Project Rainbow Utah Awards $43,700 To Community Fund Grantees in 2026

“Receiving the grant gave me a significant confidence boost,” said Amber Jay. “When I received the email telling me I had been selected as a grantee, I felt a deepening in my resolve knowing that my community saw what I was doing and supported me. In those moments where the going gets tough, I think of all the donors as cheerleaders on the sidelines, cheering me on, reminding me that I'm not in this alone.”

Experiences like Amber’s are exactly what we aim to cultivate with our Community Fund grants, and we’re thrilled to announce we have selected more than 20 grantees for 2026. 

Those grants total $43,700, and we are supporting pride festivals with $18,500 and visibility partners with another $5,000 for a total of  $67,200 distributed in 2026. 

That $67,200 represents the generosity of our donors and every person who signed up for one of our flag campaigns or ordered a flag from our online store. Thank you for supporting us as we support our LGBTQ+ community across Utah!

“It’s an incredible feeling to be a part of this tidal wave of generosity each year,” said Jacey Thornton, Executive Director for Project Rainbow Utah. “As legislative attacks on our rights continue, these community-driven events become a much needed life-line for LGBTQ+ Utahns, and we’re proud to play our part.”

Please consider signing up for a flag in 2026, so we can keep supporting inclusive, empowering events and opportunities. You can also buy pride flags online anytime to support our work. Together we can cultivate safer, more affirming spaces for our community. 

Grants from Project Rainbow fall into three categories: Healing, Wellness, & Visibility; Arts & Creative Expression; and Community Building, Inclusion & Collective Learning.

Those awards come in three tiers: small ($500 to $1,499), medium ($1,500 to $3,499), and large ($3,500 to $5,000). 

We prioritize community-driven events, and we focus on smaller organizations or individuals so we can bridge the resource gap and reach people who often lack access to traditional funding. Our goal is to function as an incubator, helping people bring their ideas to life and build their event into something self-sustaining that outlasts our funding and contributes to our community long-term. 

“When I first started the open mic in 2023, we were averaging 8 people per event,” Jay said. “The mic in Payson on March 24th will be my 45th open mic, where we're now pulling as many as 50 performers and audience members to a single mic.  Project Rainbow Utah’s support helped us provide this regular gathering for queer folks in Utah County, a place where queer events are sparse: especially outside of Pride Month, and for folks who aren't students.”

Beyond the annual grants, we also fund long-term partners and support pride festivals across Utah and in the Navajo Nation. We see these two threads as an interwoven tapestry that tells a vibrant story of a resilient Utah.

“Queer folks in smaller cities or rural parts of our state don’t have the same opportunities to connect with community, and we want to bridge that gap with intention,” Thornton said. 

We look forward to experiencing everything our grantees accomplish in 2026. See below for a list of some of our grantees. We’ll link you to their website or social media where applicable so you can join the party.

We are stronger when we come together!

Healing, Wellness, & Visibility 

• Queer Creative Healing Circle: Art & Wellness for LGBTQ+ Community in Carbon County by Evelyn Logan. Small Award. June 13 . 

• Queer Youth Resilience Lab: Creative Skills & Community Wellness Workshops by Rowan Benjamin. Small Award. June 15.

• Social spaces, peer support, and more by Box Elder Pride Family Services. Medium Award. Recurring events. 

• Medication Lock Boxes for Suicide Prevention for the LGBTQIA+ Community by IncludEd United. Medium Award. Ongoing Service. 

• Cultivating Practical Skills & Supporting Queer Life: A 2026 Skill-Share Series with Under the Umbrella. Medium Award. Ongoing Events. 

Arts & Creative Expression 

• BIPOC Centered Burlesque Workshop by Sappho SLC. Small Award. July 18 

• Moab Stoopfest. Medium Award. March 6 & 7. 

• Trans Joy in Public Space – Portraits to Paintings by Seniors Out and Proud of Utah. Medium Award. July 1 

• Let's Go, N.T.S.! (No Theme Show) by HH Productions. Large Award. January 21.

• Queer Youth Art Night. Small Award. Monthly Events. 

• Asian Art Nite by Shiya Zeng. Medium Award. May and July events. 

• Out Loud & Queer, Even Here: Utah County’s LGBTQ+ Variety Show Series by We’re Here, Utah. Medium Award. Ongoing Events. 

• Drag shows by Cedar City Drag Community. Small Award. Ongoing Events. 

• Queer Poetry Night by Milo Wint. Small Award. Monthly events at Under The Umbrella. 

• Werq the Watershed, A Great Salt Lake-themed drag show by Cael Crosby. Small Award. September 3. 

Community Building, Inclusion & Collective Learning

• A Taste of the Rainbow: Snippets of Activism with SKITTLES by Asa Smith. Small Award. Recurring events. 

• The Motley Rainbow Squad by The Motley Squad. Small Award. Monthly Events. 

• Fat Fest SLC Festival. Medium Award. April 19. 

• Queer Constellations: A Monthly LGBTQ+ Meetup in Payson, UT by We’re Here, Utah. Medium Award. Ongoing Events. 

• BIPOC Trans Masc Collective. Small Award. Ongoing events, including potlucks, movie nights etc. 

• Black Queer Brunch by Candida Duran Taveras. Small Award. June 21.

• Queer Performance Showcase at Amusement Co. by Mended Hearts Club. Medium Award. May 29. 

• Land Lab Localized: from Turtle Island to Abya Yala from Traviesa Studios. Medium Award. Ongoing Events. 

• Inclusive Underwear Making Workshops by Wasatch Sewing Collective. Medium Award. Ongoing Events. 

LGBTQ+ Rights And The 2026 Utah Legislative Session

The legislative session in Utah has been a difficult time for LGBTQ+ Utahns in recent years, especially for our transgender community. 

It seems each year there is new legislation that challenges our rights and our dignity as queer folks, and 2026 is no exception. As our mission is to uplift queer people, we want to make our community aware of some of the bills we are keeping an eye on. 

Queer folks exist in many communities, and we know things like housing policy, immigration issues, environmental justice, and so many more impact all of us. As a trans-led organization, we want to center the attacks on our community, and we want to encourage folks to follow other organizations that have more resources to cover a broader array of crucial issues or a specific focus area.  

Some examples include ACLU Utah, Advocates For Trans Equality, Friends of Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake Harm Reduction Project, Green Wave Utah, USARA, and many, many more. We encourage everyone to be active and engaged with the legislative session across the range of intersectional issues that affect all of us who call Utah home. 

Bills We Are Keeping An Eye On 

HB 174: Banning Gender Affirming Care For Trans Youth

Context:

The Utah Legislature placed a stop on gender affirming care for trans youth in 2023 and commissioned a study to explore the issue. This study found that the positive outcomes of gender affirming care far outweigh the risks (click here to see the results). Rather than checking their own biases and learning from the findings of their own commissioned study, legislators have attacked the credibility of the study. Even worse, rather than addressing their perceived issues with the study, lawmakers are pushing to make the ban permanent and deny youth access to the care they need. 

As of February 9, HB 174 has passed the House and introduced in the Senate, where it is scheduled for the Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee.

Project Rainbow’s Position: 

Gender affirming care saves lives, and transgender Utahns deserve access to the care they need to live their most authentic lives. 

Numerous research studies beyond the one Utah commissioned have resoundingly shown the benefits of gender affirming care. It is unconscionable for legislators to disregard their own findings and move forward to restrict access to care that is affirming and often life-saving. 

Other studies have found that about 1% of people who receive gender affirming surgery regret the decision. For comparison, as many as 60% of people who access aesthetic care like plastic surgery regret the decision, and around 20% of people who undergo a knee replacement are unsatisfied with the results. This demonstrates a vast double standard and unprecedented government interference in health care decisions. 

These bans and restrictions single out trans people for unwarranted scrutiny and create suffering, while putting legislators between patients and medical providers. We encourage all Utahns to stand up for bodily autonomy and the rights of their trans neighbors and oppose these bills. 

HB 193: Bans Public Funding for Gender Affirming Care 

Context:

HB 193 would prohibit the use of public funds for gender-affirming care. This would strip insurance coverage for care from state employees or anyone else on a state-backed insurance plan, as well as for folks who receive coverage through sources like Medicaid or Medicare. 

As of February 9, HB 193 has passed the House and been introduced in the Senate. It has been sent to the Senate Business and Labor Committee.

Project Rainbow’s Position:

As noted above, gender-affirming care saves lives. The efficacy and value of gender-affirming care are well-documented and researched, and all Utahns deserve access to health care, even if their identity makes other people uncomfortable. 

Health care decisions should be made by patients and medical providers, not by lawmakers. Like HB 174, this bill represents government overreach of the kind that threatens the freedom and bodily autonomy of everyone. Our state institutions should be welcoming and inclusive, because doing the right thing is important. Basic decency and empathy aside, this law could make it hard for places like universities and others to attract and recruit diverse, top-tier talent.

HB 183: Narrowly Defines Gender As Sex At Birth, Eliminates Nondiscrimination Protections For Trans People 

Context:

HB 183 from Rep. Trevor Lee has some very alarming language. Not only would the bill require gender to be defined as sex at birth and replace gender with sex in many places, but it would require that definition be used for all administrative decisions. It would further ban amending a birth certificate to update a person’s gender, and strip nondiscrimination protections in housing and employment for transgender Utahns. It would also put restrictions on trans staff in certain fields from interfacing with children, and target trans folks in other ways.

As of February 9, HB 183 has had its first reading in the House, but a committee hearing has not yet been scheduled. It currently sits in the House Rules Committee, which may recommend it to a subcommittee for a hearing. While this bill is perhaps the most damaging to trans Utahns, it is notable that so far, the bill lacks a co-sponsor in the Senate. 

Project Rainbow’s Position:

This bill is dangerous, demeaning, and dehumanizing. Utah passed a statewide nondiscrimination ordinance several years ago that protects folks from discriminatory practices in housing and employment, and this bill would callously strip away those protections while formally othering trans people as a matter of official state policy. 

We oppose this measure in the strongest possible terms. Legislators should be looking for ways to manage the needs of our citizens, not singling out disenfranchised minorities and demonizing them for cheap political points. Everyone should contact their lawmakers to oppose this bill, especially if it receives a committee hearing. 

Follow groups like ACLU of Utah and Advocates for Trans Equality for updates on this bill and for calls to action to direct opposition to this hateful legislation. 

HB 196: Would Rename Harvey Milk Boulevard in SLC for Charlie Kirk

Context:

This is another bill from Rep. Trevor Lee, who seems obsessed with carrying out a personal vendetta against LGBTQ+ Utahns. HB 196 aims to rename the iconic Harvey Milk Boulevard in Salt Lake City for Charlie Kirk. The bill would also insert the legislature into cities’ decisions on how to name streets, taking away local control and giving the legislature even more power to target decisions they don’t like. 

As of February 9, HB 196 has been introduced in the House and sent to the Rules Committee. It has not yet been sent to a committee for a hearing. 

Project Rainbow’s Position:

HB 196 feels vengeful and punitive. If Rep. Lee wants to name a street for Charlie Kirk, there are hundreds of options across the state. Singling out Harvey Milk Boulevard is a targeted jab at LGBTQ+ Utahns, and an attack on what has become a thriving gayborhood with a distinct identity in downtown Salt Lake City.

This bill is a thinly veiled attack on the history of queer people and on efforts to increase visibility, dressed up as a way to honor someone who has attracted significant media and cultural attention since his death. 

HB 302: Targets Salt Lake City’s Official Affirming Flags

Context: 

HB 302 continues the attacks on the display of pride flags on government property, including schools and public parks. Last year’s ban is already in effect, but this bill from Rep. Matt MacPherson seems to be targeting a loophole after Salt Lake City adopted official flags modeled on popular pride flags and the Juneteenth flag, which celebrates the emancipation of slaves in the United States. 

While the original bill banned all non-official flags, Rep. Lee was vocal about his goal to target pride flags specifically. 

HB 302 would state that cities and other entities can only adopt one official flag, but would allow other ceremonial flags for other uses. The lone official flag would be the only one that is allowed to be flown in certain places, like airports or courthouses. The bill would also give the legislature the authority to review flags adopted by municipalities within the state. 

As of February 9, HB 302 has been assigned to the House Government Operations Committee. 

Project Rainbow’s Position:

This is a bad bill and a solution in search of a problem that targets LGBTQ+ people and creates a chilling effect across the state, making it less likely for people to show their support for marginalized communities. 

HB 302 also silences government speech and sacrifices local control to the legislature. It’s ironic that a party that touts small government and local decisions is in such a hurry to grant greater authority when it comes to topics they have a personal position on. 

When HB 77 passed last year and banned pride flags from government property, we observed a chilling effect with fewer people and businesses deciding to fly pride flags even though the ban doesn’t apply to their homes or offices. Legislation like HB 302 creates a climate of control and empowers bigotry while making others feel less confident standing up for what they believe in and about celebrating the diversity that makes our state great. 

HB 95: Empowers Teachers and Others To Misgender Children

Context:

Another solution in search of a problem, HB 95 would empower public employees, notably teachers, to misgender trans people. The bill would ban taking official action against public employees who use “gender specific language” and give them latitude to have an exception to policies that encourage people to respect Utahns chosen names and correct pronouns. 

As of February 11, HB 95 has been referred to the House Rules Committee but has yet to be assigned to a subcommittee for a hearing. Similar legislation failed last year. 

Project Rainbow’s Position:

Everyone deserves respect and the dignity of having their identity recognized. This is especially true for children. Empowering people, especially teachers, to misgender students creates an alarming power imbalance that is likely to increase bullying and stigma. Granting people a free pass to misgender folks also creates a safety issue, as it has the potential to out someone without their consent and subject them to bigotry. 

There is harmful messaging from certain elements who want to paint measures like this as protection for people who make a mistake or slip when it comes to pronouns. No one supports punishing someone for making an occasional mistake, and most policies regarding respecting pronouns are designed to prevent intentional, persistent misgendering as a form of harassment or bullying. 

This bill would subject children to one more level of harm, and it’s immoral to empower people to disrespect and dehumanize people simply for who they are. This is not about slip-ups, it’s about gross negligence, persistent bullying, and preventing people from making a child the scapegoat for a political debate while singling them out for discrimination. 

HB 404: Extends Last Year’s Bill Regarding Student Housing Complexes Discriminating Against Trans Folks To Off-Campus Housing

Context:

HB 404 is an egregious violation of nondiscrimination laws. Last year the legislature gave Universities the power to discriminate against trans people in on-campus housing, and this bill would extend that power to private dorms and allow single-sex spaces to deny trans people rather than respect their gender. 

As of February 11, HB 404 has passed in the House and been recommended to the Senate. 

Project Rainbow’s Position:

Fair housing practices are crucial to our community and especially for students, who often have limited choices when it comes to housing during their college years. The original law was a gross overreaction to one student feeling uncomfortable sharing a dorm with a trans woman. Even though the student who complained was accommodated with a move to a new dorm assignment, our lawmakers still felt it necessary to pass a blanket ban and signal that trans students are not welcome in student housing. 

This bill would extend that discriminatory practice to even more places, and contribute to more harm against folks who are already facing an onslaught of attacks on their rights, their dignity, and their ability to live and work in our state. 

HB175 - Bans Businesses That Receive State Funds From Hosting Pride Events

Context:

This bill would prohibit businesses that have received state funds from hosting Pride-themed sports nights or other Pride events. This could impact Pride events at things like Utah Jazz games and other sporting events. 

As of February 11, HB 175 has been introduced into the House and referred to the Rules Committee. It has not yet received a committee hearing date. 

Project Rainbow’s Position:

This bill would significantly harm pride festivals and organizations that are already reeling from a significant drop in funding in 2025 from national corporations. Like many bills proposed by Trevor Lee in 2026, this bill is a targeted attack on LGBTQ+ Utahns dressed up in broader language, but with a specific goal of punishing queer folks for existing. 

National Concerns 

Broadly speaking, the national administration is very hostile to trans folks, with harmful messaging at every turn and heartbreaking developments like denying passports that match trans folks’ gender identity and more. 

We encourage folks to stay apprised of these national developments, but wanted to call out one proposal in particular that has immense capacity to cause harm. In December, the administration proposed new HHS rules that would ban gender affirming care for trans youth, and penalize hospitals and providers that deliver this important care by threatening their ability to participate in things like Medicaid, CHIP, and more. 

As we stated above, trans youth deserve bodily autonomy and access to health care and the proven benefits gender-affirming care provides. The second rule may also have a chilling effect on care for all trans folks regardless of age, as losing access to Medicare and etc. would be a major hit to most providers and certainly a death blow to smaller practices and medical facilities in rural areas that rely on this funding to operate. 

Public comment on the proposed rule changes is open until February 17, and we encourage everyone to weigh in on this important topic and advocate for the rights of trans folks. 

Click here for more information from the Human Rights Coalition on both rules, as well as for details on how to add your voice to the public comment window. 

Resources For Engaging

This legislation is harmful and could have a major impact on Utahns quality of life and personal freedom. We encourage everyone to stand up for transgender folks and the broader LGBTQ+ community. These attacks are an assault on bodily autonomy and patients’ rights to manage their health care with advice from their doctors, and rules that place the government between providers and patients are a dangerous precedent we should all be standing up against. 

We are not powerless, and there are things we can all do to make a difference and make our opposition clear and impactful. Here are some links and resources that may help you track legislation and engage strategically in the legislative process. 

• Create an account and track bills at le.utah.gov. Once you’ve made an account, you can sign up for email updates about bills, including where they are in the process or when hearings with the opportunity for public comment arise. We recommend contacting lawmakers who sit on these committees, as well as your own representatives, to oppose these bills. Those actions can be particularly impactful as bills advance or come up for votes. 

• The ACLU of Utah maintains a dedicated page for the 2026 session, including priority legislation and bill-tracking resources. This is a great source of information and a way to plug yourself into broader calls to action. 

• Submit public comment on the national HHS rules. This page from the Human Rights Coalition has information on the proposals and tools for submitting a public comment. 

• This training from Alex Del Rosario at Advocates For Trans Equality has tips for speaking to lawmakers and testifying at hearings when it comes to trans rights. This is a great resource for understanding how to make the biggest impact possible. 

• Another training from A4TE has details on how to speak about transgender issues while also considering the intersex community and making sure your voice is protecting both communities.

• Equality Utah also has a legislative page for the 2026 session, with summaries of bills that affect the LGBTQ+ community and opportunities to join calls to action to oppose bills. 

Project Rainbow Utah’s Impact in 2025

We often saw a hostile political climate at the local, state, and national levels in 2025, yet despite those challenges, we are thrilled to say our community came together and helped us grow and reach more LGBTQ+ Utahns. 

We exceeded our growth goals in 2025 with 6,223 flag sign-ups across all of our campaigns. This outpouring of support for queer Utahns helped us increase our revenue to $240,000, up from $205,000 in 2024. This will allow us to reinvest more than $50,000 back into our Community Fund Grant in 2026 with support for pride festivals and more than 30 events across the state in various categories. 

We look forward to even more growth and expanded access to affirming programs in 2026, and we are grateful to each and every one of you for helping us fulfill our mission to empower and uplift LGBTQ+ individuals throughout Utah by fostering visibility, promoting inclusivity, and providing crucial support through our Community Fund.

Let’s take a look at some of the wins from 2025 before we head into 2026

Flags and Volunteers

We surpassed our 2025 goals for flag signups and observed growth in both our mailed flag programs and sales of flags through our merch store. As the pressure from state and national leaders amps up against queer Utahns, mailed flags are a great way to support our programs even if you don’t feel comfortable flying a flag outside your home or don’t want to deal with theft or vandalism. 

No matter which option folks choose for getting a flag, the proceeds raised from these efforts are reinvested in our Community Fund to support more projects, festivals, and programs that make queer Utahns feel accepted and celebrated. 

In 2025, we saw:

• 6,223 flag signups across all of our flag campaigns 

• 775 of those flags were mailed

• An additional 407 flags sold through our merch store, mostly SLC’s new Sego Belonging and Visibility Flags 

With Utah lawmakers banning pride flags on schools and government property, Salt Lake City stepped up and designed pride flags featuring the city’s sego lily and designated them official city flags, which allows them to be flown anywhere the ban on traditional flags applies. We are grateful to them for standing up to efforts to stifle LGBTQ+ representation. 

Not only did our flag campaigns outperform our goals for the year, we were also touched to see an outpouring of support from dedicated volunteers. We are so grateful to everyone who gave their time and energy to help cover the state in pride flags for our campaigns. 

In 2025, we saw:

• 446 registered volunteers 

• We estimate more than 800 participants, as many folks ride along on a flag route with a registered volunteer

• This amounts to approximately 1,030 volunteer hours, a gift of time valued at more than $35,000

This support is more than just symbolic; it helps us create tangible infrastructure to grow and expand on our mission and make more spaces available to our queer community. 

These efforts helped us expand our footprint in 2026, reaching 13 Utah counties as well as the Navajo Nation with flags, events, and increased support.

Community Investment 

This year, we reached more people in more places. We partnered with more than 40 community organizations, coalitions, and events. We also expanded our efforts in storytelling, earning more local and national media placements, from CNN to the New York Times, than ever before. 

Thanks to your support, our Community Fund Grants awarded 32 organizations with more than $36,000 in funds. These awardees created a wide variety of spaces and connections for the LGBTQ+ community in Utah, with events from film screenings and poetry nights to weekly meetups and performances like concerts and drag shows. 

Beyond these grant awards, we extended over $18,000 to pride festivals and other long-term partners. This brings our support to more than $54,000 in 2025, and more than $400,000 since our founding in 2018. These additional partnerships included: 

• $2,000 for the Trans Day of Visibility Community Celebration

• $500 cash and $500 in kind for Lavender Graduation with First Baptist Church, U of U, SLCC, and Westminster students

• $500 to support the Weber State Lavender Graduation 

• $500 for Aqua Underwear Workshops plus free space allocations

• $3,000 for Trans Awareness Week programming

• $1,000 program support to SLC Pride

• Sponsorships across the state, including Davis County Pride, Ogden Pride, Logan Pride, Navajo Nation Pride, and Short Creek Pride

We provided unrestricted grants, sponsorships, and mutual aid to grassroots leaders, student organizers, rural advocates, and queer artists. Our funds filled the gaps created by anti-DEI laws, flag restrictions, and campus policy rollbacks. This investment protected our community’s dignity when institutional support was rescinded.

Our programs provided direct access to belonging. This means trans flags flying during HB 77’s ban, a drag performance at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center, and Lavender Graduations that continued when universities were blocked from hosting them by legislation.

Between grants and additional funding, we provided almost $60,000 in funds and in-kind donations to organizations within Salt Lake County. In keeping with our goal of reaching more Utahns in rural areas, we distributed $14,350 to grantees outside of Salt Lake County and another $16,000 in direct support and in-kind donations. We hope to expand our reach to folks who lack support and traditional sources of funding even further in 2026.

 Our work offered symbols of safety in environments where safety has been politically contested.

Internal Investment 

As we grow our programs and expand our support, we are also making steps to make sure that growth stays sustainable for the long term. This includes bringing on more staff and focusing on providing equitable pay to members of the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring that as we grow we are offering opportunities to queer folks who may struggle to find other forms of employment. 

These investments in 2025 include increasing our capacity with a paid Operations Project Manager, stipend positions for volunteer leadership roles, and a contracted communications strategist. 

With these new resources, we hope to expand our reach, improve our operations, and better manage the logistics of flag campaigns: from distribution and collection to responding to misdeliveries or flags that are lost to theft or vandalism.

Looking Ahead With Hope 

While 2025 posed new challenges, these obstacles became springboards for opportunity. When HB 77 banned pride flags on public property, our city leaders responded with official Salt Lake City flags, and sales of those flags helped us reach even more Utahns than before. Many people reached out to us for pins, shirts, or sego flags to gift to teachers, government workers, and others who felt constrained by this new legislation and who, nevertheless, decided to find a way to stand tall and show their support. 

When our legislature tried to ban DEI Initiatives on campuses, we stood up with our partners to co-host Lavender Graduations for students at Weber State, the University of Utah, Salt Lake Community College, and Westminster University. We are looking forward to partnering with these same leaders at Ogden Pride, Mildred Berryman Institute, and faculty and staff at Salt Lake County-based colleges and universities.

In times of distress and uncertainty, it was not uncommon for us to see a surge in volunteers as people who are frustrated with the direction our leaders are heading decided to turn that energy toward making a difference, showing up in droves to assemble and distribute flags to support vulnerable queer Utahns. 

We hope to see this energy continue in 2026, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to rise to the occasion and continue empowering and uplifting LGBTQ+ Utahns with more events and programs that prioritize love and acceptance over fear and hate. 

Thank you again for being with us in 2025. We hope you’ll join us in 2026 as we fight even harder for our community. 

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!