August 5, 2024
To GLAAD supporters and allies,
As the Board of Directors of GLAAD, we wanted you to hear directly from us at this important time. As members and allies of the LGBTQ community, we take our fiduciary duty to oversee the organization’s finances and the donations of our sponsors very seriously and we are grateful for your support and partnership in advancing LGBTQ acceptance.
In light of a recent The New York Times article that questioned GLAAD’s work and the financial management and governance of the organization, we wanted to provide additional clarity on GLAAD’s strategy, leadership, financial management and an independent investigation that the Board conducted last year that resulted in corrective actions.
GLAAD has grown rapidly over the past ten years as more and more people recognize the urgent need to accelerate acceptance for LGBTQ people and fight back against the attacks on our community. Revenue has grown from $3.9 million in 2014 to $29.7 million for fiscal year 2023. Our President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis has been at the helm of that growth and the organization’s increased impact. We are exceptionally proud of the work she and the team do every day to advance our mission. We are certain that she is the right leader for GLAAD, and she and her team have our support and our profound gratitude for their tireless efforts.
Our work is more urgent than ever. We are fighting back against dangerous narratives that harm our community – including Project 2025. At a time when DEI is under threat in corporate settings and LGBTQ inclusion on TV and film is being attacked, GLAAD conducts research proving that LGBTQ inclusion is a winning strategy. In addition, with more than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in state legislatures across the country this year, we are dedicating more resources to countering hateful rhetoric about the trans community.
A key element of GLAAD’s work and our strategic efforts to accelerate acceptance is our participation in high-profile events and conferences. Specific donors support many of these engagements and we will keep showing up and building relationships with powerful decision-makers, because change happens when LGBTQ rights are on the agenda and our community is represented.
As our impact grows, the Board closely oversees the management and finances of GLAAD with the utmost dedication. We want every dollar that is given to have the biggest impact possible. Our financial statements are audited annually by an external firm, and for more than a decade, these audits have consistently confirmed our sound financial management. We hold the highest ratings from Charity Navigator and GuideStar and were recognized as a top-rated LGBTQ charity by CharityWatch.
When our former CFO raised issues around expense management to the Board last year, we conducted a thorough, independent investigation that concluded in August 2023. The Board recognized that corrective measures were necessary and took swift and decisive action to make changes, including strengthening GLAAD’s policies, controls and training. As we did then, this Board will continue to review our protocols and procedures. The Board and GLAAD leadership learned from that experience and today the organization is led with even greater rigor.
Our mission has never been more important, and we will continue to support the tireless work of Sarah Kate Ellis and the GLAAD team to advance it.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership.
The GLAAD Board of Directors