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Non-profit

LGBTQ Victory Institute (Gay and Lesbian Victory Institute)

Location:

Washington, DC
Tax ID:

52-1835268
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $2,744,023
Expenses: $1,787,726
Assets: $1,761,924
Type:

Civil Rights
Founded:

1993
Executive Director:

Elliot Imse

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The LGBTQ Victory Institute, also known as the Victory Institute, is a nonpartisan organization that trains LGBTQ candidates and campaign staffers on how to run for political office and how to build a political campaign infrastructure. It is the sister organization of the LGBTQ Victory Fund, which is a political action committee that works to elect more openly LGBTQ candidates to public office.

The group has partnered with the National Democratic Training Committee in training potential Democratic candidates on how to run for office. It also trains Democratic staffers on how to run political campaigns. The two organizations have partnered to offer free training to Democrats. 1

In 2019, the institute’s CEO, former Houston Mayor Annise Parker (D), slammed the media for claiming that Black voters would not support LGBTQ candidates. She made the comments in the wake of opinion polling that showed openly gay presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg was receiving little support from Black voters for the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries. 2

Overview

The LGBTQ Victory Institute is an ostensibly nonpartisan organization that trains LGBTQ candidates and campaign staffers on how to run for political office and how to build a political campaign infrastructure. It is the sister organization of the LGBTQ Victory Fund 527 political action committee, which works to elect openly LGBTQ political candidates to public office. 3

The institute was founded in 1993 with the goal of electing more openly gay and lesbian candidates to political office. At the time, there were fewer than 50 openly gay office holders in the entire United States. 4

The organization also founded the Presidential Appointments Project, which works to have openly gay people appointed into Senate-confirmed positions in government. It scored its first success in 1993 when Roberta Achtenberg was confirmed to be Assistant Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 5

The institute develops a four-day candidate and campaign training program. Among the most famous alumni of the program is Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D). 6

In 2002, the left-leaning David Bohnett Foundation and the institute create the David Bohnett Leaders Fellowship which sends LGBT elected officials and leaders to a three-week leadership development course at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Among that program’s most famous alumni is U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ). 7

In 2004, the first International LGBTQ Leadership Conference is held. It eventually becomes the largest gathering LGBT elected officials in the world. 8

In 2011, the institute launches a congressional internship program for LGBT college students. It places around a dozen interns every year with LGBT and other sympathetic members of congress. 9

LGBTQ Victory Hall of Fame

The organization hosts a hall of fame of openly LGBT lawmakers around the world. In December 2021, four more lawmakers, including Oregon Governor Kate Brown (D), were inducted in the hall of fame. 10

The hall of fame was launched in May 2021 with 21 members, and every December will see new lawmakers inducted. 11

Partnership with Democrats

The institute is ostensibly nonpartisan. But this did not stop them from becoming a partner organization of the National Democratic Training Committee. The NDTC trains Democrats on how to run for office and staffers on how to run political campaigns. 12

The two organizations have teamed up to provide free virtual trainings to Democrats across the country in the 2022 election cycle. 13

Criticism of the Media

In 2019, the institute’s CEO, former Houston Mayor Annise Parker (D), slammed the media for claiming that Black voters would not support LGBTQ candidates. She made the comments in the wake of opinion polling that showed openly gay presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg was receiving little support from Black voters for the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries. 14

Parker claimed the rhetoric was harmful because it created a stereotype that Blacks were homophobic. To counter that, she used the examples of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) and Alabama State Rep. Neil Rafferty, who won in a majority-Black district. 15

War In Ukraine

During the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2022, the institute called on the U.S. government to protect Ukraine’s LGBT advocates and political leaders from Russian persecution. This was done in response to reports that the Russians had “kill lists” of Ukrainian opposition leaders. 16

Leadership

The president and CEO of the organization is former mayor of Houston Annise Parker (D). She is the first openly gay or lesbian mayor in Houston’s history. Parker had received support from the LGBTQ Victory orgnaizations throughout her political career. 17

Elliot Imse is the executive director of the organization.  He joined the organization in 2016, previously working as the vice president of communications. He became executive director in April 2022. 18

The previous executive director was Ruben Gonzalez, who left the organization in April 2022 to accept a position in the Biden administration. 19

Finances

According to the 2019 tax return, the organization raised $2,148,515 and spent $2,712,927. It had assets of $195,367. 20

References

  1. “LGBTQ Victory Institute”. National Democratic Training Committee. Accessed May 23, 2022. https://traindemocrats.org/partners/gay-and-lesbian-victory-institute/.
  2. Gilchrist, Tracy E. “Annise Parker Rejects Idea Black Voters Don’t Vote For LGBTQ People”. The Advocate. Nov. 19, 2019 https://www.advocate.com/politics/2019/11/19/annise-parker-rejects-idea-black-voters-dont-vote-lgbtq-people.
  3. “Our History”. LGBTQ Victory Institute. Accessed May 23, 2022. https://victoryinstitute.org/about/history/.
  4.  “Our History”. LGBTQ Victory Institute. Accessed May 23, 2022. https://victoryinstitute.org/about/history/.
  5.  Our History”. LGBTQ Victory Institute. Accessed May 23, 2022. https://victoryinstitute.org/about/history/.
  6. “Our History”. LGBTQ Victory Institute. Accessed May 23, 2022. https://victoryinstitute.org/about/history/.
  7.  “Our History”. LGBTQ Victory Institute. Accessed May 23, 2022. https://victoryinstitute.org/about/history/.
  8. “Our History”. LGBTQ Victory Institute. Accessed May 23, 2022. https://victoryinstitute.org/about/history/.
  9. “Our History”. LGBTQ Victory Institute. Accessed May 23, 2022. https://victoryinstitute.org/about/history/.
  10. Riley, John.  “LGBTQ Victory Institute To Induct Four Historic LGBTQ Lawmakers Into Hall Of Fame”. Metro Weekly. Nov. 22, 2021 https://www.metroweekly.com/2021/11/lgbtq-victory-institute-to-induct-four-historic-lgbtq-lawmakers-into-hall-of-fame/.
  11. Riley, John.  “LGBTQ Victory Institute To Induct Four Historic LGBTQ Lawmakers Into Hall Of Fame”. Metro Weekly. Nov. 22, 2021 https://www.metroweekly.com/2021/11/lgbtq-victory-institute-to-induct-four-historic-lgbtq-lawmakers-into-hall-of-fame/.
  12. “LGBTQ Victory Institute”. National Democratic Training Committee. Accessed May 23, 2022. https://traindemocrats.org/partners/gay-and-lesbian-victory-institute/.
  13. “LGBTQ Victory Institute”. National Democratic Training Committee. Accessed May 23, 2022. https://traindemocrats.org/partners/gay-and-lesbian-victory-institute/.
  14. Gilchrist, Tracy E. “Annise Parker Rejects Idea Black Voters Don’t Vote For LGBTQ People”. The Advocate. Nov. 19, 2019 https://www.advocate.com/politics/2019/11/19/annise-parker-rejects-idea-black-voters-dont-vote-lgbtq-people.
  15.  Gilchrist, Tracy E. “Annise Parker Rejects Idea Black Voters Don’t Vote For LGBTQ People”. The Advocate. Nov. 19, 2019 https://www.advocate.com/politics/2019/11/19/annise-parker-rejects-idea-black-voters-dont-vote-lgbtq-people.
  16. “LGBTQ Victory Institute Calls On U.S., Allies To Safeguard LGBTQ Political Leaders, Advocates In Ukraine”. Windy City Times.  Feb. 24, 2022 https://www.windycitytimes.com/lgbt/LGBTQ-Victory-Institute-calls-on-US-allies-to-safeguard-LGBTQ-political-leaders-advocates-in-Ukraine/72471.html.
  17. Armus, Teo. “Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker To Lead LGBTQ Victory Fund, Victory Institute”. NBC News. Dec. 9. 2017 https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/former-houston-mayor-annise-parker-lead-lgbtq-victory-fund-n827746.
  18. “Elliot Imse Named Executive Director Of LGBTQ Victory Institute”. Out In Jersey. Apr. 24, 2022 https://outinjersey.net/elliot-imse-named-executive-director-of-lgbtq-victory-institute/.
  19. Rosenstein, Peter.”LGBTQ Victory Institute’S Ruben Gonzales Joins White House Staff”. Los Angeles Blade. April 12, 2022 https://www.losangelesblade.com/2022/04/12/lgbtq-victory-institutes-ruben-gonzales-joins-white-house-staff/.
  20. “Lgbtq Victory Institute Inc, Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer”.Propublica. Accessed May 23, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521835268/202023219349313392/full.

Directors, Employees & Supporters

  1. James Dozier
    FORMER DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR (2009-2012)
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: June 1, 1995

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Dec Form 990 $2,744,023 $1,787,726 $1,761,924 $970,597 N $2,717,414 $24,763 $32 $113,233
    2019 Dec Form 990 $2,301,822 $2,712,927 $195,367 $455,252 N $2,148,515 $149,494 $18 $175,964 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $2,454,293 $2,589,407 $775,969 $624,749 N $2,356,472 $96,345 $7 $169,949 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $2,585,715 $2,665,828 $585,297 $298,963 N $2,458,771 $126,941 $3 $204,072 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $2,373,890 $2,244,284 $703,479 $337,032 N $2,231,461 $142,408 $5 $176,095 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $2,173,093 $2,008,126 $660,493 $423,652 N $2,050,475 $119,610 $0 $95,218 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $2,224,802 $2,565,522 $434,983 $363,109 N $2,098,173 $123,002 $0 $122,115 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $2,266,244 $2,584,313 $711,207 $298,613 N $2,154,594 $106,037 $330 $150,651 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $3,051,086 $2,561,545 $1,063,933 $333,270 N $2,945,595 $99,446 $495 $66,434 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $1,965,424 $2,220,780 $402,690 $161,568 N $1,825,075 $126,935 $1,069 $122,433 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    LGBTQ Victory Institute (Gay and Lesbian Victory Institute)

    1225 I Street NW Suite 525
    Washington, DC