Jesse Kraker and Kevin Gay have been longtime supporters of the LGBTQ Community Fund at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida. Last year, as the fund celebrated its 10th anniversary, Jesse and Kevin made a leadership gift of $100,000 to the fund’s endowment – helping bolster annual grantmaking in perpetuity. Continue reading to learn more about why this cause is important to them.
Q: Tell us a little bit about you, and why supporting the LGBTQ community has been important to you.
We love our Northeast Florida community. Kevin has lived here his whole life, and Jesse for 20 years. We want our community to be as welcoming to all people in all walks of life as we feel that it is for us. We know that that’s not the case for everyone. In particular, the LGBTQ community is one that doesn’t always feel accepted or welcome. We love that the LGBTQ Community Fund is focused on that mission (creating a welcoming community for LGBTQ individuals) and focused on supporting the organizations and programs that help the most vulnerable within the community.
Q: How have you been involved in the fund?
We have been involved since the inception in 2014. Kevin was on the initial steering committee and board, and Jesse took over that role for our family by serving for several years. During this time, we learned a lot more about the many challenges that the LGBTQ+ community face every day in our city. The fund exposed us to challenges that we otherwise would not have been aware of, and the many incredible organizations that are helping. Hearing from the organizations and how they are committed to supporting them was – and is – very inspiring for us.
Q: What do you think has been the greatest impact of the fund, and how is it different from what individual donors could do by supporting individual nonprofits?
It’s been incredible to see firsthand how our support has helped build greater capacity and efficiencies with a number of providers and learning how this support has impacted people across the region. It’s also been significant to see the visibility and awareness that has come from the LGBTQ Community Fund shining a light on these issues.
The great advantage of giving through the LGBTQ Community Fund at The Community Foundation versus giving on your own is the research, vetting and follow-up that takes place with every organization that is selected, and having a broader impact on the LGBTQ community versus just giving to a single organization. Making sure that there is a great return on investments is important to all of us. That’s what keeps so many of us involved.
Q: Why did you choose to support the fund last year, and what do you hope for it in the future?
Having had the opportunity to see and hear up close the challenges that many in our community face and seeing the impact that our support makes, we have made a multi-year commitment to support the Fund’s Endowment to ensure support for years to come. Knowing that this is something that will continue to give back and strengthen our community for decades to come is really special!
Learn more about the LGBTQ Community Fund on our website.