Exploring Our Unique Approach
Understanding Our Mission and Impact
Discover how we empower and uplift communities through innovative strategies and heartfelt initiatives.
What We Do
and Why It Might Not Look Like What You Expect
Trans Empowerment Project is a small, community-led organization doing large-scale, direct-impact work.
We are a team of two full-time staff, supported by a small but deeply committed group of volunteers.
Together, we:
- Distribute tens of thousands of dollars in direct aid through microgrants
- Train individuals, organizations, and companies in allyship, equity, and intersectionality
- Support grassroots organizers across the country in building local, community-based resources
- Create community spaces like Sisterhood Not Cisterhood focused on connection, education, and solidarity
We also handle everything behind the scenes: fundraising, grant writing, compliance, program development, communications, data tracking, and operations.
That means something important:
We do not have the same funding or capacity of large, multi-million dollar organizations—and our work won’t always be packaged the same way.
How Our Funding Works
Our entire annual budget is a fraction of what larger organizations spend on staffing alone.
That means:
- Every dollar raised has a direct and tangible impact
- A single fundraiser can translate into multiple microgrants supporting housing, food, or safety
- We are constantly balancing program delivery with the reality of limited capacity
When funding increases, our ability to serve the community increases—immediately.
We Protect Our Community's Safety
Why You May Not See Constant Updates or Stories
The communities we serve are extremely vulnerable to acts of discrimination, hate, and even violence. People in this community, especially those who are 2TIGE as well as disabled and BIPOC individuals, often prioritize privacy and safety.
Many people receiving support:
- Do not want their names, images, or stories shared publicly
- Request anonymity when providing feedback
- Are navigating real safety concerns in a political climate that is increasingly hostile
We honor that.
So while we recognize we could share more “feel-good” content about our clients and their stories, we choose not to compromise the safety or dignity of the people we serve to do it.
What Makes us Different
The work we do at TEP is grounded in direct support and community-led solutions.
We are not removed from that work—we are deeply entrenched in it.
Our Founder and Executive Director, is a Disabled, Multi-Racial, Trans person with lived experiences around the obstacles and barriers that our communities continue to face.
Jack is a multiple-award-winning Transformational leader who has been recognized for his leadership in building pathways to an inclusive future since 2002.
Through his leadership and in collaboration with the communities we serve, our partners, as well as our allies, we are building sustainable systems of care, not just visibility campaigns.
While we may not always have the loudest platform, the work we do is real, immediate, and deeply felt by the people it reaches and has been since we began in 2016.