Why “Resilience” Has Become a Red Flag in Queer Philanthropy
Dear Queer and allied nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and funders,
“Your organization is so resilient.”
On the surface, that sounds like praise.
But in Queer philanthropy, resilience has started to feel less like a compliment and more like a warning sign. Because too often, when funders celebrate resilience, what they’re really saying is:
You’ve survived underfunding.
You’ve endured instability.
You’ve managed to do more with less.
You haven’t collapsed yet.
And survival is not the same thing as sustainability.
When Resilience Becomes Code for “We Won’t Fix the System”
Queer nonprofits are routinely asked to prove how scrappy, innovative, and flexible they are.
We are expected to:
Stretch small grants into full programs
Build volunteer-heavy infrastructure
Absorb political attacks
Pivot when funding disappears
Support communities through crisis after crisis
Then, when we do all of that successfully, we’re told we’re “resilient.” But resilience, in this context, often means the sector has normalized instability.
Instead of asking: “Why are these organizations underfunded in the first place?” We ask: “How are they managing to survive?”
That shift matters. Because resilience without resources becomes extraction.
Resilience Should Be a Choice, Not a Requirement
Queer communities are resilient. Historically, culturally, politically — yes!!!
We have built chosen families when biological ones rejected us.
We have organized when institutions failed us.
We have created art, mutual aid, advocacy networks, and entire parallel systems of care.
But philanthropy cannot continue to rely on our cultural resilience as a funding strategy.
Resilience should be:
A community strength
A leadership quality
A historical truth
It should not be:
A substitute for unrestricted funding
An excuse for short-term grants
A reason to avoid investing in infrastructure
When funders praise resilience but decline multi-year support, capacity investment, or staff sustainability, resilience becomes a red flag.
It signals that the burden of survival remains on the organization, not the sector.
The Emotional Cost of “Being Resilient”
There is another layer here that rarely gets discussed.
Resilience requires labor.
Emotional labor.
Administrative labor.
Relational labor.
Strategic labor.
When Queer leaders are constantly navigating:
Legislative hostility
Cultural backlash
Burnout
Staff turnover
Restricted funding
And still expected to “bounce back” – that isn’t strength. That’s exhaustion disguised as excellence.
Resilience culture in philanthropy rewards overextension. It celebrates organizations that:
Deliver impact without staff growth
Stretch budgets beyond reason
Continue programming despite funding gaps
Instead of asking: “How can we reduce the conditions that require resilience in the first place?”
What Funders Should Be Funding Instead
If philanthropy truly wants to support Queer communities in 2026 and beyond, we need a shift.
Fund stability.
Fund leadership development.
Fund infrastructure.
Fund multi-year growth.
Fund rest.
Fund planning time.
Fund salaries that retain talent.
Stop praising resilience as the outcome. Start funding the conditions that make resilience optional.
What Queer Organizations Can Do
While we continue to push the sector, Queer nonprofits can also reframe the narrative.
When reporting impact, include sustainability metrics like staff retention, leadership development, infrastructure growth.
Name the difference between crisis response and long-term strategy.
Advocate for multi-year commitments.
Resist the urge to overperform just to secure renewal funding.
Be honest about what survival actually costs.
We are allowed to want more than survival.
The Real Goal: Thriving
Resilience has its place in Queer history. But in Queer philanthropy, resilience should not be the ceiling. The goal is thriving.
Thriving looks like:
Joy funded alongside justice
Innovation funded alongside stability
Leadership that rests
Organizations that grow without crisis
If philanthropy continues to celebrate resilience while withholding the resources required for thriving, it is not honoring Queer strength, it is depending on it.
And that is not equity. It’s avoidance.
Resilience is powerful. But if resilience is the primary thing funders notice about Queer organizations, we should all pause and ask why. Because thriving should be the standard.
Not survival.
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>.
