Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative

The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative is the official nonprofit charitable arm of the historic Stonewall Inn, created to spread the legacy of the 1969 Stonewall uprising to underserved LGBTQ+ communities across the country and around the globe. Established in 2017 by Stonewall Inn co-owners and community advocates, the organization channels private philanthropy and corporate partnerships into strategic investments for grassroots queer organizations operating in places where equality and legal protections remain severely limited.

The foundation’s flagship corporate and venue engagement model is the Safe Spaces Certification program. Through standardized staff training, non-discrimination policy implementation, gender-neutral facility guidelines, and community accountability metrics, the program certifies entertainment venues, hospitality businesses, and corporate workplaces as verified safe environments for LGBTQ+ patrons and employees. The initiative also administers grassroots grantmaking funds that distribute crucial financial resources directly to local activists, cultural projects, and mutual aid groups.

Additional impact initiatives address education, health, and community recognition. In partnership with the New York Yankees, the foundation awards the annual Yankee Stonewall Scholarships to graduating high school seniors across the five boroughs who have demonstrated leadership in LGBTQ+ advocacy. The Rally for Recovery campaign connects individuals facing substance use disorders with affirming addiction treatment providers, while the annual Stonewall Inn Brick Awards Gala celebrates frontline community leaders. Organizations seeking funding can apply through annual grant cycles online, and supporters can contribute through donations and benefit events.