Funding Trans Movements

As attacks on our community continue to escalate, trans-led organizations are facing a double crisis: rising needs and shrinking resources. In this episode, Imara examines the state of funding for queer and trans issues with two insightful interviews. First, Alexander Lee from Funders for LGBTQ breaks down who’s getting funded – and who’s not – in the current philanthropic landscape. After that, Marin Watts from the Trans Justice Funding Project gives insight into how grassroots trans organizers are continuing to do life-saving work with minimal support. He also makes the case for using community-led, charitable trust systems and explains how this model can help move more money faster than traditional institutional philanthropy. Subscribe to The Mess: Imara’s Guide to Our Political Hellscape on Apple Podcasts. Send your trans joy recommendations to translash_podcast @ translash [dot] org Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and Facebook. Follow Imara Jones on Instagram (@Imara_jones_), Threads (@imara_jones_), Bluesky (@imarajones.bsky.social), X (@ImaraJones) Follow our guests on social media: Valentine Vandal: Instagram (@valentine.vandal) Alexander Lee: Bluesky (@lgbtfunders.bsky.social) Marin Watts: Instagram (@transjusticeFP) X (@transjusticeFP) TransLash Podcast is produced by TransLash Media. Translash Team: Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Aubrey Calaway. Lucy Little did the sound editing and engineering for this episode. Morgan Astbury is our Social Media Coordinator. Hillary Esquina is our Director of Digital Media and Social. Theme music composed by Ben Draghi.