Founding members:
Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies • Lesbian and Gay Community Appeal Foundation of Toronto
• Buddies in Bad Times Theatre • Central Toronto Youth Services • Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line •
Inside Out Toronto Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival • Pride Toronto • EGALE Canada
The Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives • The 519 Community Centre •
Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto • Xtra • The Lambda Foundation

Leading Organizations Join Forces to Present Canada's first LGBT Philanthropy Conference

TD Waterhouse title sponsor; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
consumers in Canada have an estimated disposable income of more than
$75 billion

Toronto -- March 4, 2008: A group of organizations from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities have joined together under the banner of the "LGBT Giving Network" to organize a one-day conference on philanthropy issues in the LGBT community.

The LGBT Philanthropy in Canada Conference, planned for Saturday April 5, will be a major gathering of philanthropic-minded individual leaders, volunteers, organizations and companies. It will include workshops, panel discussions, receptions and keynote speakers.

“This is a landmark conference for our communities,” explained Philip Wong, executive director of the Lesbian and Gay Community Appeal Foundation, a Toronto-based funding agency for organizations and individuals in the LGBT community. “The LGBT community has grown immensely in stature and sophistication, and the time is now right to talk about philanthropy from our communities supporting our own agencies so they remain relevant and strong.”

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) consumers in Canada have an estimated annual disposable income of more than $75 billion. (1)

The conference is designed to examine in depth for the first time philanthropy, sponsorship and leadership giving and volunteerism in the Canadian LGBT communities, and explore how to increase awareness and broaden financial support by
individuals, foundations and corporations to meet the LGBT communities’ future needs. The conference has received major support from TD Waterhouse as the title sponsor of the event.

“This is a great fit for us, as TD has long been a sponsor of the LGBT community in Canada and advising our clients on philanthropic planning is big focus for TD Waterhouse," said Jo-Anne Ryan, Vice President, Philanthropic Advisory Services, TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. "We're proud to support this first conference of its kind, as the LGBT community turns its attention to securing the financial success of the institutions and agencies built to date, and those still to come."

Topics for the panel discussions will include: LGBT Philanthropy in Canada and the US; Planned Giving for the LGBT Community; Women and Philanthropy in the LGBT Community; Making the Case for Support of LGBT Causes and Issues and Managing Senior Volunteers to Help Your Organization Raise More Money, among others. Participants and speakers will feature leaders from within the LGBT and philanthropic communities in Toronto, across Canada and in the United States. Conference events will take place on the University College campus at the University of Toronto.

The LGBT Giving Network is a network of organizations that are working together to engage and cultivate lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and allied donors to ensure LGBT charities are able to grow in a highly competitive non-profit environment and help secure leadership gifts and long-term financial support to build stronger LGBT communities in Canada.

Members of the Network include the Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies, Lesbian and Gay Community Appeal Foundation, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line, Inside Out Toronto Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival, Pride Toronto, the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives, EGALE Canada, the 519 Church Street Community Centre, the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto, Lambda Foundation and Xtra!.

The LGBT Philanthropy in Canada Conference will be the Network's first event. The group also has a long term vision of ongoing activity including producing educational events, providing information resources, assisting with capacity building, conducting research projects and more.

Complete conference information, including online registration, will be available from the Network’s website at www.lgbtgiving.com beginning March 7.

(1) Reference: www.iveybusinessjournal.com/article.asp?intArticle_ID=711

For more conference or sponsorship information, please contact:

Philip Wong
Executive Director, LGCA Foundation
416-920-5422
info@lgca.ca

Ken Aucoin
Director of Alumni & Development
University College
University of Toronto
(416) 978-7482
ken.aucoin@utoronto.ca