The Bayard Rustin Fund

Travel Support Fund for People of Color This fund is intended for support of Persons of Color to be used to defray the costs of travel to FGC sponsored meetings and other activities, including the Summer Gathering, and was initiated by a generous gift from Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Concerns. Click here for the application.

The Bayard Rustin Fund was established by the Committee on Nurturing Ministries in February, 2015 at our meeting in Atlanta, Ga. This fund was seeded with a donation by Friends for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer Concerns to be used to defray the costs of travel to the FGC Summer Gathering by Persons of Color. In order to support broader participation by People of Color in FGC sponsored activities and meetings, the CNM has minuted, and Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Concerns have agreed that the fund may be used to support travel for activities beyond the FGC Summer Gathering.

The Bayard Rustin Fund was able to provide travel support for a couple of People of Color to participate in the 2015 Summer Gathering of Friends.

Given the limited amount of money we have available for grants, and in our attempt to provide equal support for Friends, we may not be able to grant continuous support for Friends who had received aid more than two times from Bayard Rustin Fund. We look forward to a future in which we will have fewer limitations on funding. We encourage those who were unable to receive aid to seek other avenues of support through their Monthly and Yearly Meetings, as well as other sources of financial assistance through FGC.

Please make a donation today. Your contribution will make it possible for us to build the Bayard Rustin Fund so that we can continue to defray the costs of travel for People of Color to the FGC’s Summer Gatherings and other FGC sponsored events and meetings. You can donate during your Gathering registration or donate using this form with a credit card.

To ensure mutual accountability and to help our discernment process, starting July 1, 2018, all Friends requesting grants are required to submit a  travel budget that fully details the amount of grant requested and how the funds received will be spent. We have provided a travel budget document that includes space to list all expenses and sources of funding. Please submit your completed application along with the required travel budget. Unfortunately, due to our limited fund, only in exceptional circumstances will a grant exceed $300 for any given event. 

Please download the Bayard Rustin Fund Travel Budget Form through the attachment link below, and submit it via email to [email protected]