We’ve never received a single grant.
Not from Capital Pride Alliance. Not from city funding.
Every event we’ve built — for nearly 9 years — has been made possible by your donations at the door, your side donations, and our own pockets.
And still, we show up.
Still, we build.
Still, we create space for queer, Latinx, immigrant joy — because our community deserves it.
But it’s time to start speaking on what really happens behind closed doors.
The community deserves to know.
We applied for funding early this year.
We were told our application wasn’t received.
Asked for an escalation — rejected within 24 hours.
No transparency. No conversation. Just silence.
We know we’re not alone — other grassroots organizers have been met with the same treatment.
While some great orgs did receive support, many of us doing the work year-round were left out, while business interests and “favorites” got funded.
We’re not here to play games.
We’re here to ask the real questions.
And we’ll keep building, with or without support — but not in silence anymore.
This is our community too. We’re building our own table. 💪
And one thing about us: we’re Latinas — we speak up, we call it out, and we fight for justice and fairness. www.tastetakeover.com
#TasteTakeover #Receipts #LatinxQueerPride #PrideWithAccountability #WeAreTheCommunity #GrassrootsPower #FundTheRealWork #DCNonprofits #CapitalPride #TransparencyNow #BehindTheCurtain #BuildingOurOwnTable #LatinasSpeakUp
Grassroots organizers within the Latinx and queer communities often face significant challenges securing public funding and grants for their vital events and initiatives. Despite their ongoing contributions to community building and promoting immigrant joy, many such groups report systemic favoritism and a lack of transparency in funding processes, as seen in the denial of their grant applications while large sums were awarded to other organizations like Capital Pride Alliance, which reportedly received $900,000 in public funds. This issue reflects broader concerns about equitable resource distribution and the marginalization of grassroots efforts by institutional gatekeepers. The denied funding not only limits the capacity of such organizers to deliver inclusive and culturally relevant programming but also raises questions about political influence and favoritism within nonprofit funding ecosystems. Transparency and accountability are growing demands among these communities, with calls for clearer criteria and open communication during grant application reviews. Many leaders emphasize that their work fills unique gaps left by larger organizations, especially in centering Latinx queer immigrant voices that often go unheard. Recognizing and adequately supporting these grassroots initiatives is essential to fostering diverse, vibrant celebrations and safe spaces that authentically represent their communities. Public funders and nonprofits should strive to create equitable funding practices that prioritize impact over politics and favoritism, ensuring that all deserving entities can sustain their operations without having to rely solely on donations and personal investment. Ultimately, the movement to "build our own table" represents resilience and empowerment, encouraging Latinx queer organizers to continue advocating for justice and fairness. Addressing systemic barriers and embracing transparency will be key steps in strengthening the fabric of community pride and solidarity.
