Applications Open For Community Fund Grants in 2026

Project Rainbow Utah is pleased to announce that applications are open for our Community Fund Grants for 2026!

Grants are available for events and programming that will take place between January 1 and December 31, 2026.

Applications are open now and will close at 11:59 p.m. on January 2, 2026. Click here to apply.

In 2026, we hope to expand our outreach and to support events and programming for more of our community in rural areas and smaller cities, in addition to major population areas. 

We also strive to serve as an incubator for new projects and initiatives, helping such efforts with initial funding and resources to grow into sustainable programs. With that mind, we encourage new organizations and individuals to apply, especially folks in those more rural areas. 

This post will outline the details of our Community Fund and the broad guidelines for eligibility, including grant categories for both the types of programming and the size of grants. We will also  detail the specific criteria for eligibility and discuss the expectations and reporting requirements for those who receive grants.  

Finally, we have a resource section on our website with documents that may help you with the process, an FAQ, and a 13-minute video overview of the guidelines and requirements. 

About Project Rainbow and our CFG

Project Rainbow Utah was established in 2018, and we raise flags across Utah to support the LGBTQ+ community in March for Trans Day of Visibility, in June for Pride, and in November for Trans Awareness Week, which culminates with Transgender Day of Remembrance. 

With the help of hundreds of volunteers, our team stakes pride flags at homes and businesses throughout the state. These flags also allow us to raise funds to support the programs selected for our Community Fund Grants, pride festivals, and other programming and collaborations. 

Across the board, our goal is to increase inclusion and foster visibility. Since 2018, these efforts have allowed us to distribute more than $350,000 to various initiatives while raising more than 35,000 flags. Most flags are staked in Utah, but we also mail flags to supporters in other parts of the United States. 

Our Community Fund Grants supported 32 individuals and organizations in 2025 with $36,685. These events covered a wide range of programming, from workshops on gardening and underwear making to art-centered gatherings and open mics. Click here to see a list of the events we funded in 2025. 

We also support pride festivals and other long-term partners, with $18,000 in that category for a total of more than $54,000 allocated in 2025!

Overall, we strive to follow these guiding principles, and the CFGs are an important part of that effort:

• We uplift belonging — We invest in connection and shared ownership.

• Be a symbol of safety and love — We affirm, protect, and celebrate LGBTQ+ Utahns.

• We are here, together — We believe in collective work and solidarity.

• No gaps in the rainbow — We uplift those at the margins of our communities.

• We invest in community — We prioritize sustainability and community-rooted leadership.

Broad Eligibility Guidelines 

Grants are open to individuals, groups, and organizations. You do not need to be a nonprofit or formal organization to receive funding. What’s more important to us is expanding our reach and uplifting emerging projects and events, and helping them grow into sustainable additions to our LGBTQ+ community in Utah. 

While we support events in major cities and will continue to do so, we are also invested in reaching rural areas of Utah and expanding access to community for people in areas that traditionally receive less support. 

Grants must be for a specific and defined project or event in alignment with our mission to “provide crucial support for those who are building a more inclusive future.”

Grant funds are limited, and as such, there is a competitive application process. Our process favors small, community-led projects where our funding makes a significant difference in the success of the project or event. We also often prioritize applications where folks lack access to more traditional forms of funding. 

While folks are welcome to apply if they have applied before, applications that received awards in the past are NOT guaranteed funding in future years. 

The total pool of available funds varies by year in line with the success of our flag campaigns and other fundraising efforts, but is generally between $30,000 and $60,000 across all funding areas, including grants, sponsorships, and partnerships. 

Grant Sizes

Our grants range from $500 to $5,000 based on the size of the event. Grants fall into one of three size categories. 

• Small awards ($500-$1,499) are for events or projects with an overall budget of less than $2,000.

• Medium awards ($1,500-$3,499) are for events or projects with an overall budget between $2,000 and $5,000.

• Large awards ($3,500-$5,000) are only for events or projects with an overall budget greater than $5,000 and where we are not the sole funder. 

Events with a total budget of $10,000 and/or that charge an entry fee will have additional application questions to ensure PRU understands the intended impact of our contribution. 

These categories are guidelines to help us reach as many events and projects as possible, and applying for a particular category doesn’t automatically guarantee you will be awarded that amount. It can be helpful to include specific details in your application outlining how funds will be used, especially when funds may cover multiple aspects of a project or an event. 

Note that the category selected does not inherently guarantee the amount awarded. The Board may decide to allocate partial funds to projects and events to maximize the impact and diversity of awards. As such, it can be helpful to note in your application how funds will specifically be used–particularly when funds may cover multiple aspects of a project or event (such as venue, interpretation services, scholarships, etc).

Grant Categories: 

Grants fall into three broad categories. 

• Arts & Creative Expression: This includes performances or gallery work, and also zines, storytelling events, film screenings, drag shows, coloring books, and mixed-media projects.

• Healing, Wellness, & Visibility: This category includes projects that support safer spaces, youth and mental health programs, support circles, affirming wellness practices, and other community support that’s about belonging, resilience, and mutual visibility—not just accessibility enhancements.

• Community Building, Inclusion & Collective Learning: These projects focus on building shared space, community memory, learning, and leadership—across generations, geographies, or identities. They don’t always fit neatly into art or wellness, but they still reflect PRU's core values of participation, solidarity, and visibility. They may also be applications that focus primarily on inclusion & accessibility. 

Specific Eligibility Criteria 

We’ve seen an increase in applications in recent years, so, in the interest of transparency and greater clarity, Project Rainbow Utah has developed specific guidelines for which projects are eligible for grants.

The statements below outline the major eligibility criteria; please review each carefully. You will be asked to confirm each component before beginning the application. 

Attestation to these criteria will be a requirement to receive funding disbursements if awarded. 

• Your programming primarily serves the LGBTQ+ community in the state of Utah.

• Your project is taking place in the calendar year 2026.

• Your organization has an annual budget of less than $200,000.
  Rationale: PRU is focused on funding grassroots organizations and projects that are unable to access other forms of resources or revenue from traditional methods, often due to the structural barriers faced by LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized communities. 

• You have the ability to submit a W-9 on behalf of an individual, organization, or a fiscal sponsor who can accept the disbursement of this grant. Grant funds MAY be taxable if the grantee is not tax-exempt, such as a 501(c)(3).
  Note: While organizations do not need to be 501(c)3 classified to submit or receive awards, please be aware that for non tax-exempt entities (including individuals), your award will be considered taxable income and you should expect to receive a form 1099 from PRU.

• You ARE NOT applying on behalf of a pride parade, pride festival, or resource fair.
  Rationale: Project Rainbow funding of pride parades/festivals and sponsorships is to be handled directly by the sitting Executive Director. If you represent a pride festival, please email jacey@projectrainbowutah.org to discuss your needs for 2026.

• The primary purpose of your project/event IS NOT a fundraiser
  Rationale: We focus on funding programs and events that are primarily designed to have an impact on our community versus raising additional funds for a cause. This limitation includes requests to lower ticket costs for the purpose of alleviating budget constraints for fundraisers for the same reason. (Please note this does not imply that all funded events/projects must be free to the public). Fundraisers may be eligible for a sponsorship outside of this grant program if they align with our mission and priorities; please email jacey@projectrainbowutah.org with inquiries.

• Your project DOES NOT primarily provide direct mutual aid.
  Rationale: Although mutual aid initiatives (such as funds for transition-related care or travel etc) are very important to our community, they are not possible to fund sustainably and at scale with PRU’s current resources. This grant is specifically for projects that are tied to our mission of widespread visibility and inclusion. 

• Your project HAS NOT received funding from PRU for the same project for 3 years in a row.
  Rationale: PRU seeks to vary its funding across different communities and organizations over time while supporting long-standing initiatives in becoming financially viable beyond PRU’s grant awards. If your organization is beyond this timeline, please email jacey@projectrainbowutah.org to discuss options for continued support outside of the community fund grant application/process.

• Your project or event IS NOT associated with a political campaign or candidate for public office or to influence legislation in any way

  Rationale: As a 501(c)3 non-profit, PRU must remain non-partisan in the distribution of funds.

Lastly, grant recipients from 2025 who have not filed their required Final Report will not be considered for 2026 grant funding.

Expectations & Project Completion Requirements

For those who receive grants, there are some requirements for reporting as well as recognizing our contribution in posts and other assets promoting your events. Please review these carefully before applying. 

• Timely acceptance: You must complete a grant letter & contact form, as well as complete a W-9 form for the awarded person or organization.

• Project completion: You must fill out a summary report detailing how and when this grant money was spent. You must submit your summary report by December 31, 2026. The Final Report will briefly summarize (300-500 words with photographs when possible)  if and how the project met each of the grant selection criteria, described in the section below. 

• Timely use of funds: All funds must be spent in 2026. Any unspent or leftover funds must be returned to Project Rainbow, unless you request and are granted an extension for the funds to be spent in 2027. If a grantee wishes to request a time extension or to cancel the project and return the grant funds, you can do so via the final report and indicate which of these options you wish to pursue. 

• Disbursement of funds: Funding will be disbursed within 30 days of grants being awarded, and can be received via either paper check (which may add an additional 10 business days for processing) or via PayPal. 

• Share learnings: You will be invited - but not required - to attend a kickoff meeting to deepen connections across our awardees. This meeting will also cover the expectations for your final report and how to show impact, as well as opportunities to collaborate on PRU’s flag campaigns. You will also be invited to join a private Slack community to share events, ideas, and ask for help.

• Recognition and promotion: You will include Project Rainbow Utah as a sponsor/donor when advertising your event/project, including using the media kit/assets provided whenever feasible for your digital and in-person marketing materials

Failure to meet the above expectations may bar you or your organization from applying for Project Rainbow’s Community Fund in future years. 

Final Thoughts And Useful Links 

We are excited to collaborate with you in 2026. Thank you for considering a grant from Project Rainbow Utah! 

As a reminder, applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on January 2 to be considered. You can find the form and submit it here. 

We also have more details about the criteria for grants, an FAQ section, and insights into our review process on this page, which includes other documents and a webinar you may find helpful as you compile your submission. 

Support Programming For LGBTQ+ Utahns With A Project Rainbow Pride Flag In June

Utah made headlines for becoming the first state to ban pride flags from schools and government buildings, and Project Rainbow Utah is calling on our neighbors to fly a pride flag in June to send a message of acceptance while supporting inclusive programs for LGBTQ+ Utahns. 

Sign-ups for our 2025 Pride Campaign are open now through the end of May, and volunteers will stake flags in yards the weekend of May 31 and pick them up June 13-15. 

Click here to sign up for a flag for Pride in June or to get an annual subscription for all of our campaigns throughout the year with a single donation. 

“We’ve seen significant growth in our last two campaigns for Trans Day of Visibility and Trans Day of Remembrance, and we hope to see similar support for Pride in 2025,”  said Jacey Thornton, Project Rainbow Utah’s Executive Director. “It’s clear many Utahns are opposed to the legislation attacking our community, and more flags means more support–and also a greater need for volunteers. So far, Utahns have risen to that challenge.” 

Click here to sign up to help deliver and pick up flags during Pride. 

Every flag makes a difference, and these flags feel even more important in 2025 as HB 77 bans pride flags from schools and government buildings and more national and local legislation aims to single out and other LGBTQ+ folks. 

“We aren’t able to control what the legislature does, but each of us has the power to make our ideals and beliefs clear,” Thornton said. “A pride flag flying in a yard or business is a beacon, a lighthouse of safety in some of the most turbulent waters our community has ever weathered.”

Each flag Project Rainbow stakes or mails helps our mission to uplift and empower LGBTQ+ Utahns. The funds raised from flags support our Community Fund, which awarded more than $36,000 to 32 different programs for 2025. Since our founding in 2018, we’ve distributed more than $350,000 to support dozens of organizations and individuals working toward making Utah safer and more inclusive for our community. 

Building interdependent community is crucial in the days ahead, and our goal is to give LGBTQ+ Utahns across our state opportunities to form connections and find joy alongside their peers. 

“You are never alone,” Thornton said. “Every flag, every event, every gathering, is an invitation to join a vibrant community that can never be erased. When we come together, we create safety that cultivates abundance, and we believe that leads to real change. We invite everyone to join us in sowing the seeds for a more inclusive Utah.”

Project Rainbow Awards $36,685 To 32 Programs Supporting LGBTQ+ Utahns in 2025

An event from one of Project Rainbow Utah’s Partners, Rock Camp SLC.

Project Rainbow Utah is thrilled to announce our list of grant awardees for 2025, with 32 recipients for a combined total of $36,685 in 2025 and more than $350,000 awarded since our inception in 2018. 

We want to thank our donors, volunteers, and everyone who signed up to receive a flag for one of our campaigns in 2024. 

“Everything Project Rainbow Utah does is community supported, and we are grateful for the chance to join with you in uplifting LGBTQ+ folks across Utah,” said Jacey Thornton, Executive Director for Project Rainbow.  

Please consider signing up for a flag in 2025 so we can keep supporting inclusive, empowering events and opportunities. 

Awards from Project Rainbow Utah are either small ($500 - $1,499), medium ($1,500 - $3,499) or large ($3,500 - $5,000) grants. Awards fall into three broad categories: Inclusive Program Support, Miscellaneous Programs, and Visual/Performing Arts. 

Beyond the annual awardees, we also support long-term partners and provide funds and flags for various pride festivals around Utah. One of those partners is Rock Camp SLC.

“Project Rainbow supported two summer camps in 2024, helping us give 125 youth the skills, space, and support they need to shine,” Rock Camp Organizing Director Hilary McDaniel said.

See below for this year’s list of awards, and stay tuned for more details as these events get underway!

Inclusive Program Support

• Accessibility Fund from Mobile Moon Co-op - Medium Award

• Amplifying Voices for LGBT Empowerment from Affirming Voices - SLP Voice Therapy - Small Award

• BIPOC Trans Masculinities Collective - Small Award

• Education and materials from Cache Pride Center - Small Award

• Healing By Objectives, inclusive workshops by Justice By Objectives - Small Award

• Safe, inclusive events from Queer and Sober SLC - Medium Award

• Queer Poetry Night - Medium Award

• Queer Youth Art Night - Small Award

• Support for a trailer for QueerMeals - Small Award

• UBEC Sustainability Project from Uintah Basin Equality Center - Small Award

• Weekly Trans* Meet Up Social by United Drag Alliance - Medium Award

Visual/Performing Arts

• 2025 Queer Spectra Arts Festival - Medium Award

• Art markets from Always Queer Markets - Medium Award

• Cedar City Local Drag Show Series from Tydon Bullard - Small Award

• Experimenting, a community ceramic art program, from Shia - Small Award

• Love Letters to Mom: Rainbow Edition from We’re Here Utah - Small Award

• Others & Allies Variety Open Mic from We’re Here Utah - Medium Award

• Queer Intimacy by Design from Merel Noorlander - Small Award

• Rev Love Media: Block Party - Medium Award

• Sounds of Love & Rage Collective Songwriting from Traviesa Studios - Small Award

• The Love Shack Sessions Concert Series - Small Award

Miscellaneous Programs

• Little Free Library Family Book Project from IncludEd United - Small Award

• Building Community Capacity for LGBTQ+ Health Equity and Well-Being in the Bear River Region from BRR LGBTQ+ Community Coalition - Medium Award

• Café con leche, inclusive social events from Nick Arteaga - Small Award

• Care, Calm, and Clarity Retreat from Kara Komarnitsky - Small Award

• Reclaiming the Narrative Documentary Viewing + Q&A with Directors from Utah F.A.M. - Small Award

• Garden Comrades Workshops and Oracle Deck from Yasi Shaker - Small Award

• Harvey Milk Thank You and Social from Jake Boyle - Small Award

• Queer-Centered Rituals from The Pleiadian Altar - Small Award

• Rainbow Club, an after-school club from Rainbow Club SLC - Small Award

• Research study to  explore how identity, culture, and policy influence the professional and personal experiences of LGBTQ+ teachers in Utah's K-12 schools from Holly Bell - Small Award

• Watering our Local Care Ecologies from Familias Floreciendo - Small Award

Utahns Stand Up For Neighbors, Set Record For Trans Day of Visibility Flag Campaign

In a time when legislative attacks on the transgender community are ramping up, Project Rainbow Utah is proud to announce that more Utahns than ever before have signed up to fly a trans pride flag for Trans Day of Visibility on March 31.

Our previous record for the TDoV campaign was 1,512 flags in 2023, and on March 5 we reached 1,522 flags for 2025.

“Beyond the growth of our operation, this record signals that more and more people are willing to take action and stand up to show their neighbors they support safety and equal opportunity for everyone,” said Jacey Thornton, Executive Director at Project Rainbow Utah. 

Setting this record takes on extra significance this week, as Utah Legislators moved to pass HB 77, which would ban pride flags from being displayed in schools and on government property. 

 More than just a show of solidarity, each flag Project Rainbow places represents an investment in inclusive spaces and diverse programming for Utahns across the state. Money raised from our flag campaigns primarily supports our Community Fund, and each year we allocate money to numerous groups and individuals for everything from Pride festivals to inclusive book clubs to workshops.

“Sadly, many LGBTQ+ Utahns live their lives in spaces that are unwelcome or even hostile to their needs, their lived experience, and even their existence,” Thornton said. “We all need community, and our grant fund is one way to support and create spaces where people can feel not just safe, but empowered to be their best selves.”

If you’d like a flag for Trans Day of Visibility, you have until March 15 to sign up to have a volunteer stake a flag in your yard for the week before and after TDoV. We can mail full-size or garden flags to folks who don’t have a yard, or who don’t feel safe flying their flag outside. We can also mail flags to people outside our service area who want to support LGBTQ+ initiatives in Utah. 

Setting this record is exciting, and we also need more volunteers to help deliver and stake these flags. Click here to volunteer. 

Flags will be staked beginning on March 23, and collected after Trans Day of Visibility on March 31. Our campaign culminates in a celebration of trans joy with our Trans Day of Visibility event, which will be held on March 31 in West Valley City. 

“I’m beyond grateful for the support of so many,” Thornton said. “Each flag makes a difference. Thank you for standing with us.”

Flag Sign-Ups Open For Trans Day of Visibility 2025

We Need Your Help

The recent deluge of executive orders and other attacks on transgender people underscore how critical it is for LGBTQ+ people and our allies to build community and foster inclusive spaces, and we encourage everyone to sign up to fly a flag for our Transgender Day of Visibility Campaign this year. 

Sign-ups for the 2025 campaign are open now through March 15. Flags will be delivered and staked starting March 23 for Trans Day of Visibility, which is on March 31 each year.

“The effort to erase trans people from history and restrict their access to public spaces makes it more important than ever to create safety and cultivate visibility,” said Jacey Thornton, Project Rainbow Executive Director. “Trans people need allies now more than ever, and one thing you can do is fly a flag and send a signal to your community that you stand with us.”

Faced with a hostile political climate for trans folks, it is easy to feel powerless in this moment. We can’t fix everything, but signing up to receive a flag accomplishes two things. 

The first is that it sends a message that your home or business is a safe place for trans folks, and that you don’t support the current attacks on our community. Each flag is a reminder to a community under siege: You are not alone. 

The second is that funds raised from our campaigns primarily go to our Community Grant Fund, which supports numerous initiatives across Utah that benefit the LGBTQ+ community. Your donations help dozens of organizations and individuals put on pride festivals, music camps, workshops, gatherings, and a wide variety of programming to support LGBTQ+ Utahns and their families.

Here’s What You Can Do:

• Volunteer your time for flag routes or other events. 

• Make a donation or become a sponsor. Every dollar counts. 

• Sign up for a flag for TDOV. 

• Begin a subscription for 2025 to receive flags for Trans Day of Visibility in March, Pride in June, and Trans Day of Remembrance in November. 

Project Rainbow Utah’s Impact in 2024

Rally for Trans and Queer Lives at the Utah State Capitol November 19, 2024.

Thank You For Your Support!

Project Rainbow Utah continued to spread love and raise funds for the LGBTQ+ community in 2024, and we’re proud of the work we’ve done and the milestones we’ve reached.

Thank you to all of our volunteers, sponsors, and donors: We couldn’t have done it without your help! We are excited to continue our mission in 2025, and we wanted to take a moment and honor some of the moments and milestones from the last year as we close out 2024.

Financial Milestones:

• Reinvested over $51,000 into our LGBTQ community from flag proceeds

• Celebrated $300,000 reinvested into our community since 2018!

• Supported 24 LGBTQ initiatives across Utah

Flags and Events by the Numbers:

• Staked 5,629 flags across Utah

• Donated over 800 Transgender Flags

• Mailed 211 flags to donors in various states, including Washington, Minnesota, and California

• Co-organized three rallies and supported six others

• Organized Trans Awareness Week events from Nov 13 - 19 with ACLU and Flourish Therapy

Organizational Growth:

• Added one queer employee

• Worked with three queer contractors

• Moved into a new office space at Indie Square

Looking ahead to 2025

We are committed to continuing and expanding on our mission in 2025, and the deadline to submit your application for Community Grant Fund allocations in 2025 is January 12. Please apply here.

We will continue to stake flags across Utah to raise funds to support LGBTQ+ initiatives, and we hope to expand our reach with strong showings of support and visibility throughout the state.

Flag campaigns for 2025 include:

• Transgender Day of Visibility in March

• Pride in June

• Transgender Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance in November.

Click here to sign up to receive your flags.

Stay tuned for more information about events, rallies, volunteer opportunities and more in 2025. Thank you for your ongoing support!

Community Grant Fund Applications Open Through January 12: Apply Now!

Participants at Slay Lake City, a showcase concert for LGBTQ+ Utahns. Rock Camp SLC hosted the event on December 29 and is one of many organizations Project Rainbow Utah supported in 2024.

Apply Now for Grants in 2025

Project Rainbow Utah is accepting applications for the 2025 Community Grant Fund, and the deadline to apply is January 12. 

Our mission is to empower and uplift LGBTQ+ people across Utah, using the funds we receive from our flag campaigns to provide support for a variety of efforts that center and celebrate our trans and queer community.  Past awardees have included art shows, community clubs and organizations, performance pieces, special events, service organizations, and more. 

In 2025, we hope to continue work with our established partnerships while reaching new organizations and individuals, especially in rural Utah. 

Click here for more information about who can apply and the instructions. 

Click here to fill out your application. 

Funding levels in brief:

Awards are funded at three levels and fall into one of three broad categories: Visual, Print and Performing Arts; Inclusive Program Support; and Miscellaneous.

• Small awards are $500-$1,499, for events/projects with a budget less than $2,000.

• Medium awards are $1,500-$3,499, for events/projects with a $2,000 to $5,000 budget.

• Large awards are $3,500-$5,000 for events/projects with a budget over $5,000, where we are not the sole funder. 

Requirements in brief:

We have updated our requirements to offer greater clarity about the types of projects we are able to support. Please read the complete instructions before applying, and note these key details:

• Programming must primarily serve the LGBTQ+ Community in Utah and take place in the 2025 calendar year

• Your organization must have an annual budget of less than $200,000

• You may NOT apply if your project has received funding from us for three years in a row

• The primary purpose of your event may NOT be a fundraiser, direct mutual aid, or associated with a political campaign, candidate, or specific piece of legislation

• You must be able to submit a W9 and manage the logistics of the grant/potential tax

• You may not apply on behalf of a pride parade, pride festival, or resource fair (support for these events is handled directly by the Executive Director; see instructions for details).

Thank you for your ongoing support for Project Rainbow Utah, and we look forward to working with you in 2025!