Our Structure
The Council for Global Equality is a fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives, a California-based nonprofit organization with 501c(3) status. A small portion of the work of the Council for Global Equality includes Congressional advocacy, which is monitored under the 501(h) election that Community Initiatives maintains. The Board of Directors of Community Initiatives has legal oversight over these advocacy efforts; the President and senior management of Community Initiatives maintain regular programmatic and financial oversight over this project through the Council’s own staff and leadership.
The Council maintains an Advisory Committee made up of seven members. The Advisory Committee meets at least once yearly to review Council accomplishments, and to leverage Committee experience in support of Council goals. The Committee also signs key contracts and votes on any salary adjustments. The Committee’s three principal staff do not vote.
The Council is made up of organizational members. Each member appoints its representatives to support the collaborative work of the Council. The Council’s membership consists of a range of U.S.-based organizations that carry out discrete activities in support of the overall strategic goal of improving America's clear commitment, at home and abroad, to LGBT equality as part of its human rights policies. Membership in the Council has clearly stated criteria, terms and expectations.
Our Finances
As a fiscally sponsored project, the Council’s finances are officially reported as part of Community Initiative’s annual report and audited financial statements. The Council does not have separately audited statements or annual report. The Council has been generously funded primarily by the following philanthropic institutions: Sigrid Rausing Trust, Open Society Foundations, Oak Foundation, and an anonymous source. In addition, the Council receives modest annual membership fees from its organizational members. Funds for lobbying-related activities are segregated and tracked seperately. The annual budget for the Council has averaged approximately $865,000, with 85% of those expenses going to its program work.
