Press Release: A Transformational Gift Supporting Pride Center’s Next Chapter
Pride Center of Vermont (PCVT) is humbled and grateful to share that we have received an anonymous $350,000 gift to help stabilize the organization and support the important work ahead.
This gift arrives at a time when we are listening deeply, rebuilding intentionally, and working to shape the future of PCVT based on what our community tells us it needs. We have already received incredible financial and moral support from values-forward organizations like Ben & Jerry’s and Vermont’s own Noah Kahan. It is a powerful expression of trust in the 2STLGBQIA+ community we serve and in the Board’s efforts to move forward with clarity, accountability, and purpose.
This is a pivotal moment to reimagine the Pride Center of Vermont’s future: a necessary reset to confront long-standing structural challenges, repair internal systems, and rebuild trust after years of operating in crisis-mode. Instead of rushing to restore the status quo, we are intentionally taking this moment to design a stronger, healthier and more community-rooted organization.
This bridge funding provides the breathing room necessary to:
- Address outstanding debt and liabilities;
- Establish an emergency fund to guarantee PCVT can uphold its commitments and continue supporting our community without interruption even in times of financial uncertainty;
- Hire outside expertise for a full independent financial review;
- Fund reduced operational costs during the rebuild period, such as secure storage of records, maintenance of a P.O. box, and ongoing bookkeeping support;
- Invest in a comprehensive community needs assessment to shape program priorities moving forward;
- Undertake a retrospective analysis with former organizational leaders, staff, partners, and participants to understand what worked and what went wrong over our organizational history;
- Implement tighter financial oversight and governance protocols, led by new board members with nonprofit management & financial expertise;
- Develop a strategic plan that reflects a clear vision and timeline for reopening; and
- Secure ongoing and sustainable funding that is less vulnerable to shifting government priorities.
The Board believes these steps are necessary preconditions to resuming full operations so that the Pride Center can continue to serve our community far into the future. This work will take time. Once the new strategic framework and budget are finalized, we will announce a clear plan and timeline for reopening. In the meantime, we are committed to keeping our community informed through regular updates.
Please note that the SafeSpace Anti-Violence Program continues operations at the Vermont Network. Survivors and community members can still reach advocates through the SafeSpace hotline at (802) 863-0003 or at https://www.safespacevt.org/. We remain deeply grateful to the Network and program staff for ensuring continuity of this essential service.
“This gift is truly transformational for the Pride Center,” said Austin Grant, Pride Center Board Co-Chair. “It gives us the stability we need to clear the immediate obstacles in front of us and the space to do this work the right way: by listening deeply to our community. Every dollar of this gift will be put to work strengthening our foundation and supporting a community-designed process to determine the Pride Center’s future.”
“That this donation came through a donor-advised fund underscores both the generosity and the strategic mindset of the supporters who believe in PCVT,” said Connor Daley, a member of the Pride Center Board. “DAF donors play a unique role in supporting moments of transition like this, and we welcome other DAF holders who want to join them in our community-minded journey.” This gift allows us to continue the work of rebuilding, not hastily, but thoughtfully and intentionally.
As we prepare for this next phase, the Board is inviting community members to join us in shaping the future of PCVT. We are recruiting new Board members to help guide this process, and we especially welcome people with experience in:
- Fundraising and development
- Communications or media
- Finance and organizational management
We also deeply value lived experience, community connection, and a desire to help build a stronger, more sustainable Pride Center of Vermont. For more information, please reach out to board@pridecentervt.org.
A Call to Action: We Still Need You
This generous, one-time stabilization gift makes it possible for us to repair the foundation and build a community-driven plan, but to truly bring the community’s vision to life, we will still rely on sustaining support from donors, partners, and community members.
This gift makes the next steps possible; your support will make them real.
If you believe in the future of the Pride Center, we invite you to stand with us: through giving, volunteering, participating in forums, or helping spread the word.
We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary gift and for the continued support of our community. Together, we can build the next version of Pride Center of Vermont: one that reflects the resilience, community, commitment, creativity, and strength of the people it serves.
Become A Sustaining Member Today: https://www.pridecentervt.org/#donate