Message from Bill Lippert, Samara Founder

Why a Foundation? Why now?

In order to achieve full human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people, and to meet our goal of a fully welcoming and just community, we must allow ourselves to think bigger than we have ever dared to think before! Substantially increased financial resources are necessary for the foreseeable future to build the infrastructure needed to defend and permanently secure our rightful place within our communities. To do this, as GLBT people, we must adopt new and more sophisticated strategies for securing these necessary financial resources.

Samara Foundation of Vermont, Inc. was created specifically to offer these new opportunities to our communities. Samara Foundation's sole mission is to "support and strengthen Vermont's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities today and build an endowment for tomorrow."

Samara Foundation is creating permanent, increased funding - right here in Vermont - for supporting organizations and projects which work to make the world a better place for all GLBT people.

As a tax exempt, 501(c)(3), nonprofit corporation, and a public charity, Samara encourages the development of philanthropic giving within and on behalf of our GLBT communities. Samara offers special giving opportunities to everyone who is committed to strengthening our communities through the wise commitment and use of their financial resources.

Samara is granting today, while building an endowment for our future! As a permanent resource for our communities, Samara is committed to assessing our communities' changing needs, and directing foundation resources to the emerging needs of our community.

Through the visionary commitment of our founding benefactors, and through the generosity of our Benefactor's Circle members, Samara has established an endowment. The income from these endowed funds is entirely committed to underwriting the well-being of Vermont's GLBT communities, now and into the future!

Samara Foundation of Vermont urges you to take the future of our GLBT communities more seriously than you ever have before. Samara Foundation encourages every member of our GLBT communities, and our straight allies, to consider themselves a "philanthropist" - "one who helps humankind through charitable giving". To meet our challenge requires greater financial resources and community capacity. As GLBT communities, we must stretch and grow in new ways, including adopting new and more sophisticated strategies to create the financial resources required for our work to be successful.

Samara Foundation encourages continued annual giving to Vermont's fine GLBT community organizations. Through technical assistance in developing fundraising capacities, and through increasing awareness of the importance of philanthropic giving, Samara is committed to raising the tide for all Vermont GLBT organizations.

We also welcome you to contribute to Samara Foundation. Your contributions will increase our annual granting and scholarship programs today, while preserving our assets for increased future funding.

Use the opportunities that Samara has created for you to support our communities. Include Samara Foundation in your will, estate planning, and your year-end charitable giving.

Samara Foundation of Vermont is committed to meeting the challenge of our communities' future:

• through increasing philanthropic awareness and giving, within and on behalf of our GLBT communities
• through active annual granting and scholarship programs
• through ongoing assessments of our communities' unmet needs
• through technical assistance to Vermont GLBT organizations to increase organizational fundraising and effectiveness

Join us. Together we will meet the challenge before us!

Bill Lippert, Founder and Senior Foundation Officer
Samara Foundation of Vermont

Bill Lippert also serves in the Vermont House of Representatives, representing the Town of Hinesburg.