A local grantmaking organization that has provided significant support to the LGBT community recently elected an openly gay man to help guide its governance.
Duane Perry assumed the role of vice chair of the board of managers of The Philadelphia Foundation last month.
The organization manages more than 800 charitable funds in the five-county region that disperse about $15 million annually to 1,000 nonprofits and through scholarships.
About 20 of the agency’s component funds focus, either in whole or in part, on supporting the LGBT community, as well as several whose funds support HIV/AIDS causes.
Perry, the founder of the Food Trust, which works to enhance access to nutritional food, was originally elected to the board in 2004.
“Philadelphia Foundation does amazing work in the region, and I was very much attracted to the organization by its mission of helping communities throughout the region grow and prosper, in particular those that serve communities of lower-income folks,” he said.
Perry was originally recommended as a board member by Jim Bryson, a longtime leader in the LGBT community, and he said the agency has a long record of funding LGBT causes.
“The Foundation has been involved in the LGBT community since its early days,” he said. “It was really the first philanthropic organization that first became involved in AIDS. And then after that it became the place that housed, and in effect founded, [LGBT grantmaking organization] Delaware Valley Legacy Fund along with a group of LGBT and ally leaders. So they have always been committed to the community.”
In the past two years, The Philadelphia Foundation has provided nearly $1 million in grants and scholarships to LGBT organizations and students.
Having out community leaders involved in agencies that can shape and influence LGBT community organizations is an important investment in the future of the community, Perry said.
“It’s always helpful to have LGBT people in positions throughout the community because first we represent a face to folks who are not themselves LGBT. So it’s helpful on both a personal and professional level,” he said. “And it’s important that LGBT community members have a say in guiding policies and making critical decisions in organizations that serve broader communities because they can also impact the LGBT community. Having LGBT people at the table helps those decisions be sufficient to address the needs of the LGBT community.”
Ensuring the community’s needs are met will be a top priority of his tenure as vice chair, Perry said.
“I would like to see Philadelphia Foundation continue to grow and prosper because our prosperity directly impacts the LGBT community,” he said. “I’d love to see more LGBT people get involved in creating donor-advised funds in the organization because that’s a very big opportunity for our community. And I want to see the organization continue to help DVLF grow and continue the great work that they’re doing in our community.”
Perry’s term as vice chair will last for one year.
In addition to Perry, the board elected Lawrence Beaser as chair and William Bullitt as treasurer.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].