Help Us Save Rainbow
Since 1995, Rainbow Community Center of Contra Costa County (Rainbow) has been ardently serving the LGBTQIA+ communities. At a time when HIV-positive people and people with AIDS were denied medical care, Rainbow advocated for them and debunked unfounded unscientific fears about transmission. Since this time Rainbow has continued to be a safe space for LGBTQIA+ people of all ages and a place for the community to collectively address central issues of alienation, a byproduct of living in secret and in fear. Rainbow has championed efforts for LGBTQIA+ equity and equality and continues to advocate for underserved and underprivileged members of our communities by pivoting our services to low-income, Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), and Trans-members of Contra Costa County. Similar to many non-profits and businesses, the economic difficulties of the post-global Covid pandemic are hitting Rainbow very hard. We share the in struggle with American families to earn more and keep up with daily and monthly bills. We share in the struggle with American families who cannot keep up with the rising costs of goods and services due to inflation. These economic hardships are made more acute for Rainbow because there is limited public funding for non-profits that serve the LGBTQIA+ communities, due to shrinking local, state, and federal resources. As a frontline LGBTQIA+ non-profit, we also compete with national/global LGBTQIA+ organizations for limited corporate funding and individual contributive donors.
On October 9, 2023, I stepped into my role as Interim Executive Director of Rainbow Community Center, mindful of our economic challenges, yet focused on stabilizing Rainbow so we can continue providing essential services to our community and to continue saving LGBTQIA+ lives. Like many American families, we are struggling to increase revenue sufficiently to cover our costs, and are unfortunately having to reduce and eliminate some of our personnel and services to make ends meet. Sadly, at present course, Rainbow’s future is uncertain, and without bold help from our community, could drastically downsize or possibly even close our doors. To prevent this, we humbly ask our communities and allies to elevate us by donating to our Save Rainbow campaign. Your donations will help us continue our essential work saving LGBTQIA+ lives—such as the teens and Trans-youth who find community and solace in our support groups; or people who attend the social groups for adults and seniors who struggle with social isolation; or people who attend the support groups for BIPOC LGBTQIA+ women and men; or the clients we serve through our mental health clinical program. Rainbow saves lives through our HIV and STI prevention and testing programs and provides referrals for services for those who test positive. Rainbow saves the lives of LGBTQIA+ youth by offering emergency housing for those who dared to come out of the closet and share who they are, only to find themselves without housing and on the streets.
The primary source of Rainbow’s funding is through public grants, but they are limited and insufficient to cover operational costs because they are restricted to direct program services. Please, will you join us to help Save Rainbow? Donate $5, $10, $25, $50, $100, or $1000 or more HERE, and share our fundraising campaign with your networks. If you can offer a matching grant, please contact us at development@rainbowcc.org. You can also be our champion by making your donation a monthly recurring one.
With humbled hearts and deep gratitude for your support and generosity, we at Rainbow thank you for your fierce love and commitment to the work we do in the service of LGBTQIA+ communities of Contra Costa County.
Jonathan Lee, Ph.D.
Interim Executive Director
Rainbow Community Center of Contra Costa County