wayOUT
Non-profit OrganizationsCalifornia, United States11-50 Employees
wayOUT is a volunteer-driven nonprofit based in San Francisco, California, that supports LGBTQ+ youth by identifying, vetting, and funding youth-focused programs across the United States. The organization operates through a formal grant-selection process and maintains a network of local chapters and volunteers who fundraise to restore support for the recipient programs each year, aiming to maximize the impact of donations at the ground level. Its model emphasizes close collaboration with partner organizations through a one-to-one chapter structure, enabling tailored advocacy and assistance while encouraging recipients to manage their own services. With four chapters and a volunteer coalition, wayOUT has facilitated grant-making to twenty-two organizations nationwide and has raised over $1,000,000 to date. The nonprofit structure and fully volunteer leadership position wayOUT to channel a high share of donations directly to annual grant recipients, focusing on empowering LGBTQ+ youth to feel safe expressing their identities.