Throughout its first dozen years of existence, ORAM did not engage with corporations. As a result, the young organization lacked corporate support and partnerships – key for nonprofits to access skills, funding, and resources in order to maximize their impact – until recently.
Efforts made by ORAM’s staff and Board members to tap into the corporate world have paid off in strong corporate engagement over the last few years. ORAM’s recent connections with the private sector are not only prime opportunities for fundraising and organizational development, but also for raising awareness about the challenges that face LGBTIQ refugees globally and ORAM’s mission.
The new wave of corporate partnerships started in 2019 between ORAM and Brand g Vacations – the leading operator of LGBTIQ river cruises and land tours. In celebration of Giving Tuesday, Brand g Vacations established a generous, successful matching grant program to incentivize their clients to contribute to ORAM.
Pictured above: ORAM Executive Director Steve Roth (center) on a trip to Germany with Brand g employees.
Then, in 2020, ORAM was selected to participate in JPMorgan Chase’s Force for Good program. The partnership was a win-win-win. ORAM got a new website at no cost; displaced queer folks gained helpful tools via the site, including a database of digital resources; and JPMorgan employees – some with personal connections to the LGBTIQ refugee community – had the opportunity to give back.
Laura, one of the members of the Force for Good team, said, “Seeing ORAM on the list of non-profits we could work with and reading about their mission, I felt a huge connection. I lost family members when I came out and it was extremely painful but at least I had a safe place to exist, and I am glad to be able to help… to make the world a safer place for everyone.”
That same year, ORAM teamed up with Tent Partnership for Refugees – a global business network for companies committed to including refugees – and the Human Rights Campaign. The result: an ORAM-authored guidebook that serves to educate companies on how to establish and implement professional mentorship programs for LGBTIQ refugees and asylum seekers.
2022 has been a watershed for ORAM in terms of corporate support, with myriad opportunities to develop longer-term partnerships with major companies. And one of the main ways in which ORAM is tending to our relationships with the private sector is through virtual events. These events provide an excellent platform for educating new audiences on the challenges facing LGBTIQ refugees and asylum seekers and raise critical funds to support ORAM’s work.
Recently, ORAM Executive Director Steve Roth has spoken on behalf of ORAM at three fireside chats and panels hosted by tech giant Microsoft and two major financial sector firms, Raymond James and Deutsche Bank.
At a remote Pride kickoff event in March hosted by Global LGBTQIA+ Employees and Allies at Microsoft (GLEAM), Steve spoke with GLEAM California Co-Lead Anton Sarkisov. The event raised significant funds to support ORAM’s work through employee donations and a generous two-to-one match by Microsoft. It also set the stage for a partnership that is continuing to grow and is soon likely to include a joint trip between ORAM and Microsoft staff to volunteer at one of the LGBTIQ refugee shelters that ORAM serves in Mexico.
In April, Steve spoke at a lunch and learn hosted by Raymond James. The virtual gathering was a great opportunity to educate Raymond James employees on the importance of ORAM’s work and to encourage them to chip in to ORAM’s efforts to house displaced LGBTIQ Ukrainians.
Pictured above: Steve (top left) participates in the Raymond James lunch and learn event.
On International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) this month, Steve participated in a fireside chat hosted by Arjun Nagarkatti, head of Deutsche Bank International Private Bank (IPB) for the Americas and ORAM’s newest board member. Not only did the event raise significant funds, but it also informed Deutsche Bank staff – all 750 attendees – about the pressing need to advocate for the removal of Title 42, the Trump-era ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy.
Pictured above: the fireside chat hosted by Deutsche Bank is about to begin.
ORAM’s connections with the corporate world show no signs of slowing. Next up: talks with Google, Delta Air Lines and JP Morgan, followed by ORAM’s 2022 LGBTIQ Refugee Pride Reception hosted by Deutsche Bank at their headquarters in New York City!
If one thing’s for sure, it’s that ORAM has a strong future ahead in building relationships with the private sector. Follow along on the Corporate Engagement page of our website.
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