AQUA Foundation for Women

AQUA Foundation for Women has served South Florida's LGBTQ+ women since 2004 and is Florida's only nonprofit dedicated to serving and supporting them. Built by and for LGBTQ+ women, AQUA welcomes everyone aligned with its mission regardless of gender identity, presentation or expression, including gender-diverse, transgender and intersex people. Its mission is to support the education, wellbeing and community of LGBTQ+ women, and its remote team shows up in person and online across Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

The Aqua Scholars program helps LGBTQ+ women and transgender, intersex and nonbinary students pay tuition for associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, and pairs each scholar with a mentor who meets with them monthly and supports their leadership growth. AQUA's grants have funded local projects on LGBTQ+ youth homelessness, women's wellness, transgender people, the arts and mental health. The LGBTQ+ Emergency Fund, which began as Aqua Cares during the pandemic, helps community members facing urgent hardship such as loss of housing or unemployment.

AQUA also brings people together through TransCon, a free conference created by and for the trans and nonbinary community; Break the Stigma, an HIV/AIDS conference for women and femme folks; the free LGBTQ+ Family BBQ at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park; and the Aqua Affair fundraiser honoring scholars and mentors. With Pridelines, AQUA co-produces the monthly Lavender Lounge and co-captains a Florida AIDS Walk team.

To volunteer, become a mentor or ask about support, reach out by email, or join the AQUA Insiders with a monthly gift.