About
True Colors United implements innovative solutions to youth homelessness that focus on the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ young people. Co-founded by Cyndi Lauper and headquartered in New York, the organization works to create a world where all young people can be their true selves, transforming the systems that serve youth experiencing homelessness and elevating young people with lived experience as leaders.
Mission
True Colors United's mission is to implement innovative solutions to youth homelessness that focus on the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ young people. Its vision is a world where every LGBTQ+ young person is celebrated for their authentic self, regardless of where they live.
What they do
- Provides free training and technical assistance to help service providers create safe and welcoming environments for LGBTQ+ youth; through its partnership with HUD's Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project it has trained local leaders in over 70 communities on LGBTQ and racial equity, project management, and youth collaboration
- Conducts advocacy at the federal, state, and local levels to secure funding and services for youth experiencing homelessness, and publishes the State Index on Youth Homelessness
- Elevates young people with lived experience of homelessness through the National Youth Forum on Homelessness, the Youth Action Society, and the Youth Action Summit
- Uses media outreach to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ youth homelessness
History
True Colors United was established in 2008 — originally as the True Colors Fund — by Cyndi Lauper, Lisa Barbaris, Jonny Podell, and Gregory Lewis. The founders were motivated by research indicating that a disproportionate share of young people experiencing homelessness in America identify as LGBTQ+.
Scale and impact
According to figures the organization publishes, 4.2 million youth experience homelessness each year in the United States, with Black, Latine, and LGBTQ+ young people disproportionately affected; LGBTQ+ youth are 120 percent more likely to experience homelessness than their non-LGBTQ+ peers. True Colors United's training work has reached local leaders in more than 70 communities.
Financials
True Colors United Inc is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (EIN 45-2489069) whose IRS exemption was issued in 2012. Per ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, in fiscal year 2024 the organization reported total revenue of 3,434,660 dollars and total expenses of 4,002,076 dollars, with contributions making up 96.3 percent of revenue. In fiscal year 2023 it reported revenue of 3,386,191 dollars and expenses of 6,185,291 dollars.
