Losing $900,000 in federal money, Milwaukee LGBT Community Center is fundraising to ensure it stays open
The Milwaukee LGBT Community Center is asking for community help against what it calls "a threat to our existence, programming and rich legacy."
The center has recently lost two vital forms of federal funding, leaving a $900,000 shortfall in its $1.3 million annual operating budget.
It's aiming to raise $540,000 within 12 months to ensure that the center can keep its doors open.
"It is my absolute hope that we can sustain this organization, because it not only means a lot to me, but to the people who walk through these doors each and every day," said Ritchie T. Martin Jr., the center's executive director.
The center lost a grant from the federal Office of Violence Against Women, which awarded some grants specifically for LGBT centers' programs. The office in May updated its grant guidelines after President Donald Trump's executive order targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
The center also gets federal funding from the Victims of Crime Act. That money comes from fines and penalties collected in federal criminal court causes, not taxpayer dollars.
Wisconsin's funding from the program dropped from $40 million to $13 million in 2024, Martin said. It's used to support the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center and other nonprofits throughout the state. The Milwaukee center received $400,000 from VOCA funding, he said.
More: What to know about VOCA funding cuts for crime victim services
The loss of funding may force staff cuts and service reductions, just as demand is surging, according to Martin.
"The more we see funding cuts, the more we will see programs across Milwaukee County disappear," Martin said.
The center provides services for the LGBT community that include mental health counseling, senior and youth programming, a food pantry and access to a community closet.
While LGBT people can visit the center for critical services, Martin said people also rely on it as somewhere to belong to. Without the center, he said, the LGBT community will face more depression, more anxiety and might feel socially isolated.
"The community center is not just a service," he said. "It's a lifeline for some people."