CHICAGO, June 27, 2025
Unrestricted Grants fuel Dreams
Funds for the Dolls champions trans women of color.
- Funds for the Dolls provides unrestricted grants to trans women of color in the arts.
- The program supports artistic endeavors, essential needs, and gender-affirming care.
- Grantees emphasize the importance of community support and visibility.
- The fund allows artists to explore new possibilities and reframe narratives.
- More progress is needed to ensure year-round recognition and opportunities for trans women of color.
In 2024, Theatre Communications Group (TCG) launched Funds for the Dolls, an unrestricted grant program, guided by Trans Women of Color (TWOC), that awards funds to trans women of color, supporting their artistic endeavors and essential needs.
A Change in Mentality
the Funds for the Dolls program, publicly announced at last year’s TCG Conference in Chicago, has completed its first cycle. The program provided $50,000 in funds for five grantees, with all artists who applied receiving some funds.
The inaugural grantees were five TWOC performing and theater artists whose work exists at the intersection of community organizing, social change, and art that uplifts and empowers queer and trans people. Four of those grantees are:
- Alluorra Rose (she/her): A Black Deaf trans woman whose work explores queer performance art and burlesque.
- ayo Jeriah Demps (she/they): An actor,educator,and director who recently appeared in a queer version of Jesus Christ Superstar in Central Florida.
- Venus Kii Thomas (xe/xym): A queer Black trans writer,multidimensional artist,creativity doula-in-formation,reiki practitioner,and abolitionist. Xe recently finished up a fellowship and performance and visual art installation consisting of poetry, music, visual art composed of works from the past decade that honor xir mother.
- N’yomi Stewart (she/her): A New York City-based multidisciplinary artist and community organizer hailing from South Carolina. She is the first Black trans woman to graduate from the prestigious University of North Carolina school of the Arts Acting program and was the associate director of Cats: The Jellicle Ball. Outside of theater, N’yomi is part of the NYC underground ballroom scene as a member of the Iconic House of Balenciaga.
Each artist was asked: What has having an unrestricted fund like Funds for the Dolls meant to you?
did you know? Funds from the Dolls is a no-strings-attached grant, meaning the funds can be used for anything, such as arts funding, essential needs or gender-affirming care, without the requirement to submit a conventional grant report.
Venus Kii Thomas: It is indeed expensive to be a Black trans woman in the United States of America! I am grateful for funds like this! When I got my first grant, I remember every time I received and spent the money, I had a change in mentality. Knowing that there’s more after this, as I demand and command a lot of things where I have this art to create and a life to live. What this unrestricted grant has done for me-it has reminded me that my womanhood is precious. To be able to take care of things and my home, go on a vacation, and be able to have more mobility in my life? I have to have those things. Thes are the requirements of my dreams (and my life). My friend once told me this Bible quote, “To whom much is given, much is required” (Luke 12:48). I did not understand that until I went through this healing journey for myself, and I’m very blessed as to what this grant has done.It has helped me to see the validity and more of the full vision of my dreams. It has helped me to see myself and know there’s more after this.
Ayo Jeriah Demps: Going to what Venus said, as Black women, everything is more expensive for us. If you don’t know how expensive it is to be Black in America, I have a poem called “What Is the Price of Assimilation?” that I wrote during a real rough time, getting at the cost of passing. If I were to recount all the gender-affirming care and all the things, I could buy multiple houses, cars, and college tuition!
The American beauty standards are not for us. Instead, I have found that this fund has allowed me to breathe a little bit more, experience a little bit more in my own personal fashion and expression, and has allowed for me to get into my intimacy certification. It’s not just about opening the door for me; it’s also for going into these other rooms and opening other doors for people to take ownership of their bodies and their expressions.It’s empowering me to be able to say yes and no a little bit more. I wish there were more,so I could say more yeses and more nos. It’s giving me space to do that as a Black woman, and it gave me validation that other
N’yomi Stewart: It is indeed not lost on me that this funding is providing an opportunity to do more. This grant has come to me at a beautiful time where I now have a lot of space to create more and take care of myself as an artist and a Black trans woman. Being in this space has made room for me to pour my heart and soul and into my art. It’s an amazing thing to have more time and space. It’s giving me space to feel proud and be proud.”
More Than Just Money
The impact of funds for the Dolls extends beyond financial support,offering something invaluable: validation. The program acknowledges the unique challenges TWOC face and provides resources to overcome them. This support is especially critical given the lack of representation and opportunities for trans women of colour in the arts.
For years, there were no funds like this.The program recognizes the critical need for unrestricted financial support for trans women of color.
The grantees also spoke on the importance of visibility. By showcasing the success and resilience of TWOC artists, Funds for the Dolls helps to dismantle harmful stereotypes and create a more inclusive environment. The funds are not just about the financial support, but also the recognition and validation that comes with it.
“Funds for the Dolls is more than just a grant; it’s a movement,” says one program administrator. it’s creating a ripple effect for a marginalized community.
Benefits of Unrestricted Grants
Unrestricted grants, such as Funds for the Dolls, offer several advantages to their recipients. They empower the artists to allocate funds based on their individual needs and priorities. This versatility allows them to:
- Pursue artistic projects: Funding can cover materials, equipment, or collaborators.
- Address essential needs: Grants can cover rent, food, healthcare or other basic necessities.
- Access gender-affirming care: The funds can ease the financial burden of crucial services, such as hormone therapy or surgeries.
- Foster personal and professional growth: Funds can provide opportunities for professional development, travel, or networking.
The ability to use funds without limitations allows trans women of color to maintain their health and well-being. It provides a sense of agency and allows them to take ownership of their lives and careers.
The creation of the unrestricted grant program gave these TWOC artists something else: A network of support. These grantees feel the freedom and validation to follow their dreams.
Future Directions
As the first cycle of Funds for the Dolls concludes, it is essential to reflect on its impact and consider the future. Continuing the program and expanding its reach are critical steps.
What’s next? The focus should be on increased funding levels, offering longer-term support, and widening the scope to recognize broader ranges of art.
Additional strategies to continue to support the trans women of color community include:
- Advocacy: Support policy changes that protect and empower trans women of color.
- Partnerships: Collaborate with other organizations to increase the reach and impact of the program.
- Community engagement: Engage with the TWOC community,as well as their allies,to determine the most effective use of resources.
Funds for the Dolls is an remarkable program that provides essential support. Programs like this are vital to empower creators and give resources for artistic endeavors and life-changing needs.
The program’s ongoing success requires continued commitment to the trans women of color community. By providing financial support, fostering a sense of community, and advocating for their rights, the program can play a vital role in creating a more equitable and inclusive world.
FAQs
1. What is Funds for the Dolls?
Funds for the Dolls is an unrestricted grant program created, led, and guided by Trans Women of Color (TWOC) in the arts.
2. Who is eligible for the grants?
The grants are awarded to TWOC pursuing artistic endeavors and/or with essential needs.
3.How are the funds used?
the funds can be used for any resources the grant recipient may need. Arts programs or everyday life needs are examples.
4. What makes these grants critically important?
These grants directly support TWOC and allow them to receive support for their work and to pursue their life goals.
5. How can I support Funds for the Dolls?
You can support this essential program by donating and amplifying the message of the grant program.
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