Queer Works, founded by Jacob Rostovsky in 2018, is an advocacy group that claims to focus on mental health issues for “transgender and gender non-binary” individuals, as well as providing free therapy, workshops, and “gender affirming letters” made by “licensed therapists.” ¹ The group’s website claims it provides “free mental health services to TGI+ individuals.” ²

In 2024, Rostovsky, then Queer Works’ CEO, was indicted for fraud, theft, and misappropriation of public funds by California local authorities. ³

Controversy

In October of 2024, Queer Works founder and CEO Jacob Rostovsky was charged with 53 felony counts in an alleged “fraud scheme” in which he was accused of stealing more than $940,000 of public funds from communities including Palm Springs and Riverside County, California. Charges included “fraudulent claims, grand theft, misappropriation of public funds, insurance fraud, perjury, and money laundering.” The indictment of Rostovsky included an aggravated white-collar crime enhancement, and Rostovsky surrendered to authorities on October 17, 2024, after which he posted bail. ⁴

Queer Works received public funds in the form of grants from Riverside County for programs to help the homeless and victims of domestic violence. In 2022, the city of Palm Springs gave Queer Works $700,000 to develop a universal basic income pilot program, which was meant to provide 180 participants monthly stipends of $800. Instead, it was reported in the indictment that Rostovsky had allegedly used these funds on personal expenses, “including purchases at Disney, Burberry, and the Beverly Garland Hotel.” ⁴

Financials

In 2023, Queer Works reported $723,366 in revenues and $593,936 in expenses, with $134,568 in total assets. ⁵ Most of Queer Works’ funding has come from public funds through local communities including Riverside County and Palm Springs, CA. ³

In 2023, the Regional Access Project (RAP) Foundation reported donating $43,800 to Queer Works for “Health/mental Health” purposes. ⁵ Regional Access Project Foundation is a grantmaking organization operating in eastern Riverside County, California that funds nonprofits working in mental health and other service areas for “disadvantaged populations.” ⁶

Leadership

Jacob Rostovsky was the founder and CEO of Queer Works, starting the group in 2018. He was previously a therapist and openly identified as transgender. In 2024, he was indicted for alleged fraud, misappropriation, and theft of more than $940,000 in public funds. ^{5 7 1}

1. Anthony, Abigail. “CEO of LGBTQ+ Organization Indicted for Stealing Nearly $1 Million in Taxpayer Funds.” National Review, November 5, 2024. https://www.nationalreview.com/news/ceo-of-lgbtq-organization-indicted-for-stealing-nearly-1-million-in-taxpayer-funds/.
2. “Queer Works & the Transpower Project.” Queer Works & The TransPower Project. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://www.queerworks.org/.
3. “CEO of Nonprofit Queer Works in Southern California Charged in Theft of $940K.” KTLA. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://ktla.com/news/local-news/ceo-of-nonprofit-queer-works-in-southern-california-charged-in-theft-of-940k/.
4. “Criminal Grand Jury Indicts Nonprofit CEO on 53 Felony Counts in Fraud  Scheme Involving Theft of More than $940,000 in Public Funds.” Office of the District Attorney County of Riverside. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://rivcoda.org/nonprofit_fraud.
5. “Queer Works.” Cause IQ. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/queer-works,832209563/.
6. “Regional Access Project Foundation.” Cause IQ. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/regional-access-project-foundation,330547453/.
7. Morgen, Sam. “Queer Works CEO Charged with Stealing $940,000 from City of Palm Springs, Others.” The Desert Sun, October 24, 2024. https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/crime_courts/2024/10/23/queer-works-indictment-palm-springs-riverside-county-jacob-rostovsky/75812184007/.