Pride Foundation
 | |
| Founder | Allan Tonning |
|---|---|
| Type | LGBT philanthropic foundation |
| Focus | Scholarships, grants, fellowships and initiatives |
| Location |
|
Area served | Pacific Northwest, U.S. |
Key people | Kris Hermanns, Executive Director |
Employees | 17 |
| Website | pridefoundation |
The Pride Foundation is an LGBT philanthropic foundation in the Pacific Northwest. It was founded in 1985,[1] and has issued over $8 million in grants [2] and over $1.65 million to the more than 50 scholarships it manages.[3][4] In 1993, when The Pride Foundation first began granting scholarships it partnered with the Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) to collaborate on a joint application process.[5]
History
The Foundation's first president was Allan Tonning, a small businessman who donated $1.2 million, dying just a year after helping set up the organization.[6]
In 1995, the Foundation was part of a shareholder proxy initiative which convinced McDonald's Corporation to extend its non-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation. In March 2000, the initiative convinced General Electric to include orientation in both its policy and its diversity training program.[7]
On February 24, 2008, Pride Foundation announced that former Microsoft employee Ric Weiland (d. 2006) had bequeathed $65 million to support gay rights and HIV/AIDS organizations - the largest-ever single bequest for the LGBT community.[8] Through his estate, Weiland established a fund at the Pride Foundation that will provide $46 million over the next eight years to 10 national LGBT and HIV/AIDS organizations[9] that he personally selected and $19 million directly to Pride Foundation[10] for their scholarships and grants supporting the Northwest's LGBT community.[9][11] Weiland, one of the first five people to work at Microsoft, was a Foundation Board member for several years.[10]
On December 10, 2009, the Foundation was given a Seattle Human Rights Award [12] for its advocacy for the LGBT community.
See also
References
- ^ "Our History". Pride Foundation. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
- ^ Pride Foundation, Grants overview
- ^ Pride Foundation, Scholarships overview
- ^ "Pride Foundation scholarship deadline is Jan. 31 - Volume 38 Issue 03". SGN. January 15, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
- ^ "Greater Seattle Business Association | Scholarships". Thegsbascholarship.org. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
- ^ Gary Atkins, Gay Seattle: stories of exile and belonging. University of Washington Press, 2003, p. 346
- ^ Raeburn, Nicole Christine (2004). Changing corporate America from inside out: lesbian and gay workplace rights. U of Minnesota Press. p. 127.
- ^ "Pride Foundation, Rick Weiland leaves $65 million to support Gay Rights and HIV/AIDS Organizations" (PDF). Retrieved February 4, 2010.
- ^ a b Heim, Kristi (Feb 24, 2008). "Seattle man who helped launch Microsoft left $65M for gay rights". Seattle Times. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
- ^ a b Gillespie, Elizabeth M. (February 25, 2008). "Estate gives millions for gay rights". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
- ^ Ustinova, Anastasia (March 31, 2008). "Philanthropists ensure gay community's future". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved May 10, 2008.
- ^ seattle.gov, Seattle Human Rights Day
