How ILGA-Europe is funded
At ILGA-Europe, we are committed to upholding the principles of transparency, independence, accuracy and accountability in carrying out our mission. We continuously strive to manage our financial resources in a way that ensures that the needs of the movement are served in the best way possible.
Print HTMLILGA-Europe’s funding is always allocated to carefully planned activities and programmes. All of our work is developed on the basis of our ongoing review and analysis of needs and opportunities within the LGBTI movements in Europe and Central Asia. ILGA-Europe’s five-year strategic framework, approved by the membership, also guides our priorities and direction of our work. ILGA-Europe does not accept funding to implement the plans or agendas of other entities.
The majority of funds are acquired through competitive grant application processes. In the last years, the proportion of project-specific funding increased compared to the overall budget. This shows that, on one hand, our focus is shifting towards resourcing and building capacity of the movement, but it also means that we have a lower flexibility of funds - ILGA-Europe’s ability to shift funds where they are most needed is decreased. This is why ILGA-Europe started investing efforts in engaging individual donors and companies in our work for the movement. Find out how to join our efforts here.
The funding of ILGA-Europe comes from multiple and diverse sources. This said, most of our funding comes from institutional funders – whether public institutions or private philanthropy. In 2019, out of the total budget of 3 078 903 €, grants constituted 92% of our funding:
- 31% of our budget is funded by the European Commission through an operating grant designed to support general management and governance, work with members and policy work
- 13% are core grants funded by private foundations which we use to cover areas of the budget most needing resourcing
- 47% is project-specific funding that allows to resource the movement and support advocacy strategies on a national level, as well as build the capacity of ILGA-Europe and its members in various areas.
The remaining 9% of the budget is secured thanks to donations from individuals and companies, as well as contribution of event participants who fund their own accommodation and subsistence. The majority of donation funds are unrestricted and allow ILGA-Europe to assign them to areas most needing financial support. Go to our donation page to join ILGA-Europe and benefit change on a national and European level.
The overall allocation of funds to various expenditure areas is annually approved by the membership, and the spending is monitored by the Executive Board. Throughout 2018, a total of 3 177 143 € in expenses was incurred. A large portion of these costs (41%) was related to direct support of the LGBTI movement in Europe and Central Asia, through capacity building, trainings, development of strategies and small grants. The ILGA-Europe Annual Conference, as the largest gathering of LGBTI activists, policy-makers and funders in the region, constituted 13% of costs, a quarter of which were related to scholarships. The year was closed with a positive result of 43 579 € which was put towards building of an organizational reserve.
