The Empire State Pride Agenda (Pride Agenda) is comprised of two separate corporate entities, the Empire State Pride Agenda Foundation, Inc. and the Empire State Pride Agenda, Inc. Although both have a common mission, it is necessary for the Pride Agenda to utilize two separate organizations to do the range of work that is needed to advance the cause of equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) New Yorkers and our families. This website collectively refers to the two organizations under the colloquial name Empire State Pride Agenda or sometimes just Pride Agenda.
Even though there may be some overlap in the work done by each entity in furtherance of their goals, certain activities are done by one organization and not the other. This is primarily in the area of lobbying and the endorsement and support of individuals running for public office.
The Empire State Pride Agenda, Inc. engages in legislative lobbying and administers a Political Action Committee registered with New York State. The Empire State Pride Agenda Foundation, Inc. (Foundation) is an organization that is eligible to receive contributions that are tax-deductible and, as a result, cannot endorse or provide support to individuals running for public office and is limited by federal law in how much lobbying it can do. Therefore, almost all of the lobbying work done by the Pride Agenda and discussed on this website is done by the Empire State Pride Agenda, Inc. Candidate endorsements and support provided by the Political Action Committee (PAC) is solely an activity of the Empire State Pride Agenda, Inc.
You may make a contribution to the Foundation or the Empire State Pride Agenda, Inc. or both. A contribution to either organization will be used to achieve equality and justice for LGBT New Yorkers and our families. However, each organization will only use the funds contributed directly to it to carry out the specific activities it conducts as part of the overall Empire State Pride Agenda mission.
A donor can make a tax-deductible gift only to the Foundation. This gift will be used to build broad-based support for the LGBT community’s objectives and develop and pursue educational, organizing and advocacy strategies for the benefit of LGBT New Yorkers. A donor who chooses to support the Empire State Pride Agenda, Inc. or its PAC is making a gift that is not tax-deductible. Gifts to the Empire State Pride Agenda, Inc. will be used to support direct advocacy efforts with elected officials. Gifts to the PAC will be used by the Empire State Pride Agenda, Inc. to make political contributions to allied candidates and elected officials.
To support the work of the Empire State Pride Agenda, Inc. with a non tax-deductible gift, click here. To support the work of the PAC with a non tax-deductible contribution, click here. To make a tax-deductible gift to the Foundation, click here.