“I wish the world could be like this every day.” -Youth participant
Your donation makes more days like this possible.
Why Your Gift Matters
Youth registration fees at SOGIEcon are intentionally kept low, because we never want cost to be the reason a young person can’t attend. But the true cost of putting a student on a bus, handing them a badge, and welcoming them into a day that might change their life is far higher than what families and schools pay.
The gap is filled by donors. People and organizations who believe that every LGBTQIA+ young person deserves to walk into a room of 2,500 peers and know, maybe for the first time, that they are not alone.
Ways to Give
One-Time Donation
Any amount makes a difference. A gift of $35 covers a student’s registration. A gift of $150 covers a student’s registration and contributes to their transportation. A gift of $500 covers an entire classroom’s registration fees.
Reoccurring Gift
Consider setting up a monthly or annual gift to SOGIEcon. Recurring donors provide the stable, predictable funding that helps us plan further in advance and serve more students each year.
Give in Honor or Memory
Make a gift in honor of an LGBTQIA+ person in your life, or in memory of someone whose story deserves to be carried forward. Honoree gifts can be acknowledged in conference materials upon request.
Employer Matching
Many employers match charitable contributions made by their employees, sometimes doubling or tripling the impact of your gift. Check with your HR department to find out if your company participates in a matching gift program.
Planned Giving
If you are interested in including SOGIEcon in your estate planning or making a major gift, please contact us directly at [EMAIL TBD]. We would be honored to speak with you about the lasting impact a planned gift can have on generations of LGBTQIA+ youth.
In-Kind Contributions
SOGIEcon gratefully accepts in-kind contributions that support the conference experience. Past in-kind support has included printing and signage, food and beverages, conference bags and giveaways, technology and AV support, and accessibility services. Contact us to discuss how your organization can contribute.
Where Your Money Goes
Scholarship Fund
Scholarships directly offset the cost of conference registration for students who could not otherwise attend. Every gift to the scholarship fund translates into a seat for a young person who needs this experience most. This is the highest-impact use of individual donations.
Transportation Support
Many students attend SOGIEcon on school-organized field trips, with buses arranged and paid for by their schools or districts. But not every school can cover that cost. Transportation scholarships help bridge the gap for schools and students who would otherwise be left out.
Accessible Programming
SOGIEcon is committed to full accessibility, which means sign language interpreters, live captioning, mobility accommodations, and more. These services are expensive and non-negotiable. Donations help ensure we never have to choose between inclusion and budget.
Youth Programming & Performers
The keynote performers, artists, and youth-centered programming that make SOGIEcon feel different from any other conference require dedicated funding. Donations support stipends for performers and presenters who bring this experience to life.
“Yes, this truly was a remarkable experience. I am so proud and beyond grateful to have been a part of it especially with this incredible group of people. … Our students and staff are forever grateful. Thank you everyone for making this possible for our students to participate and enjoy. There are no words to describe the profound effect this event had on our students and staff that attended. I was struck by the courage and bravery our students had to share their story and offer all of us hope during this time. I was brought to tears by our students supporting each other and feeling heard. I hope this experience is one we all hold on to as a reminder that no one can tell us who we are and that we aren’t going anywhere.”