for the community: Pride Foundation.

When I speak to our founders and early board members, they say they never expected that Pride Foundation would have the reach and capacity that it has today. Twenty-five...

Watch for These Ads

This week Pride Foundation will begin running ads in newswpapers around Washington State, thanking voters for approving Referendum 71 and keeping the State’s domestic partnership law.  I really like that we are starting 2010 by thanking our neighbors for supporting LGBT equality.

We decided to place these ads in community papers where the LGBT community isn’t always as visible.

For this reason we will be running ads in...

Estate Gift Benefits Local HIV/AIDS Organizations

In November, Pride Foundation received a significant bequest of $300,000 from the estate of Richard Cornwell.  Mr. Cornwell, a pianist, KOMO4 broadcaster, and who worked for both the Seattle and Honolulu symphonies passed away at the age of 75.  He dedicated 1/5^th of his estate to Pride Foundation, and requested the money be given to HIV/AIDS organizations.