Guilford Green Foundation & LGBTQ Center

Guilford Green Foundation & LGBTQ Center is the flagship nonprofit and philanthropic institution dedicated to advancing equality, inclusion, and cultural vitality for LGBTQ+ individuals throughout Greensboro and Guilford County. Founded in 1995 by visionary community leaders seeking to build a permanent financial resource for local LGBTQ+ initiatives, the organization has grown into a comprehensive community anchor. By operating both a physical downtown community center and an impactful grantmaking foundation, the organization addresses urgent social needs while investing in sustainable community solutions.

The community center on North Greene Street serves as a welcoming civic hub where residents of all backgrounds find connection, safety, and mutual support. The facility features a comfortable hospitality lounge, an expansive community library containing LGBTQ-themed literature and historical texts, free computer access, and meeting spaces for grassroots community groups. Staff members provide confidential one-on-one resource navigation, connecting individuals to affirming primary care clinicians, mental health professionals, housing stability programs, and emergency assistance.

Direct support services at the center address specific community challenges through practical, affirming programming. The organization maintains a free gender-affirming clothing closet and distributes chest binders, personal hygiene products, and wellness supplies. Staff and volunteer legal advocates host periodic legal clinics guiding transgender and nonbinary individuals through the process of securing updated identity documents, including state name changes and gender-marker amendments. Regular peer support groups offer safe environments for youth, seniors, parents, and transgender community members to share life experiences and cultivate friendships.

Philanthropy remains central to the organization's overarching mission of community empowerment. Through its annual Community Grant Program, the foundation distributes vital funding to regional grassroots organizations working on the frontlines of LGBTQ+ health, youth development, arts, and civil rights. These investments ensure that innovative projects receive the financial resources necessary to deliver measurable community impact. The foundation also administers the Pearl Berlin Scholarship, which provides meaningful financial awards to emerging LGBTQ+ leaders pursuing higher education at colleges and universities.

Community outreach initiatives expand the organization's educational reach beyond its physical walls. The foundation collaborates with local healthcare systems, universities, and corporate partners to provide cultural competency training that enhances workplace equity and medical inclusivity. Staff and board members actively participate in municipal coalitions, advocating for nondiscrimination protections and equal public accommodations across the Piedmont region.

The organization anchors regional cultural life through celebrated community gatherings and awareness events. Its long-running Green Queen Bingo series draws diverse crowds for high-energy charitable entertainment, while the annual gala convenes civic leaders, corporate allies, and advocates to celebrate philanthropic milestones. In addition, the center publishes the OUT and About Greensboro calendar, connecting residents to local social, cultural, and educational opportunities. Through continuous advocacy, compassionate direct care, and strategic grantmaking, Guilford Green Foundation & LGBTQ Center continues to build an enduring culture of belonging throughout the Piedmont Triad.