KALAMAZOO –
The Arcus Foundation announced a new list of grants totaling $9.6 million in the final 2007 round, taking the total amount granted out last year up to $16.8 million. Over 90 percent of the funds are awarded to LGBT organizations and projects, and the remaining $783,000 was awarded to groups in great ape conservation.
The Arcus Foundation's total 2007 awards puts it in league with the Gill Foundation of Colorado, which awarded $15.4 million in 2006 to LGBT groups.
Michigan received a large portion of the new funding, with $994,650 given directly to Michigan-based organizations. In addition, the largest single grant in this cycle for $2 million was awarded to the American Civil Liberties Union in New York, of which $1 million is earmarked for the Michigan ACLU affiliate to advance LGBT rights here.
"Obviously we are thrilled by the vote of confidence that Arcus has shown to the ACLU for our work both for LGBT rights and racial justice," said Kary Moss, executive director of ACLU of Michigan. "We are going to be adding more personnel, which means more program in our legal, communications and field programs. We will also be adding a western Michigan office. More of the ACLU staff will be able to work on LGBT issues."
Moss explained that the $1 million from Arcus for the Michigan operation is part of a four year, $3 million package from the national ACLU to expand the Michigan ACLU, which is moving to a new, larger, state-of-the-art facility in Detroit in May.
Arcus grants $9.6M more, mostly for LGBT groups
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