TRANS RESILIENCE FUND 2026
ABOUT THE FUND
The Trans Resilience Fund is a grant program of Gender Justice Fund to support regional trans communities. The Fund uses a participatory grantmaking process in which a committee of trans and non-binary community members sets guidelines and makes funding decisions. The Trans Resilience Fund is a pooled fund supported external funding partners and individuals. Thanks to our 2025 funding partners: Collective Future Fund; Julia Stone; Independence Foundation, Patricia Kind Family Foundation; Samuel Fels Fund; Weber Family Foundation; and Women’s Way.
Thanks also to Bread & Roses Community Fund, whose support allows us to provide grants to unincorporated groups.
2026 GRANTMAKING TIMELINE
Application form available: March 23, 2026
Information Session 1: Thursday, March 26, 2026 @ 10:00 am EDT - Register here
Information Session 2: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 @ 6:00 pm EDT - Register here
Application Deadline: Friday, April 24, 2026 @ 5:00 pm EDT
Grantee Interviews: June 2026 - Applicants who pass the the first round of screening be invited to a virtual interview with members of the grantmaking committee.
Grant Announcements: Late July 2026
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
Applicants must be non-profit groups/organizations (two or more individuals working collectively to provide services to the broader community), not individuals or for-profit entities.
Applicants do not have to be incorporated as a 501 (c) (3) organization but must certify that their work meets IRS criteria as an “unincorporated association”. An unincorporated association is defined as a group of people who act together as an organization and for a common charitable purpose. In defining charitable purpose, the IRS includes promoting social welfare, defending human and civil rights, and eliminating prejudice and discrimination, among other activities. These activities must be undertaken on behalf of others, not just those who are part of the “unincorporated association”.
Applicants must be located in and serving Philadelphia and/or Chester, Bucks, Montgomery, or Delaware Counties in Pennsylvania.
Both new and established groups/organizations are welcome to apply.
Traditional nonprofit organizations as well as grassroots groups, including those with non-hierarchical leadership structures can apply.
Applicants who received funding in 2024 are eligible to reapply but MUST complete a report on their previous grant in order to be considered.
WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE
Organizations not located in and serving Philadelphia and/or Chester, Bucks, Montgomery, or Delaware Counties in Pennsylvania.
LLCs or any for-profit entities.
Individuals.
Organizations with budgets of over $500,000 who do not plan to provide direct financial support for trans individuals via food, cash or transportation assistance; covering medical, housing, or utility costs; or payment of other expenses related to health and safety.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications must besubmitted onlineby 5:00 PM EDT on Friday, April 24, 2025.
Applicants who received funding in 2025 are eligible to reapply but MUST complete a report on their previous grant in order to be considered.
We recommend preparing your responses in a Word document and then copy and pasting them into the online forms.
A PDF of all the application questions is available here.
KEY INFORMATION ABOUT THE APPLICATION
You will need to submit a project or organizational budget.
If you are a 501 (c)(3) organization, you will need to submit a copy of your IRS determination letter.
If you have a fiscal sponsor, you will need to submit a copy of your fiscal sponsorship agreement and your fiscal sponsor’s IRS determination letter.
There are no word limits for any questions.
GRANT SIZES
Applicants may apply for grants of $5,000, $10,000, or $20,000
If the total funds requested by all the groups the committee selects for funding exceeds available for grantmaking, applicants may receive less funding than requested.
USE OF FUNDS
Organizations/ groups may use funds for different purposes, depending on their size and who they serve.
HOW TO GET HELP WITH YOUR APPLICATION
Attend an Information Session
Information Session 1: Thursday, March 26, 2026 @ 10:00 am EDT - Register here
Information Session 2: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 @ 6:00 pm EDT - Register here
Email Gender Justice Fund at info@genderjusticephilly.org with questions about eligibility or about the application form. Please note that the earlier you submit questions, the more likely you will be to get a timely response.
Trans Resilience Fund Grant History
Since 2021, the Fund has provided $820,000 in grants to nonprofits and grassroots groups serving the trans community in Philadelphia and surrounding counties. You can read reports about the Fund here:
Grantees for each year are listed below.
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Attic Youth Center: Direct financial support to trans youth.
Eastern PA Trans Equity Project: Direct financial support for transgender residents of Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, and Chester Counties.
GALAEI: Transgender Women Involved in Strategies for Transformation (TWIST) program.
Hearts on a Wire: Direct financial support to trans and gender-variant community members incarcerated in state prisons in Pennsylvania.
Resilience Resource Center: Program and financial support for trans individuals.
The Welcome Project PA: Direct financial support to trans individuals.
Therapy Center of Philadelphia: Subsidized mental health services for trans individuals.
Valley Youth House - Pride Program: Direct financial support to trans and gender non-conforming young adults. Grants funds also support paid fellowships for Black trans and gender non-conforming young people.
William Way Community Center: Direct financial support for trans individuals.
YHEP Health Center @ Philadelphia FIGHT: Direct financial support for trans and nonbinary youth under the age of 27.
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Attic Youth Center: Direct financial support to trans youth.
Eastern PA Trans Equity Project: Direct financial support for transgender residents of Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, and Chester Counties.
Hearts on a Wire: Direct financial support to trans and gender-variant community members incarcerated in state prisons in Pennsylvania.
Ninth Planet: Programming for trans women to accompany Fallawayinto performance series
Philly Trans March: Organizing & advocacy for trans communities via marches, protests, and trainings for the trans community.
SisTers PHL: Direct financial support & services for trans individuals.
The Welcome Project PA: Subsidized therapy sessions for the trans community.
Valley Youth House - Pride Program: Direct financial support to trans and gender non-conforming young adults. Grants funds also support paid fellowships for Black trans and gender non-conforming young people.
William Way Community Center: Direct financial support for trans individuals with transition-related expenses.
YHEP Health Center @ Philadelphia FIGHT: Direct financial support for trans and nonbinary youth under the age of 27.
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Ark of Safety: Direct financial support for the Philly transgender community through meals, medical expenses, rapid rehousing funds, and gender-affirming materials.
Attic Youth Center: Direct financial support to trans youth who need financial help with housing, medical bills, transportation, and basic needs.
Breakthrough Healing Group: Mental Health and wellness opportunities for the trans community.
Eastern PA Trans Equity Project: Direct financial support for legal name changes, rent assistance, food assistance, clothing, mutual aid, and educational scholarships for transgender residents of Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, and Chester Counties.
Genderfunk Philly: Paid fellowships and community building for trans artists.
Hearts on a Wire: Direct financial support to trans and gender-variant community members incarcerated in state prisons in Pennsylvania.
Philly Trans March: Organizing & advocacy for trans communities via marches, protests, and trainings for the trans community.
The Welcome Project PA: Direct financial support for rental assistance, utility bills, education, and medical bills. Grant funds also support subsidized therapy sessions for the trans community.
Valley Youth House - Pride Program: Direct financial support to trans and gender non-conforming young adults to help with costs related to mental and physical health, housing, food, and other direct needs. Grants funds also support paid fellowships for Black trans and gender non-conforming young people.
William Way Community Center: Direct financial support for trans individuals with transition-related expenses.
YHEP Health Center @ Philadelphia FIGHT: Direct financial support for trans and nonbinary youth under the age of 27 for out-of-pocket expenses related to medical supplies and gender-affirming care, transportation, and basic needs.
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Attic Youth Center: Rental support, Grocery cards, and other assistance for trans youth.
Hearts on a Wire: Financial support for incarcerated trans individuals.
Hibiscus Rose Therapy Fund: Vouchers for trans people needing evaluations for gender-affirming care; training for mental health professionals to increase the number able to complete evaluations; and subsidized therapy services for Black trans individuals.
Housing Reparations Group Skill Development Collective: Training, staffing, and materials costs for specific building project.
The Black Visioning Group: Rental support for housing-insecure trans individuals
Valley Youth House: Support with rental and other housing costs for trans youth leaving the Pride Program. Up to 50% of grant funds can also be used to support the Trans Youth Fellowship Program.
William Way LGBT Community Center: Grants to trans individuals to support costs related to transitioning.
Y-HEP Health Center @ Philadelphia FIGHT: Grants for trans youth to cover any expenses related to maintaining health including medication and co-pay costs, housing, food, transportation, etc
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Attic Youth Center: Rental support, grocery cards, and other assistance for trans youth.
Coalition For Black Trans Economic Liberation: Rental support for Black housing-insecure trans individuals
Genderfunk Philly: Fellowships for 9 BIPOC trans/non-binary artists
Hearts on a Wire: Financial support for incarcerated trans individuals.
Philly Trans March: Operations costs for Trans March and other events – primarily stipends for trans speakers/ moderators/ facilitators.
The Black Visioning Group: Rental support for Black housing-insecure trans individuals
The Welcome Project PA: Trans-specific programming at SAGA Center.
Valley Youth House: Support with rental and other housing costs for trans youth leaving the Pride Program.
William Way LGBT Community Center: Grants of $500-$1,000 to trans individuals to support costs related to transitioning.
Y-HEP Health Center @ Philadelphia FIGHT: Grants of up to $400 for trans youth to cover any expenses related to maintaining health including uncovered medication and co-pay costs, housing, transportation, food, etc.