Payana
Karnataka
Payana
Karnataka
MISSION
Payana aims to tackle stigma, discrimination, and invisibility faced by Karnataka’s sexual minority community by training trans artists to perform plays on trans lives ; exploring their daily experiences, food, fashion, fantasy, joys, and struggles. The project seeks to build on their self-expression, enabling them to voice their identities and experiences authentically in a respectful and supportive environment, whilst advocating for safe and equal spaces at the community level. Additionally, through local partnerships, Payana aims to strengthen local grassroots organisations by their association with Payana.
Payana aims to tackle stigma, discrimination, and invisibility faced by Karnataka’s sexual minority community by training trans artists to perform plays on trans lives ; exploring their daily experiences, food, fashion, fantasy, joys, and struggles. The project seeks to build on their self-expression, enabling them to voice their identities and experiences authentically in a respectful and supportive environment, whilst advocating for safe and equal spaces at the community level. Additionally, through local partnerships, Payana aims to strengthen local grassroots organisations by their association with Payana.
Payana aims to tackle stigma, discrimination, and invisibility faced by Karnataka’s sexual minority community by training trans artists to perform plays on trans lives ; exploring their daily experiences, food, fashion, fantasy, joys, and struggles. The project seeks to build on their self-expression, enabling them to voice their identities and experiences authentically in a respectful and supportive environment, whilst advocating for safe and equal spaces at the community level. Additionally, through local partnerships, Payana aims to strengthen local grassroots organisations by their association with Payana.
ABOUT THE ORG
Formed in 2009 in Karnataka, Payana was established by seven individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community to build a community-owned and managed organisation to address the various challenges faced by the transgender community.
Payana works with transgender individuals from socioeconomically marginalised backgrounds through leadership and capacity building via arts-based mediums, access to justice via legal support, enabling access to identity-based documentation, and health interventions, including counselling, HIV/AIDS prevention, and treatment.
Moments
of Pride
A reflection of the impact of Payana's work in Karnataka
Theatre performances of the plays “Talki” and “The Last Song” were staged five times across multiple districts of Karnataka by trans artists trained by Payana to strengthen self-expression and authentically voice their identities and lived experiences.
Audience members were reached through these theatre performances as part of an ongoing advocacy and social inclusion programme.
Appreciation letter from the Police Department served as a strong affirmation of our approach and reinforced the value of inclusive advocacy.
TESTIMONIAL
FAQs
If you still don’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out to us.
How can I donate to Pride Fund India?
We are inviting funders - philanthropists, family foundations, CSR, domestic and international foundations to commit and build an inclusive future for India’s queer community. We encourage funders to support our NGO partners located across India for their program and their administrative expenses via programmatic and unrestricted funds. We encourage our funders to support multiyear funding to deepen impact on the ground. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funders can collaborate with The Pride Fund to: - Access a curated, vetted portfolio of NGOs working on queer inclusion. - Simplify due diligence and reduce compliance and reputational risks through pooled funding. - Showcase impact on national and international platforms through Pride Fund’s partner networks. - Participate in cross-learning and co-funding opportunities with other inclusive corporates.
Are there ways to support Pride Fund India beyond financial contributions?
Yes, we are always on the lookout for volunteers from design, social media, and fundraising for our NGO partners.
What is the grant cycle and selection process?
In the launch year of 2025, we followed a participatory grant-making approach via a jury of founding patrons, anchor partners, and LGBTQIA+ practitioners. They reviewed the proposals collected through RFPs and selected grantees for post-deliberation. We will continue to take advice from this panel as we empanel more organisations. If you want to introduce your organisation to the Pride Fund India, please write to info@pridefundindia.org
Do you support early-stage organisations or only established ones?
We support organisations that are LGBTQIA+ focused, underfunded (small/grassroot/ mid-sized NGOs), and have been operational for at least three years.
FAQs
If you still don’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out to us.
How can I donate to Pride Fund India?
We are inviting funders - philanthropists, family foundations, CSR, domestic and international foundations to commit and build an inclusive future for India’s queer community. We encourage funders to support our NGO partners located across India for their program and their administrative expenses via programmatic and unrestricted funds. We encourage our funders to support multiyear funding to deepen impact on the ground. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funders can collaborate with The Pride Fund to: - Access a curated, vetted portfolio of NGOs working on queer inclusion. - Simplify due diligence and reduce compliance and reputational risks through pooled funding. - Showcase impact on national and international platforms through Pride Fund’s partner networks. - Participate in cross-learning and co-funding opportunities with other inclusive corporates.
Are there ways to support Pride Fund India beyond financial contributions?
Yes, we are always on the lookout for volunteers from design, social media, and fundraising for our NGO partners.
What is the grant cycle and selection process?
In the launch year of 2025, we followed a participatory grant-making approach via a jury of founding patrons, anchor partners, and LGBTQIA+ practitioners. They reviewed the proposals collected through RFPs and selected grantees for post-deliberation. We will continue to take advice from this panel as we empanel more organisations. If you want to introduce your organisation to the Pride Fund India, please write to info@pridefundindia.org
Do you support early-stage organisations or only established ones?
We support organisations that are LGBTQIA+ focused, underfunded (small/grassroot/ mid-sized NGOs), and have been operational for at least three years.
FAQs
If you still don’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out to us.
How can I donate to Pride Fund India?
We are inviting funders - philanthropists, family foundations, CSR, domestic and international foundations to commit and build an inclusive future for India’s queer community. We encourage funders to support our NGO partners located across India for their program and their administrative expenses via programmatic and unrestricted funds. We encourage our funders to support multiyear funding to deepen impact on the ground. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funders can collaborate with The Pride Fund to: - Access a curated, vetted portfolio of NGOs working on queer inclusion. - Simplify due diligence and reduce compliance and reputational risks through pooled funding. - Showcase impact on national and international platforms through Pride Fund’s partner networks. - Participate in cross-learning and co-funding opportunities with other inclusive corporates.
Are there ways to support Pride Fund India beyond financial contributions?
Yes, we are always on the lookout for volunteers from design, social media, and fundraising for our NGO partners.
What is the grant cycle and selection process?
In the launch year of 2025, we followed a participatory grant-making approach via a jury of founding patrons, anchor partners, and LGBTQIA+ practitioners. They reviewed the proposals collected through RFPs and selected grantees for post-deliberation. We will continue to take advice from this panel as we empanel more organisations. If you want to introduce your organisation to the Pride Fund India, please write to info@pridefundindia.org
Do you support early-stage organisations or only established ones?
We support organisations that are LGBTQIA+ focused, underfunded (small/grassroot/ mid-sized NGOs), and have been operational for at least three years.
India’s first dedicated LGBTQIA+ Philanthropy Fund | India’s first dedicated LGBTQIA+ Philanthropy Fund
India’s first dedicated LGBTQIA+ Philanthropy Fund | India’s first dedicated LGBTQIA+ Philanthropy Fund
India’s first dedicated LGBTQIA+ Philanthropy Fund | India’s first dedicated LGBTQIA+ Philanthropy Fund
India’s First Dedicated LGBTQIA+ Philanthropy Fund
India’s First Dedicated LGBTQIA+ Philanthropy Fund
India’s First Dedicated LGBTQIA+ Philanthropy Fund