Meet Our 2026-2027 It Gets Better: Changemakers Grant Recipients

One constant we can always count on is the bravery of LGBTQ+ youth: their willingness to think big, organize their communities, and make their voices heard. 

But big ideas need backing. Since 2022, we’ve invested almost $1.8 million in 186 youth-led projects in schools and communities across the U.S. and Canada, helping young people turn their big ideas into meaningful change. 

Along the way, they learn to lead a team, solve problems, advocate for themselves and more. These are skills they can carry into college, careers, and their communities. It Gets Better: Changemakers proves that young people are natural leaders. When they are given opportunities to build a better world for themselves and their peers, they don’t wait. They bring it to life.

Our season five recipients are expanding inclusive STEM events, bringing resources to rural communities, and creating celebrations where LGBTQ+ youth can show up as themselves. They know what their communities need. With funding and support, they get to help build it—and experience what it means to make a difference.

Meet this year’s Changemakers and see what happens when we put resources and trust in young people’s hands.

It Gets Better: Changemakers is made possible with the generous support of MAC VIVA GLAM Fund, AE Foundation, Converse, Tumblr and Humble Bundle. Additional support provided by The Daily Beans podcast community and individual donors like you.

Explore all 186 projects across all five seasons here.

Alaska

In a part of the state that is already isolated, the summer months in Alaska can be increasingly so for queer youth. Young leaders are unsatisfied with this reality, and developed a project to bring youth together. They are creating a youth-led summer program that combines day camp and an overnight camp experience to build community, leadership skills, and explore the majestic outdoors. Activities will include arts and crafts, group games, outdoor outings, and workshops focused on mental health, coping skills, healthy relationships, and leadership development. The magic of summer camp shouldn’t be denied to LGBTQ+ youth based on geography, access, or safety. Now, it will be for everyone in their region in Alaska.

Arizona

After an incredible first year, these passionate student leaders are expanding their vision for inclusive STEM programming throughout Arizona. By incorporating a children’s book and and activity book created with their last grant, they’ll work to further to create inclusive curriculum for students of all ages across the state. Last year, they were able to bring STEM to over 700 young people. This year, they are setting their eyes on impacting over 900 young people. STEM isn’t just an after-school activity; it is a pathway to careers, community, and futures that have the potential to impact people everywhere. This team will make that a reality for LGBTQ+ youth in Arizona. 

“I feel grateful that we have such an amazing partner to aid us in our journey to make robotics more open and accessible for not just members of the LGBTQ+ community, but all people.”

This grant project has been funded thanks to the generous donations of listeners of The Daily Beans podcast. 

California

For LGBTQ+ youth in the Coachella Valley, the Rainbow Youth Summit is one of the only places they can gather and belong. All attendees will have access to transportation from their participating school and meals provided. Over the years, this program has grown from less than 100 students to more than 300. The Summit includes a Resource Fair for local and regional LGBTQ+ affirming organizations, workshops training future community leaders, and a culminating live drag performance to solidify the joyous experience they will have.

“LGBTQ+ youth here are often separated by great distances and a lack of support within their own schools and communities. Our Summit helps students know they are not alone in their hometowns by bringing them together.”

Homecoming will be reclaimed in this incredible LGBTQ+ youth event in Upland. A full evening of dinner, dancing, and photos built around the things every homecoming should have: music that moves the room, a space where gender expression isn’t up for debate, and the chance to be celebrated exactly as you are. The dress code is simple: come feeling fabulous.

As part of a new arts initiative, LGBTQ+ youth partnered with queer street artist Little Ricky to paint a bespoke mural in Los Angeles at the West LA Courthouse Skate Plaza for Pride. The theme was waves, paying homage to the history of the skatepark and LGBTQ+ youth’s ability to flow and grow, just like water.

Colorado

How can you learn without access to knowledge? LGBTQ+ youth are taking this question and answering it directly by leading focus groups on sexual health education in their school district in order to create a new curriculum that fills in any gaps and meets the needs of queer and disabled students in Colorado. Students participating as leaders and recipients of the curriculum will build skills in healthy conflict, consent, boundaries, peer support, and accountability.

Kentucky

Joy is radical, joy is loud, and joy is contagious. In Kentucky, youth will put on three large, affirming community events: a Halloween Party, Pride Prom, and Lavender graduation, all in the hopes of creating a network of youth leaders who are confident and skilled enough to create these events, and inspire hundreds of LGBTQ+ youth to demand more spaces to experience deep joy, affirmation, and safety at key milestone events.

“In a state where restrictive policies have tried to silence and isolate our young people, receiving the It Gets Better grant is a vital lifeline. This support allows Louisville Youth Group to equip our youth with tangible leadership skills while expanding our reach to rural communities, ensuring that every LGBTQ+ young person in Kentucky knows they have a community standing proudly beside them.” – Sandra Carpenter, Executive Director

Michigan

A cohort of youth leaders in Michigan will develop a theatre project by collecting stories of resilience and joy in their community, as writers, researchers and performers who will engage with young people at their most vulnerable. Together, they will transform these stories into a powerful, original script to be performed by students and educators across their school district. In addition to their script and performances, they hope to catalyze at least one documented institutional change to make schools safer for LGBTQ+ youth.

“Something that brings me hope is that there are still people trying to change things for the better.”

Minnesota

This project offers LGBTQ+ youth in rural Minnesota with a unique healing experience… involving horses. They will host monthly farm sessions focused on self-discovery and emotional grounding. To broaden their impact and reach youth without access, they will be bringing their programming to partner sites supporting youth experiencing homelessness.They will also be training their youth leader in videography skills to be able to document the entire project and give their leader concrete skills. Here, they hope to find a “safe ground to stand on.” 

Montana

In Montana, LGBTQ+ youth had the opportunity to attend an incredible Queer Prom with the theme “Midnight on the Bayou,” a celebration of warmth, water and wonder. Nearly two dozen young people were able to have their hair and makeup done for free, ensuring that everyone showed up to the event confident and affirmed. In the winter, they will host an end of year Snow Ball, an evening of connection, joy, and self-expression during a time of year that can be isolating for many youth.

New York

For so many LGBTQ+ youth, their other identities can make finding affirming spaces nearly impossible. How can they show up as their entire selves? Queer Jewish youth in New York City were able to experience a milestone celebration exactly in the way that affirms their entire being, surrounded by other kids who knew their exact experience. During the holiday of Purim, young people were able to show up and not have to hide one key element of their identity. And, of course, the theme was Zootopia.

In the second edition of our Pride art initiatives, LGBTQ+ youth partnered with queer street artist Little Ricky and Dusty Rebel to paint a mural in the East Village of New York City. Focusing on the theme of being a “pink sheep,” participants were able to get paint all over their clothes and be a part of a local tradition.

North Carolina

In response to physical boundaries impacting LGBTQ+ youth, including a lack of infrastructure following Hurricane Helene and restrictive new legislation, this project is launching a critical lifeline: a free mobile store for queer and trans youth in rural North Carolina. By creating an additional mobile version of the store at their youth center, they will be able to deliver gender-affirming supplies and resources directly to communities that need them right now.

“It’s encouraging to me every time I’m sitting in the space and someone goes over there and they leave smiling because they found something they needed.”

Ohio

Since the 1990s, Other Prom has been a safer haven for young people in Ohio to dress in ways that reflect who they are and dance with whomever they choose. Last year, for the first time in nearly 30 years, the event was cancelled due to a lack of funding. With Changemakers, Other Prom was brought back. Hosted at the Lincoln Theatre, LGBTQ+ youth came dressed to the nines (the theme was, fittingly, COSProm) to enjoy a fabulous space full of affirming art, games, and, most importantly, dance.

South Dakota

Halloween is a queer milestone event: the costumes, the play on words, the fun. For youth in their community in South Dakota, school events are too far outside of reach. They are looking to create something different: a night where young people can wear the costume that makes them happiest, bring the friends they love, and dance without worrying about being judged.