POINTING TO
PROGRESS 2024
NATIONAL REPORT LAUNCHES OCTOBER 9 · STAY TUNED
NATIONAL REPORT LAUNCHES OCTOBER 9 · STAY TUNED
Photo by Juliette F.
Pointing to Progress 2026 is a biennial Australian survey by Pride by Side to understand and uncover the evolving capacity strengths and challenges of the LGBTQIA+ sector.
Many organisations, initiatives, and projects are working towards improving the lives of queer people and communities, but face myriad challenges in achieving the impact they strive for.
Without robust data, supporting ecosystems such as funders, donors, media, and supporters are limited in their ability to understand sector needs, identify emerging trends, and direct resources where they can have the greatest impact.
Pointing to Progress and its insights aim to:
Strengthen understanding of capacity across LGBTQIA+ initiatives.
Inform advocacy and sector development efforts.
Improve funding decisions and resource allocation.
Identify opportunities for collaboration and partnership.
Track changes in sector capacity over time.
The LGBTQIA+ sector is deeply committed, overwhelmingly volunteer-led, and facing significant barriers to building the capacity and resources to secure its future:
operate on an annual budget of less than $50,000.
believe safety has deteriorated for LGBTQIA+ communities over the past 3 years.
have insecure
resourcing beyond 12 months.
have had an increase in demand in the past 12 months
median full-time-equivalent staff
median volunteers
Strong LGBTQIA+ communities require strong organisations.
1 · Fund for sustainability
2 · Design funding with the sector
3 · Help foster a safer environment
Flexible funding creates stronger and better outcomes.
1 · Invest beyond programs
2 · Back initiatives longitudinally
3 · Build relationships, not transactions
Valuable partnerships extend beyond financial support.
1 · Offer pro bono expertise
2 · Build genuine partnerships
3 · Lead by example (especially during tough times)
The stories we tell shape the communities we build.
1 · Report with context
2 · Amplify diverse voices
3 · Inform, don’t inflame
The future of the sector will be built together.
1 · Share what works
2 · Prioritise foundations
3 ·Tell your story
Small actions across many people create lasting change.
1 · Donate and support
2 · Use your voice
3 · Share the work
We've collated the data into a live, interactive dashboard where you can filter, sort, and play with the data in any way you like:
Pointing to Progress is an initiative of Pride by Side and we build the capacities of LGBTQIA+ initiatives.
We make sure those trying to improve outcomes for LGBTQIA+ people and communities have the skills, knowledge, and resources they need to achieve their goals.
Special thanks to Rainbow Giving Australia (our delivery partner), Google.org (our funding partner), and Social Research Centre (our thought partner) for their support of Pointing to Progress.
