The LGBTIQ+ Emergency Support Fund is a small-grants round run jointly by APCOM and Youth LEAD. APCOM is a Bangkok-based foundation working on the health and rights of SOGIESC communities across Asia and the Pacific; Youth LEAD is the region’s network of young key populations, also based in Bangkok. The fund moves money quickly to LGBTIQ+ community-led organisations and informal groups facing an urgent threat, such as a hostile law, a wave of disinformation, a security incident, or a displacement crisis. This round awards a minimum of 14 grants of up to USD 5,000 each, for projects running up to three months between July and September 2026. Grantees do the work in their own countries, so there is no relocation. Registered organisations and unregistered groups are both eligible, and an unregistered group may receive the money through a fiscal sponsor.
Benefits & funding
- Up to USD 5,000 per grant
- A minimum of 14 grants awarded in this round
- Projects run for up to three months, from July to September 2026
- Unregistered groups may use a fiscal sponsor or fiscal agent to receive the funds
- Named technical-support contacts at APCOM and Youth LEAD answer questions during the application window
Eligibility
- The applying organisation or group must be based in an eligible Asia-Pacific country, classified by the World Bank as low-, lower-middle- or upper-middle-income: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Viet Nam
- Registered organisations, informal groups and unregistered community-led groups are all eligible
- The group must be directly affected by, or actively responding to, human rights violations, criminalisation, violence or displacement affecting LGBTIQ+ communities
- The proposed work must fall under one of four areas: countering stigma, hate speech and disinformation; responding to legal and policy threats; protection, legal aid and community safety; support for displaced, migrant and stateless LGBTIQ+ people
- The call sets no nationality, age or degree requirement for the people who lead the applying group
Can you apply?
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Afghanistan · Bangladesh · Bhutan · Cambodia · China · Fiji · India · Indonesia · Kiribati · Laos · Malaysia · Maldives
+ 20 more
Marshall Islands · Micronesia · Mongolia · Myanmar · Nauru · Nepal · North Korea · Pakistan · Palau · Papua New Guinea · Philippines · Samoa · Solomon Islands · Sri Lanka · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Tonga · Tuvalu · Vanuatu · Vietnam
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We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Confirm the group is based in one of the eligible countries and that the proposed work fits one of the four thematic areas
- 2Prepare the project plan and fill in the budget template
- 3Submit the online application form together with the budget and the supporting documents listed in the form
- 4A joint APCOM and Youth LEAD selection committee reviews proposals against published criteria
- 5Selected groups implement the project inside the three-month window
Program timeline
Call for proposals published
10 June 2026
Application deadline; late or incomplete applications are not considered
20 June 2026
Grant implementation begins
July 2026
Grant implementation ends
September 2026
Previous round launched, covering Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific with at least 12 grants of USD 5,000
August 2025