About
New Harvest Foundation is the only foundation in Dane County that channels charitable contributions exclusively to organizations working to promote LGBTQIA+ rights, services, culture and community development. Founded in 1984, New Harvest Foundation is operated by a volunteer Board of Directors and and assisted by a team of friends. It pools contributions of hundreds of donors each year to provide grant money to LGBTQIA+ causes.
As a Foundation, we raise funds from the broad community through events and fund raising campaigns. Contributors may designate their tax-deductible gifts to the Grants Program or to the Endowment. In 1996 the Foundation established an endowment to expand its financial base and to ensure a prosperous future.
As a Foundation, we raise funds from the broad community through events and fund raising campaigns. Contributors may designate their tax-deductible gifts to the Grants Program or to the Endowment. In 1996 the Foundation established an endowment to expand its financial base and to ensure a prosperous future.
OUR HISTORY
The year prior to New Harvest Foundation’s inception, 1983, was a time of great strides in the LGBTQIA+ community, yet there were also set backs. President Ronald Reagan was in the White House and Governor Tony Earl was in the East Wing. Wisconsin passed the Gay Rights law, the first of its kind in the nation, but Wisconsin also recorded its first AIDS case. Larger communities in Wisconsin had recently started lesbian and gay foundations. However, the South Central area did not have a foundation; naturally the next step was to create one. However, resources from the community to fund needed services were paltry. One of the main sources of income for community organizations was volunteers doing the coat check at the local gay bar. Party loving friends Dick Wagner and Dan Curd, along with other friends started to host theme events to help. An “Alice B. Toklas Birthday Party” for the United, “A Night on Key West” for the Gay Center, and other events also helped raise some cash.
THE PLANNINGNew Harvest took root when a group of young professionals met in the house of 739 Jennifer Street to discuss the creation of the foundation. Here the founders formed the structure, mission, and principles of what would be the New Harvest Foundation. A self-renewing board, which would have gender parity, would head the foundation. This board would work to pool funds from the potential donor community and award grants to organizations supporting the enrichment of LGBTQIA+ communities in South Central Wisconsin. The founders recruited, among others, Dane District Attorney James Doyle, Jr., who had supported the Dane County nondiscrimination ordinance and agreed to lend support to the foundation.
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THE NAMEOne of the big questions was what to call the Foundation. Most of the others around the country had moved toward not explicitly including gay or lesbian in the name. Milwaukee’s foundation was known as Cream City, based on the predominant brick color from which many of the City’s buildings were constructed. The founders discussed the name for many months, considering attributes or symbols of the broader community, such as the theme of cows or “Dome.” Finally at one meeting Karla Dobinski suggested “New Harvest.” It draws on the vaguely agricultural linkages and Midwestern nature of Dane County. It implies that this is new work of bringing in bounty that has been cultivated but not yet reaped for the community. It also speaks to the hope we have for younger generations to be spared the grief experienced by older generations that grew up in the shadows. An early symbol used for the Foundation was a cornucopia patterned on the state coat of arms. However, under the Reagan era government we were cautioned not to mislead people into thinking we were an agricultural organization. Since then our symbol has morphed into what it is today in an attempt to dispel this confusion.
THE LAUNCHMost mainline fundraising efforts in the 1980’s set a monetary goal and then quietly raised a substantial sum to have for a launch announcement. At this time many gay/lesbian community organizations had annual budgets of $3,000 or less. A goal of $10,000 at first seemed wildly optimistic, but organizers and future board members dug deep and persuaded some friends to help reach that goal by the time the Foundation went public. Next, Mayor Joe Sensbrenner was asked and agreed to sponsor the kickoff event. The invites went out. And people came. And the New Harvest Foundation was launched with a great success and a toast to our future.
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RAISING MONEY
Most mainline fundraising efforts in the 1980’s set a monetary goal and then quietly raised a substantial sum to have for a launch announcement. At this time many gay/lesbian community organizations had annual budgets of $3,000 or less. A goal of $10,000 at first seemed wildly optimistic, but organizers and future board members dug deep and persuaded some friends to help reach that goal by the time the Foundation went public. Next, Mayor Joe Sensbrenner was asked and agreed to sponsor the kickoff event. The invites went out. And people came. And the New Harvest Foundation was launched with a great success and a toast to our future.
GIVING BACK
New Harvest Foundation is the only organization in Dane County dedicated to funding a spectrum of LGBTQIA+ issues. Most mainstream funders do not support LGBTQIA+ projects. NHF has a competitive grant process in the Spring and Fall of each year. Grants typically range from $300 to $3,000. We accept applications that address a range of issues impacting LGBTQIA+ communities, including Arts and Culture, Community Development, Health Care, Public Education, Social Change and Social Services. Grant applications and brochures are available upon request.
Since New Harvest Foundation began, we have awarded over $450,000 to over 200 grants of non-profits and individuals with fiscal agents. A wide range of established and fledgling organizations have received funds over the years.
Since New Harvest Foundation began, we have awarded over $450,000 to over 200 grants of non-profits and individuals with fiscal agents. A wide range of established and fledgling organizations have received funds over the years.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS |
BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
Melissa Hunt, Chair
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Benjamin Archer
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