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Make a Difference: Donate to Black LGBTQ+ Arts in Chicago
Updated: Jul 29
If you want your donation to make a real difference in Chicago’s arts scene — and in the lives of Black LGBTQ+ people — this guide is for you.
Chicago has a deep bench of Black LGBTQ+ artists, filmmakers, and creatives. Too many of them still hit walls: no funding, no visibility, nowhere safe to show the work. Giving to the organizations closest to them keeps those stories alive.
This 2025 guide lists the best places to give if you care about Black LGBTQ+ arts — starting with our own house.
1. Black Alphabet — Black LGBTQ+ Stories on Film and Beyond
If you’re looking for an organization that blends art, culture, and community impact, Black Alphabet is it. Founded in 2013, Black Alphabet is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that puts Black LGBTQ+ stories on screen and in the room — through film festivals, art therapy, and mental health programs. Most events are free or donation-based, meaning your gift directly funds accessibility.
Your impact when you donate:
Funds free film screenings for underserved audiences.
Supports confidential, no-cost mental health services.
Supports Young Artists in Residence.
Helps run art therapy sessions that build confidence and connection.
Tax-deductible donations: Yes (EIN: 46-4578118 ).
How to donate:
2. Center on Halsted — A Cultural Hub for LGBTQ+ Chicago
Center on Halsted is one of the Midwest’s largest LGBTQ+ community centers and a longtime ally to Black LGBTQ+ artists and youth. It serves the whole LGBTQ+ community, and its partnerships with local Black creatives have put on exhibitions, performances, and conversations worth showing up for.
Your impact when you donate:
Supports gallery shows featuring diverse LGBTQ+ artists.
Funds community events built around the people usually left out.
Maintains a safe, welcoming space for all ages.
Tax-deductible donations: Yes.
How to donate:
3. Black Ensemble Theater — Telling Black Stories Through Performance
Founded in 1976, Black Ensemble Theater is dedicated to eradicating racism through the arts. While not exclusively LGBTQ-focused, its inclusive productions and casting have given space to Black queer artists and stories, especially within its musical theater repertoire.
Your impact when you donate:
Funds productions that tell stories the big houses skip.
Supports youth arts education programs in Chicago.
Keeps ticket prices accessible for diverse audiences.
Tax-deductible donations: Yes.
How to donate:
Why Local Giving Matters
When you donate to Chicago-based Black LGBTQ+ arts nonprofits and allies, your dollars:
Stay in the community.
Support artists who are telling our stories.
Carry over into mental health, education, and organizing.
How to Decide Where to Give
Look for transparency — Does the organization publish reports or share impact metrics?
Check alignment — Does the mission reflect your values?
Consider accessibility — Is your donation helping people who might otherwise be excluded?
What Community Money Does
Most of what we do runs on small gifts from people nearby. That money pays artists, keeps sessions free, and holds the door open for whoever needs the room. No gift is too small to count.
Art and Mental Health
For a lot of people in our community, art is where the hard things get said. A film, a painting, an afternoon of art therapy — these are ways to process what happened and to find the others. When you fund Black LGBTQ+ arts organizations, you’re funding that too.
Final Word
Art does more than fill an evening. It heals, and it moves people to act. Give to an organization like Black Alphabet and you’re paying for a future where Black LGBTQ+ voices get heard.
➡ Donate to Black Alphabet today.
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