The Microgrants Program and Inside Advocacy Program are paused until further notice, as we are unable to distribute microgrants at this time. Trans Lifeline is experiencing a period of financial uncertainty that has forced us to reduce the size and scope of our organization and temporarily pause some of our direct service programs. We are very hopeful that we will be able to resume distributing microgrants once we’ve had the chance to reassess the financial stability of the organization. You can read more about the circumstances that led to this decision here. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.
Microgrants provide trans and nonbinary people with low-barrier funds and support to correct names and/or gender markers on identifying legal documents, fund gender-affirming permanent hair removal, and supply necessities for our trans siblings behind bars.
Putting money directly into trans people’s hands is central to economic and racial justice and our overall well-being. Redistributing funds draws inspiration from the principles of mutual aid: our support of each other is a political act.
$1,149,231
given to trans people for IDs
$529,296
given to incarcerated trans people
Name Change Microgrants
Open from the 1st-14th of every month
1-4 Weeks
Approximate Name Change Microgrant processing time (upon selection)
Types of Microgrants
Name Change Microgrants
Name Change Microgrants cover all the required fees pertaining to court-ordered name changes. They cover corrections and updates on passports, driver’s licenses, state IDs, birth certificates, and Tribal IDs.
Name Change Microgrants details, how to apply, and frequently asked questions.
Inside Advocacy: Commissary and Post-Release Microgrants
Inside Advocacy (IA) provides mutual aid to trans folks who are incarcerated or have been recently released. Trans folks impacted by the carceral state are the most vulnerable and cut off from resources. So far, IA has served nearly 400 people. We continue to use our unique place in the TLGBQ+ and suicide prevention movements to partner with other organizations, fight injustice, and advocate for our community.
Inside Advocacy Microgrants details, how to apply, and frequently asked questions.
Gender-Affirming Hair Removal Microgrants
This microgrant seeks to cover a wide spectrum of permanent hair removal procedures for people who experience transmisogyny: the specific oppression directed towards people perceived as transfeminine. This includes trans women, trans femmes, Two Spirit people, and trans and gender non-conforming people who were assigned/assumed male at birth—but is not limited to these labels!
Gender-Affirming Hair Removal Microgrants details, how to apply, and frequently asked questions.
Trans Migrant Partnership Program
Our Trans Migrant Partnership Program partners with organizations that provide direct services to trans migrants. In 2021, we distributed $41,000 to the following organizations to disburse $1,000 in microgrants directly to trans migrants to support immigration costs, including updating names and/or gender markers on identifying immigration documents and legal fees during immigration and asylum processes:
In 2023, we will continue building partnerships with organizations offering direct services to disburse $75,000 ($1,000 grants to 75 people) directly to trans migrants. This opportunity is not open to the public.
Until We’re All Free: Holiday Commissary Fundraiser
Since 2017, Microgrants has organized this grassroots fundraiser to raise money for our incarcerated trans siblings during the winter holiday season. All funds raised by the Until We’re All Free campaign are directly distributed on Christmas day by our partner organizations, who offer direct support on the ground to incarcerated trans folks in their communities. When we provide material support for folks who are incarcerated in prison or juvenile detention, they are able to reclaim their dignity and autonomy through access to food, care items, gender-affirming clothing, and phone calls, among other necessary items.
Learn more about the Until We’re All Free: Holiday Commissary Fundraiser.