It Gets Better Project / IOLA Foundation

Media:The It Gets Better Project's storytelling efforts are at the forefront of its global effort to uplift, empower and connect LGBTQ+ youth. Every It Gets Better story offers a unique, wisdom-infused perspective designed to show LGBTQ+ youth that through community, shared experiences, and life-affirming resources, things can and will get better. This simple message of hope has been translated across all forms of media, including social media, television specials, best-selling books, theater, museum exhibits and more, and has attracted millions of followers and supporters from around the world. The It Gets Better Project is the destination for LGBTQ+ youth exploring their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.In 2022, the It Gets Better Project produced and/or curated inspiring stories and uplifting messages that attracted 467K visitors to ItGetsBetter.org with It Gets Better stories viewed more than 21 million times across TikTok, Twitch, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Tumblr, and LinkedIn. The It Gets Better Project captured the stories of folks like Chella Man, Dee Trannybear, April Kae, Zaya Wade, Chris and Scott Evans, Colton Haynes, Nyle DiMarco, Jeffrey Jay, Makayla Walker, Ady Del Valle, Harnaam Kaur, Calle y Poch, mxmtoon, Zolita, Harry Hanson, V Spehar, Armand Fields, Justin Huertas, Sam Leicht, and Jhonatan Castillo. The It Gets Better Project also launched a new Twitch vodcast, Perfectly Queer, and released multiple web series: Queer Sex Ed, Industry: STEM, and LGBTQ+ Fundamentals.

Education:The It Gets Better Project's education program, It Gets Better EDU, consists of a youth ambassador program, a nationwide grant initiative supporting LGBTQ+ students, and a growing library of free educational resources delving into the LGBTQ+ experience. New EduGuides were released in 2022, including supplemental materials for Queer Sex Ed and Industry: STEM - two It Gets Better original productions. Thousands of educational materials were downloaded from ItGetsBetter.org by educators, students, and parents throughout the year, reaching more than 64,000 students across the US and around the world.Now in its third year, the It Gets Better Project's youth ambassador program Youth Voices continues to serve as a powerful reminder of the drive, passion, and resiliency of young LGBTQ+ people. Ten exceptional teens joined the 2022/2023 cohort to offer their unique stories and words of advice to other LGBTQ+ youth around the globe and, in November, traveled to Los Angeles for the inaugural Youth Summit, a week of networking, bonding, and educational programming. In partnership with America Eagle and Aerie, the It Gets Better Project, announced the recipients of a $500K grant initiative to uplift and empower LGBTQ+ students in middle- and high schools across the US. The program, 50 States. 50 Grants. 5,000 Voices., awarded 50 projects in 40 states and Washington D.C. with grants of $10K each. Projects ranged from gender inclusive closets to Pride celebrations to inclusive education resources for teachers. The grant opportunity returns in 2023 and will expand to include Canada.

Global:The It Gets Better Project fosters a global community by cultivating a growing slate of international, like-minded organizations that have embraced our mission to support LGBTQ+ youth in their home countries; by spearheading global grantmaking initiatives to elevate the work of organizations serving LGBTQ+ youth; by engaging with young LGBTQ+ people both on and offline through special events; and by curating safe virtual spaces via social media where LGBTQ+ youth can connect and engage with one another.The It Gets Better Global Affiliate Network now spans four continents with global storytelling efforts now available in eight languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, German, Greek, French, and Hungarian. In 2022, the It Gets Better Project hosted its first Spanish-language summit, Cumbre en Espaol, a groundbreaking two-day event in Miami, FL for It Gets Better Global Affiliates representing Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Spain, Hungary, Mexico, Panama and Peru. The It Gets Better Project also co-hosted the ILGA (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association) World Conference in Long Beach, CA. More than 800 LGBTQ+ activists, US and UN public officials, and leading nonprofits from around the globe came together to set the agenda for global LGBTQ+ advocacy for the next two years.Global grantmaking totaled $73,100 in 2022 and supported capacity building and/or storytelling initiatives in Canada, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, Guatemala, Taiwan, and Brazil.