Grant and Funding Programs Offered by LGBT Purge Fund (LGBT)

Role of the LGBT Purge Fund in the funding ecosystem

The LGBT Purge Fund is a Canadian not‑for‑profit corporation established to manage a portion of the $145 million settlement arising from the LGBT Purge class action against the Government of Canada. The Fund received over $23.7 million and, under binding court orders, must disburse all funds by June 30, 2027. Its mandate is tightly focused on reconciliation and memorialization related to the decades‑long persecution of 2SLGBTQI+ members of the Canadian Armed Forces, RCMP and federal public service.

Within this mandate, the organization operates as a targeted funder. It leads several large, court‑mandated projects — notably Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ National Monument in Ottawa, major exhibitions with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the collection and public release of historical records, and work with federal institutions to improve 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion training. Alongside these flagship initiatives, it administers community grants to individuals, charities, universities, cultural producers and other organizations across Canada whose projects memorialize the LGBT Purge or support those affected.

Community grants and funded projects

The community grants program provides project‑based funding, generally up to a published per‑grant maximum and within an annual budget determined by the Board of Directors. Funded activities have included documentary films, podcasts, books and memoirs, artistic works, theatre productions, academic and medical research, educational resources, conferences, veterans’ support initiatives and endowments such as the LGBT Purge Fellowship at McGill University’s Faculty of Law. The Fund publishes examples of past recipients with grant amounts and project descriptions, demonstrating a broad but thematically coherent portfolio.

Calls for proposals are time‑limited; for example, the 2026 call earmarks $250,000 in total with a maximum of $25,000 per grant, with detailed guidelines and application information made available online. Projects must clearly align with the Fund’s legal mandate by commemorating the LGBT Purge, educating the public, advancing justice for 2SLGBTQI+ communities or directly supporting survivors and their families.

Governance, transparency and legal framework

The Fund is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors composed entirely of LGBT Purge survivors, supported by an Executive Director. Its responsibilities and spending authorities are defined in the Final Settlement Agreement and subsequent supplementary agreements approved by the Federal Court. These agreements specify the nature of eligible projects, timelines for disbursement and reporting obligations.

To support transparency and accountability, the LGBT Purge Fund publishes audited financial statements for each fiscal year and provides detailed information on its major projects and grantmaking priorities. Once its four core project areas are complete and all funds are allocated, the organization is legally required to wind down and dissolve, marking the completion of this unique, survivor‑driven reconciliation fund.