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Community Access Fund

Supporting forcibly displaced LGBTQI+ people through community-led solutions.

About the Community Access Fund

The Community Access Fund (CAF) is a new granting stream within Rainbow Railroad supporting LGBTQI+ asylum seekers in the United States and Canada . As a global charitable organization helping LGBTQI+ individuals escape violence and persecution, Rainbow Railroad has long recognized that relocation alone is not enough—newly arrived queer and trans migrants face profound barriers to safety, stability, and belonging.

The CAF was created in response to this need. Rooted in trust-based philanthropy, the Fund invests directly in local service providers, community activists, mutual aid networks, and grassroots organizations that support LGBTQI+ asylum seekers and other queer & trans migrants across the U.S. and Canada.

The guiding vision is simple: community organizations closest to displaced LGBTQI+ people are best positioned to meet their needs. The CAF strengthens these community-led responses by providing flexible, low-barrier micro-grants that expand access to essential services, community-building initiatives, and quality-of-life supports.

Community Access Fund Recipient Org

Why the Community Access Fund Exists

Bridging Gaps in Post-Relocation Support

LGBTQI+ newcomers frequently encounter significant barriers—unemployment, housing insecurity, legal precarity, isolation, lack of culturally competent services, and limited access to affirming healthcare. These challenges disproportionately impact asylum seekers and newly arrived migrants who have survived displacement and persecution abroad.

While community groups across the U.S. and Canada already provide vital support, they often lack sustainable funding. Many are volunteer-run, unregistered, or operating within mutual aid models traditionally excluded from philanthropy.

The Community Access Fund addresses these gaps by offering:

  • Flexible grants of up to $10,000
  • Minimal reporting requirements
  • Eligibility for unregistered groups and mutual aid networks
  • Funding for a wide range of community-defined needs

By removing bureaucratic barriers, the CAF aims to strengthen the ecosystems that help LGBTQI+ migrants rebuild their lives with dignity.

What the Fund Supports

Eligible projects can address any number of needs experienced by LGBTQI+ asylum seekers and other queer migrants, including but not limited to:

  • Legal assistance or accompaniment
  • Housing support, temporary lodging, or resources for navigating shelter systems
  • Printed materials, educational resources, and community outreach
  • Transportation, cash assistance, or emergency financial support
  • Access to medical or mental healthcare
  • Community integration, belonging, and well-being initiatives
  • Expansions of existing programs or mutual aid projects that already serve displaced LGBTQI+ people

Projects should aim to serve at least 50 individuals and must not rely on Rainbow Railroad staff labor in order to be implemented. (E.g. a project that only functions if Rainbow Railroad staff provide 100% of client referrals to the project would not be appropriate.)

How the Fund Works: Application & Review Process

  • Applications: The Fund is accepting applications starting April 1st 2026 and for a period of 2 months ending on May 31st 2026. 
  • Eligibility: Open to registered and unregistered groups, grassroots organizations, and community collectives in the U.S. and Canada. See the FAQ below for a description of projects the CAF will not fund.
  • Funding Amounts: Up to $10,000 (USD or CAD) per project depending on if the group is US or Canada based.
  • Evaluation Timeline: Applications review and disbursement of money will happen on a rolling basis between September and October 2026
  • Reporting: In keeping with trust-based grantmaking principles and to decrease access barriers, reporting requirements for successful grantees will be minimal. Grantees will write a mid-project report, in addition to a final narrative summary of how the funds provided community impact, report the total number of individuals served, report on financial expenses.
  • Implementation: Work should begin only once funds are disbursed.

→ Apply using the form below and/or register to be notified when the application re-opens:

Is The Community Access Fund Right for You?

The CAF is a fit if:

  • Your group serves LGBTQI+ asylum seekers, refugees, or other queer migrants in the U.S. or Canada
  • You operate with a community-centered, grassroots, or mutual-aid approach
  • You aim to support at least 50 displaced LGBTQI+ individuals

If this describes your work, we encourage you to apply.

Community Access Fund Recipient

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the online form.

→ Start your application at the form below and/or register to be notified when the application re-opens

If you need assistance completing your application, contact CAF@rainbowrailroad.org.

Submit your proposal for the Community Access Fund (CAF)