Letter from the Director
September 15, 2008
Emory’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students, faculty, and staff are an important part of the university’s diverse global community. In the last fifteen years this community has worked to create one of the most open learning and working environments in the country, where individuals are not just tolerated but valued. Emory is listed among the top 100 most inclusive universities in the Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students and has earned 4.5 of 5 stars in the LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index, a national benchmarking tool launched in 2008 by a nonprofit organization called Campus Pride.
Although Emory University and the LGBT community have made great strides to create an inclusive environment, students continue to face unique challenges because of how they are perceived and treated as a result of their sexual and/or gender identity. Although often stereotyped as liberal meccas of progressive ideals, college campuses are not immune to harassment and discrimination of those who are different. In order to create an inclusive, safe environment, Emory University established the Office of Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender (LGBT) Life in 1991. LGBT Life is an administrative office housed within the Division of Campus Life at Emory, offering programs and services designed to encourage an open and welcoming environment for LGBT students and employees.
When Emory University opened the doors to the Office of LGBT Life, it joined nine other universities in the United States with similar offices, making it not only a pioneer in the Southeast, but also in the nation. Today, there are more than a hundred offices on university campuses across the country, and Emory University continues to be on the forefront of creating an inclusive environment for employees and students. To continue our leadership as a pioneering office and university, it is imperative that we continue to assess what programs, services, and support we offer our community. In addition, we must explore the many ways to develop resources that will enable us to improve and expand these services. Your support is critical in this process.
Please take the time to explore all the possibilities to see how your support can be used in a way that not only will have an impact on the community, but also will make you feel engaged in Emory's changing environment.
Please contact me if you have any questions or want to explore additional ways to get involved on campus.
Thank you for your support!
Michael D. Shutt Ph.D.
Director of the Office of LGBT Life
Assistant Dean for Campus Life
404-727-2136
Highlights of Investment Opportunities
PDF Case Statement
There are many opportunities for investment within the Office of LGBT Life. While endowed funds enable donors to make a gift that will benefit the organization perpetually, expendable funds also have great power. Gifts to the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Life will support:
Academic Programming. LGBT academic programs contribute to an inquiry-driven, ethically engaged, and diverse community. The lecture series brings renowned LGBT writers, researchers, and leaders to campus to engage in the relevant discussions of our time. The Faculty in Residence program will bring together LGBT faculty and students to support partnerships and mentoring at Emory. Finally, the Pride Banquet is an annual celebration of academic success, community leadership, and LGBT history at Emory.
Student Leadership Development. Leadership development prepares Emory students to work collaboratively for positive transformation in the world. The GALA LGBT Leadership Award provides a stipend based on financial need and a student’s leadership efforts to support and advocate for LGBT rights within the Emory community. Support for student leadership development will enable students to participate in programs and conferences that strengthen the leadership of LGBT advocates.
Physical Space and Resources. Creating an engaging physical space where the LGBT community feels supported and valued on campus is critical for the social, emotional, and educational development of students. Support for office improvements will provide furniture, technology, accessories, art, and structural changes to improve the overall support functions of the Office of LGBT Life. A gift in support of the LGBT Library Collection will contribute to the addition of educational videos, books, and journals. The materials will include documentaries on issues of faith, sexuality, gender, and race.
Educational and Awareness Programming. Educational programs and awareness campaigns engage the Emory community in social justice work to create systemic positive change for LGBT-identified individuals and families. Training will support communities of learners as they create dialogues around issues of intersecting identities. In addition, training will help Emory implement best practices in policies, programs, and support services for the LGBT community.
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Giving Opportunities Overview
PDF Case Statement
There are many opportunities for investment within the Office of LGBT Life. While endowed funds enable donors the opportunity to make a gift that will benefit the organization perpetually, non-endowed funds are an opportunity to make an impact through an expendable fund.
Endowed
$500,000-5 million – Naming Opportunities
Naming opportunities in the Office of LGBT Life provide a chance to champion the programming and support resources that the office offers to the campus community. Options range from naming specific areas within the office, such as the programming space, to naming the Office of LGBT Life in its entirety. Income generated from the LGBT endowment would provide, in perpetuity, an income stream to be used for staffing, programs, scholarships, and other support resources.
$500,000 – The (Name) Director of LGBT Life at Emory University
The Director of the Office of LGBT Life is a key leader in creating a vision for LGBT support and inclusion at Emory. Income generated from this endowment would provide, in perpetuity, an income stream for the director’s position, enabling the Office to fund additional programs and services.
$100,000 – The GALA Student Leadership Award Endowment at Emory University
The Gay and Lesbian Alumni (GALA), an affinity organization at Emory, plays an active role in the Office of LGBT Life. GALA created this award to provide a stipend based on financial need and a student’s leadership efforts to support and advocate for LGBT rights within the Emory community. The LGBT Office seeks to endow the initial $100,000 fund raised by GALA through the addition of at least $100,000 more.
$100,000 – The (Name) Pride Banquet at Emory University
Income generated from this endowment would secure provide, in perpetuity, an income stream to support this annual event to celebrate the accomplishments of students, faculty, staff, alumni/ae and the greater community.
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Non-endowed
$5,000 - $25,000 – LGBT Speaker Series
Support for the LGBT Speaker Series will enable the Office of LGBT Life to invite nationally and internationally recognized speakers to engage the greater Emory community during LGBT History month in October.
$1,000 - $25,000 – LGBT Office Space Improvements
Creating an engaging physical space is critical in the social, emotional and educational development of students. Support for office improvements will provide furniture, technology, accessories, art, and structural changes to improve the overall support functions of the Office of LGBT Life.
$5,000 - $15,000 – Stop the Hate
The program supports colleges and universities in bias and hate crime prevention efforts as well as fostering the development of community. The Train the Trainer program specifically allows top administrators, student affairs professionals, faculty and students to learn strategies to take action on hate crimes and bias-motivated violence issues.
$1,000 - $10,000 – Student Leadership Development
Support for student leadership development will enable students to participate in programs and conferences that support the development of strong LGBT advocates. One option will support students travel to the annual LGBT Undergraduate Leadership Camp. The five-day camp develops strong undergraduate student leaders and safer, more LGBT-friendly colleges and universities. Participants have the opportunity to learn valuable campus organizing skills, coalition building, and strategies for creating change at colleges and universities. Another option will support student travel to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Creating Change Conference. This conference provides an opportunity for students to develop strong leadership skills in addition to create strong national networks for their future advocacy work. In addition, these funds could be used to support conference registrations and travel for students participating in other leadership programs and conferences.
$1,000 - $10,000 – LGBT Library Collection
A gift in support of the LGBT Library Collection will contribute to the addition of educational videos, books, and journals. The materials will include documentaries on issues of faith, sexuality, gender, and race.
$5,000 - $10,000 – First-Year & Second-Year LGBT Leadership and Mentor Program
First-year students will be invited to participate in a program to grow as an engaged global citizen and leader during the first year at Emory. Second-year students in the program will be trained to provide much of the mentoring and leadership training for the first-year students.
$1,000 - $10,000 – We Are Emory Campaign
We Are Emory is a campaign to put a face on the LGBT community and the LGBT-allied community on campus. Students, faculty, and staff volunteer to identify themselves as LGBT. Support will provide resources for the development, design, and production of the campaign.
$1,000 - $10,000 – World AIDS Day: Names Project Quilt Display
Emory University hosts the largest campus display of the Names Project Quilt each year. Through the collaborative efforts on and off campus, this display provides awareness and education of the AIDS pandemic.
$1,000 - $5000 – Faculty in Residence Program
The Faculty in Residence Program provides an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to interact in an informal setting. It provides direct, out-of-the-classroom mentoring experience for students. Support for the Faculty in Residence Program will provide refreshments and other programming supplies.
$5,000 – Facing Trans: Inclusion, Advocacy, and Empowerment & Social Justice: When Diversity Isn’t Enough
These two programs are tailored for Emory's needs to educate active participants into social justice change agents, building a sense of awareness within themselves and others around judgments, assumptions, exclusion, privilege, and the like.
$5,000 – PRIDE Banquet
Support for the Pride Banquet will go directly to the direct costs associated with hosting this event each year.
$5,000 – LGBT Life News Publication
Support for the LGBT Life News Publication will create an LGBT Life magazine to educate members of the campus, community and alumni on current programs, services, events, and news.
Give today
Click HERE to download (pdf) the Office of LGBT Life pledge form.
Click HERE to download (pdf) the GALA Leadership Award pledge form.
Click HERE* to give online.
*YOU MUST SELECT THE FOLLOWING CATAGORIES IN THE APPROPRIATE DROP DOWN BOXES TO GIVE ONLINE:
Select Direction: CAMPUS LIFE
Select Fund: LGBT LIFE
Library Support
The Office of LGBT Life houses a library collection of over 1,500 books, videos and journals. This collection is used by faculty, staff, and students for personal growth, academic studies, and programatic purposes. There are several ways to give to the library. First, you may visit our Amazon.com wish list and have books and videos delivered directly to the Office of LGBT Life.
Click her for our list: Amazon.com wish list
Soon you will be able to order books via our local bookstores in Atlanta as well. Your gift will therefore be supporting the Office of LGBT Life and locally owned LGBT businesses in Atlanta. Stop back soon to find out more. |
