The Fortitude Fund is a responsive initiative launched by the Pride Foundation to support LGBTQ+ organizations that are facing increasing challenges due to a hostile socio-political environment. In the wake of escalating threats to LGBTQ+ rights, particularly those of transgender and nonbinary individuals, and the broader LGBTQ+ community, the Fortitude Fund aims to provide immediate and flexible financial assistance. The initiative is designed to address urgent needs arising from legislative attacks, funding cuts, and other socio-political factors that jeopardize the safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals, especially those within Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.

Pride Foundation, with its longstanding commitment to responsive, low-barrier funding, created the Fortitude Fund as a rolling application process to provide timely and flexible resources. The foundation emphasizes the importance of agile support for LGBTQ+ organizations during times of crisis, where the ability to act swiftly can significantly impact the community's ability to withstand political and social challenges. The fund aims to address the most critical needs, particularly those affecting LGBTQ+ BIPOC communities, transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals, and other vulnerable groups within the LGBTQ+ community.

The primary goal of the Fortitude Fund is to support organizations whose work and communities are most directly impacted by the current political climate, including federal and state-level legislative actions and broader cultural shifts. The fund has been made possible through increased contributions from the foundation's partners and donors, reflecting the growing urgency of the issues at hand. The Pride Foundation has previously responded with similar initiatives, such as the Rapid Response Fund and the Community Care Fund, which helped support LGBTQ+ individuals and communities during crises like the first Trump administration and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Fortitude Fund will provide grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, with organizations encouraged to apply for the amount that best fits their needs. These grants will focus on general operating funds, giving grantees flexibility in allocating resources where they are most needed. The rolling nature of the application process ensures that the fund remains accessible throughout the year, although deadlines for application review may shift depending on available funding. Importantly, the fund is not intended for emergency funding that requires immediate turnaround, and it excludes general funding for events or programs unrelated to the current socio-political climate.

The Fortitude Fund prioritizes several key focus areas for grantmaking. These include support for Black and Indigenous-led organizations working on movement building, assistance for TGNC-led organizations providing support to transgender and nonbinary individuals, safety and security initiatives, mutual aid programs, immigration support for LGBTQ+ immigrants, housing assistance, and health and wellness programs, including those addressing HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, and supporting queer and trans youth.

Organizations eligible for the Fortitude Fund must meet several criteria, including being a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or having a fiscal sponsor, and being based in one of the following states: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington. Preference will be given to LGBTQ+ organizations that are led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color and TGNC individuals. Smaller grassroots organizations and those without access to mainstream funding sources are also prioritized. The fund’s first round of applications is due by March 7, with subsequent deadlines on April 11 and May 6, after which applications will pause and reopen in June. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications in accordance with these review dates.