The IGLTA Foundation
About Us
The IGLTA Foundation is the philanthropic organization of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, the leading member-based global organization dedicated to LGBT tourism.
Our mission is to use the power of LGBT travel to build bridges with communities worldwide. Those bridges, in turn, enable understanding, awareness and commerce to flourish in diverse communities around the globe.
As a foundation, we will strive to raise awareness for our industry by assisting individuals, destinations and companies that need our support, by hosting forums for the constructive exchange of information and ideas, and by showing the world that members of the LGBT community are true global citizens leading the way in sustainable tourism and improving the lives of people in the destinations we visit.
Foundation Priorities
The IGLTA Foundation recognizes that education is the key to building bridges between LGBT travelers and destinations, businesses and communities worldwide.
The Foundation's educational initiatives can be divided into four distinct areas:
Individuals
The IGLTA Foundation will offer scholarships to expand educational opportunities for students in LGBT tourism.
Destinations and Companies
The IGLTA Foundation will assist emerging LGBT destinations that may not yet have full government assistance in their countries. The Foundation will also assist companies in those emerging destinations that seek to welcome LGBT travelers.
Conferences
The IGLTA Foundation will convene meetings and conferences to explore the opportunities and challenges facing global LGBT travel and to advance other important issues impacted by global travel.
Human Rights
The IGLTA Foundation will create educational programming and outreach surrounding LGBT human rights and will help to bring attention to important human rights issues worldwide.
Additionally, the Foundation will dedicate time and resources to a number of relevant charitable activities, including: disaster relief; meaningful volunteer and donation projects affiliated with the IGLTA Annual Global Convention; and assisting with other global issues as they arise.
The Foundation Board
The IGLTA Foundation is led by a volunteer board of directors made up of veterans in tourism, finance and philanthropy.
Chair - Charlie Rounds, Mossier Foundation and Forward Motion Group
Vice Chair - Jody Cole, Wild Rainbow African Safaris
Treasurer - Brianna Murphy, Trillium Asset Management
Secretary - Jeff Guaracino, Atlantic City Alliance
Gregg Kaminsky, R Family Vacations
Charles Lapointe, Tourisme Montreal
Todd Ney, Brendan Vacations
Rebecca Rittgers, Arcus Foundation
Steve Roth, OutThink Partners
John Tanzella, IGLTA
Shannon Wentworth, Sweet
