It’s Giving Vibes: Building a Queer-Inclusive Brand That Actually Works

Dear nonprofit leaders and professionals,

If you’ve spent any amount of time online near Gen Z, you’ve probably heard the phrase “It’s giving…” used to describe a look, a moment, or an energy that hits just right. In fundraising and nonprofit communications, your brand gives off vibes too, and Queer communities are paying attention.

Too often, nonprofits mistake rainbow logos or seasonal posts for inclusion. But surface-level gestures without substance don’t build trust, and they definitely don’t inspire Queer donors to give. A brand that actually works for LGBTQIA+ communities is built on alignment, authenticity, and action, not aesthetics alone.

Here’s how to move from vibes to values in building a Queer-inclusive brand.

1. Align Your Brand With Your Values

Queer donors and allies want to know: do your visuals, messaging, and partnerships reflect who you say you are?

• If your mission includes equity, but your website only features cisgender, heterosexual families, that disconnect is glaring.

• If you highlight Pride Month but stay silent on anti-Trans legislation, that’s not alignment, that’s avoidance.

Tip: Audit your brand through a Queer lens. Where do your materials uplift LGBTQIA+ voices? Where do they erase or ignore us?

2. Show Queer Representation Year-Round

A Queer-inclusive brand doesn’t mean only rolling out the rainbows in June. It means consistent, visible representation in your storytelling, social media, and donor communications.

• Feature LGBTQIA+ families, leaders, and staff in photos and stories.

• Use gender-inclusive language in your appeals (“partners,” “parents,” “they”).

• Normalize pronouns in staff bios and donor recognition.

Representation shows donors you don’t just celebrate us when it’s convenient, you see us as part of your community every day.

3. Avoid Performative Gestures

Queer donors can spot tokenism a mile away. A Pride flag in your lobby doesn’t make up for discriminatory policies. A rainbow filter on your logo doesn’t cover up the lack of LGBTQIA+ leadership in your org.

Ask yourself: Do your actions match your branding? If not, fix the substance before tweaking the aesthetics.

4. Invest in Relationships, Not Just Campaigns

A brand is more than colors and fonts, it’s the emotional connection people feel when they engage with your work. Queer donors want to feel respected, represented, and part of the story.

• Engage with Queer-led organizations and share their platforms.

• Compensate LGBTQIA+ partners for their time and expertise.

• Build authentic collaborations instead of extractive campaigns.

When your brand is rooted in relationships, your fundraising becomes more sustainable AND more inclusive.

5. Make Joy Central

Yes, Queer communities face real harm, and your brand should acknowledge those truths. But don’t stop there. Show the joy, brilliance, and resilience of LGBTQIA+ people. Queer joy isn’t frivolous: it’s revolutionary.

Tip: Balance urgency with celebration. Your brand should reflect not only what we’re fighting against but also what we’re building together.

The Bottom Line

It’s giving vibes but is it giving authenticity, inclusion, and action? A Queer-inclusive brand that actually works is one where your values shine through, your representation is intentional, and your relationships are real.

Queer communities deserve more than token gestures. We deserve to see ourselves reflected in the missions we invest in, and when your brand delivers on that promise, your donors will too.

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>.