How to Know If You’re Ready to Hire Queer Here (And What to Do If You’re Not)
Dear nonprofits & hiring managers,
At Queer For Hire, we talk to a lot of nonprofits and companies who say they want to prioritize LGBTQIA+ hiring. But here’s the truth: good intentions don’t automatically translate into inclusive workplaces.
That’s why we created our brand-new guide: “Am I Ready to Hire Queer Here?” which is a free checklist and roadmap to help straight-led nonprofits and ally organizations assess their readiness to hire, support, and retain LGBTQIA+ staff, with a particular emphasis on QTBIPOC (Queer & Trans Black, Indigenous, People of Color) candidates.
Because if your culture isn’t ready, hiring Queer staff isn’t inclusion, it’s tokenization.
Why Readiness Matters
Hiring LGBTQIA+ staff isn’t just about filling a position. It’s about creating an environment where they can thrive, lead, and contribute authentically. Without cultural readiness, Queer staff often face microaggressions, erasure, or burnout, leading to high turnover and harm for both employees and the organization.
Readiness means:
Your policies, benefits, and practices affirm LGBTQIA+ identities.
Leadership knows how to show up as allies in real, actionable ways.
You’ve thought about intersectionality, including race, gender identity, class, and disability, in your workplace culture.
You’re ready to celebrate Queer brilliance, not just tolerate Queer presence.
Signs You’re Not Ready (Yet)
If you’re not there yet, don’t panic. That’s why we built this guide. Some red flags that you’ve got more work to do include:
No clear protections for gender identity and sexual orientation in your policies.
Staff aren’t trained in LGBTQIA+ cultural competency.
Leadership sees Queer hiring as “nice to have,” not mission-critical.
Your recruitment pool doesn’t include LGBTQIA+ networks or communities.
What to Do If You’re Not Ready
If your organization isn’t ready, the worst thing you can do is stay in denial. The best thing you can do is start.
Here are three first steps:
Download the guide and walk through the readiness checklist with your leadership team.
Prioritize training for staff and board so you can create a culture that supports LGBTQIA+ hires from day one.
Engage Queer consultants and partners (like Queer For Hire!) to help you identify gaps and implement strategies that align with your mission.
A Tool for Growth, Not Guilt
The “Am I Ready to Hire Queer Here?” Guide isn’t a test to pass or fail. It’s a tool to spark reflection and action. If you’re not ready yet, you’ll walk away with a roadmap for how to get there. If you are ready, you’ll be equipped to hire and retain Queer staff in a way that strengthens your whole organization.
Ready to find out if you’re ready?
Download the free guide here
Because hiring Queer staff isn’t just a DEI checkbox, it’s a commitment to equity, authenticity, and building the future of our sector.
Sincerely,
Queers
Queer For Hire provides fundraising support to Queer nonprofits, LGBTQIA+ cultural competency to straight-led organizations and corporations, and individual coaching for Queer professionals.
Learn about our Fundraising Services <here> – we’ll lead or support your fundraising efforts, whether you need general support or want to focus on raising money from and for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Learn about our Fundraising Trainings <here> – we can coach your board, staff, and fundraising team on how to fundraise and how to engage LGBTQIA+ donors.
Learn about our other services <here> or our resources <here>.
