MIDWEST INSTITUTE FOR SEXUALITY AND GENDER DIVERSITY
A N N U A L
R E P O R T
ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19
Our story
3
2018-19 activities
4
MBLGTACC 2019
5
Honoring where we came from ANNUAL REPORT Executive Director/ Executive Editor: Justin Drwencke
A focus on defining our organizational philosophy
Director of Marketing & Communications/Editor/ Designer: Nick Pfost
The state of our flagship program
Board Treasurer: Khamille De Lara Cover: theispot Photographers: Ed Negron, Dale Small
ALSO FEATURED
Financial statements
6
Our team
7
OUR STORY
OUR MISSION We empower students of diverse sexualities and genders to inspire sustainable change; lead higher education colleagues in relevant and inclusive practices; and advance knowledge of sexuality and gender through advocacy
I
and expansive programming.
n the early 1990s, planners of the inaugural Midwest Bisexual Gay Lesbian College Conference, or MBGLCC (later MBLGCC,
OUR VISION
MBLGTCC, and now MBLGTACC), could scarcely imagine that
We re-envision an educational climate
their gathering of a couple hundred LGBTQIA+ students from the “fly-over states” would endure for a quarter-century. Even scarcer would be the thought of that conference spawning a professional nonprofit dedicated to building on their mission.
BUT MORE THAN 28 YEARS LATER, THIS IS HOW OUR HISTORY IS UNFOLDING.
that centers the needs and experiences of systemically disadvantaged students and affirms and encourages sexuality and gender diversity.
OUR VALUES → Accessibility We provide opportunities that are
Two hundred attendees became two thousand. A conference
considerate of varying intellectual,
budget of a few thousand dollars—kept on scratch paper—became
physical, and financial capacities and
$180,000. Student planners, dedicated to connecting, educating,
levels of college readiness.
and empowering their peers in the Midwest, continued to innovate
→ Accountability
programming, logistics, communications, and more.
We vow transparency in our processes, take ownership of our limitations and
As all of these things grew together, so grew the magnitude and
commit to continuous self-work. Through
complexity of the undertaking itself. And because the conference
this modeling, we expect and challenge our
would be managed by a new team of students each year, efficiencies
colleagues and partners to do the same.
and standards normally achieved in organizations over time did not
→ Education
fully map onto subsequent years. Conference planning teams found
We emphasize the importance of culturally
themselves re-inventing basic processes and tools year after year.
relevant academic experiences and expanding understandings of students’
What new heights could they reach if they had the ability to
integration into campus life.
dedicate even more focus to the mission of their conference? What
→ Advocacy
if they were given permission to dream their biggest dreams, and
We uplift the voices of systemically
the reliable, experienced mentorship to make that a reality?
disadvantaged students and colleagues as well as act as accomplices to all those
Those are the questions that members of the MBLGTACC
participating in anti-oppression work.
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE—then, the conference’s legal decision-
→ Community
making body—asked themselves for a number of years. In 2015,
Through intentional collaboration, we liaise
they created an ad hoc committee to explore the potential for
for various social justice efforts to build
building a national board to provide basic services, assume legal
sustainable coalitions and strengthen
and financial liabilities, and share expertise that would support
relationships across difference.
the conference’s continued growth, visibility, and spirit of constant
→ Liberation
innovation. And in 2016, the Institute officially launched. We’re
We situate ourselves in this work with
dedicated to the long-term development of the conference, to
determination to annihilate systemic
supporting the intrepid young leaders who make it all happen,
barriers, combat deeply ingrained beliefs
and to seeking out new opportunities to connect, educate, and empower LGBTQIA+ college students from around the Midwest and beyond. ■
and practices that negatively impact our communities, and conduct our work with urgency toward an inevitable revolution.
Institute’s R.B. Brooks and Justin Drwencke address MBLGTACC attendees in Omaha, 2018
2018-19 ACTIVITIES ORGANIZATIONAL PHILOSOPHY
FINANCE & FUNDRAISING In the 2018-19 fiscal year, we received unrestricted
Throughout the year, our team has been hard at work
donations of $8,987.48 from 56 unique donors. These
developing our organizational philosophy and strategic
donations come from recurring monthly donations
plan. This important step will serve as a framework for
through our website, as well as one-time donations
our future programs and outputs.
through our various social media platforms and special fundraising events (#GiveOUTDay, Giving Tuesday).
Our work is rooted in and inspired by the fight and efforts of those before us. It requires constant analysis,
Looking ahead, our financial position is stable. Though
exposure, and consideration of these situations and
we experienced a net loss in 2018-19 fiscal year, we
contexts in order to both model improved practices
have taken steps to significantly reduce operating
as well as contribute to continued efforts and fights
expenses and we anticipate program revenues will
for our collective liberation. An articulation of our
cover these expenses for the 2019-20 fiscal year.
organizational philosophy aims to provide context for
Additionally, after the completion of our organizational
our approach and lens, and lend others opportunity
philosophy and strategic plan in late 2019, we intend
to vow solidarity, coalition, or even opposition to our
to begin evaluating and launching new programs,
efforts.
exploring additional partnerships, and investigating additional development opportunities.
We are committed to operating as a collective and ensuring full-team collaboration throughout this process. We plan to unveil our organizational philosophy and strategic plan in late 2019. Stay tuned!
â–
MBLGTACC 2019 In 2019, MBLGTACC headed to Kansas for the first time in its 27 year history! Hosted by students from Wichita State University, 864 LGBTQ+ college students and higher education professionals from across the region (and nation) convened in Wichita, Kansas.
UPDATED NAME On October 1, 2018 we announced an updated name
CONTRIBUTING TO NATIONAL RESEARCH
for the largest and oldest conference for queer and trans+ college students: the MIDWEST BISEXUAL
At MBLGTACC 2019, we welcomed our partners from
LESBIAN GAY TRANSGENDER ASEXUAL COLLEGE
the NATIONAL STUDY OF LGBTQ STUDENT SUCCESS
CONFERENCE. This name change is an important next
and invited attendees to participate in the 2019
step in intentionally recognizing and centering the
LGBTQ+ College Experiences Survey. This study about
needs of asexual students in our collective work.
the experiences of those with marginalized sexual and gender identities contributes to further understanding
KEYNOTES AND FEATURED VOICES
ways that LGBTQ+ students experience college and how their institutions can best support them. We first welcomed the National Study of LGBTQ Student
Keynotes (in alphabetical order): NYLE DIMARCO, JANAYA KHAN, PIDGEON PAGONIS, JESSICA PETTITT
Success to MBLGTACC 2013, and results from their survey in 2013 informed several papers outlining better practices for institutions of higher education to support students with diverse sexualities and genders.
Featured voices (in alphabetical order): SAM BRINTON, CODY CHARLES, DR. JON PAUL HIGGINS, ROBYN OCHS
ADVISOR PROGRAMMING At MBLGTACC 2019, we partnered with the CONSORTIUM OF HIGHER EDUCATION LGBT RESOURCE PROFESSIONALS to provide advisor
DiMarco
khan
Pagonis
Pettitt
specific programming and networking opportunities. This partnership aligns with our mission to lead higher education colleagues in relevant and inclusive practices. â–
Brinton
Charles
Higgins
Ochs
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ACTIVITIES
FINANCIAL POSITION
Program Income
Assets
MBLGTACC
Current Assets
Registration received
$72,309.42
Ad sales
$1,850.00
Sponsorship received
$13,500.00
Vendor fair
$2,550.00
PROGRAM INCOME TOTAL
FY 18-19
$90,209.42
Cash Fixed Assets TOTAL ASSETS
$17,995.43 $$17,995.43
Liabilities Current Liabilities
Expenses MBLGTACC 2019 expenses
$37,239.56
Contractors paid
$25,700.00
Space & A/V
$24,414.69
MBLGTACC 2020 expenses Contractors paid
$500.00 $475.00
Bank fees
$60.00
Advertising
$61.58
Marketing
$2,017.61
Software and subscriptions
$548.47
Office expenses
$107.28
Supplies
$79.43
Printing and postage
$737.01
Salaries and wages Training and event attendance
Accounts Payable
$-
TOTAL LIABILITIES
$-
Net Assets Assets without Donor Restrictions
$ 17,995.43
Assets with Donor Restrictions
$-
TOTAL NET ASSETS
$ 17,995.43
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
$17,995.43
CASH FLOWS Cash at beginning of period
$1,925.00
Travel
Cash flow from operating activities
Transportation
$9,307.45
Net income
Hotel
$6,687.01
Adjustments from net income to cash
Travel meals
$3,709.34
Taxes Business license Credit card processing
$35,337.93
$20.00 $3,106.43
EXPENSES TOTAL
$116,695.86
OPERATING INCOME
($26,486.44)
Other Revenue
($17,342.50)
Accounts receivable
$-
Accounts payable
$-
TOTAL CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
($17,342.50)
Cash flow from investing activities Fixed assets
$-
Long-term assets
$-
TOTAL CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
$-
Unrestricted Donations
$8,987.48
Interest Income
$156.46
Net increase (decrease)
($17,342.50)
$ (17,342.50)
CASH AT END OF PERIOD
$17,995,43
NET INCOME (LOSS)
OUR TEAM VOLUNTEER STAFF
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CONTACT INFORMATION
JUSTIN DRWENCKE Executive Director justin@sgdinstitute.org
MATTHEW ANDERSON, ESQ.
General inquiries hello@sgdinstitute.org
ROZE R.B. BROOKS Director of Operations rb@sgdinstitute.org
LEE DYER
NICK PFOST Director of Marketing & Communications nick@sgdinstitute.org ANDY SWICK Director of Technology andy@sgdinstitute.org MARIAM JAKUBOWSKI Climate Assessment Coordinator mariam@sgdinstitute.org ROBERT ALBERTS Program Coordinator robert@sgdinstitute.org KATE MILLER Program Coordinator kate@sgdinstitute.org T.K. MORTON Program Coordinator Lawrence, KS MICHELLE WALTERS Administrative and Fundraising Coordinator michelle@sgdinstitute.org NOAH BARTH Historian noah@sgdinstitute.org
KHAMILLE DE LARA
Collaborations justin@sgdinstitute.org Historical archives noah@sgdinstitute.org MBLGTACC rb@sgdinstitute.org Press or media inquiries marketing@sgdinstitute.org Social media facebook.com/sgdinstitute flickr.com/sgdinstitute instagram.com/sgdinstitute issuu.com/sgdinstitute twitter.com/sgdinstitute youtube.com/c/sgdinstituteorg Sponsorships & giving justin@sgdinstitute.org Website comments webmaster@sgdinstitute.org
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Š 2019 Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity P.O. Box 1053 | East Lansing, MI 48826 | sgdinstitute.org