What began as a fan-fueled connection at the merch tables of Tegan and Sara concerts has grown into one of the most intentional and community-rooted philanthropic efforts in queer justice today. The Tegan and Sara Foundation, founded by the acclaimed Canadian musicians, is not just a charitable vehicle – it’s a living, learning ecosystem. At its heart lies the Tegan and Sara Foundation Fund at MakeWay, a uniquely structured Community-Advised Fund focused on supporting 2SLGBTQ+ communities across Canada.
We recently sat down with the Fund Advisor to the Canadian extension of the Foundation, to learn how the work began, how it’s evolved, and how the Fund continues to show up – especially when it’s hardest to do so.
“We are no longer looking to work with folks who don’t trust communities to know what they need. That trust has paid off in dividends.”
— Kika Chatterjee, Fund Advisor
From the Stage to the Streets: An Origin Story Rooted in Listening
The Foundation began, as many high-profile benevolent things do, with a question: how can we use our platform to do more?
Long before it was common or safe for artists to be outspoken about queer identity, Tegan and Sara were blazing trails as openly queer women in the music industry. After decades of touring, they found themselves in countless conversations with fans who shared not just their love of music but also their lived experiences of exclusion, injustice, and unplanned resilience.
These raw, personal, and urgent stories laid the groundwork for what would become the Tegan and Sara Foundation. Rather than rush to action, they embarked on a listening tour across North America, connecting with grassroots organizers, nonprofit leaders, and fellow changemakers. Their goal was simple but rare in philanthropy: to respond to the need without duplicating what was already working.
“We didn’t want to take attention away from grassroots leaders. We wanted to play a role that was actually needed.”
That commitment to service and humility has shaped every aspect of the Foundation’s giving strategy ever since.
From “By and For” to “With and Alongside”
The Foundation’s mission originally focused on improving the lives of 2SLGBTQ+ women and girls has evolved into a more nuanced and inclusive call to action: Investing in the potential of 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
This shift reflects an intentional broadening of scope and deepening of values. “We were always including trans women and non-binary people in our work,” Kika explains, “but we realized that being specific about who we do want to support, rather than just who we don’t exclude, was critical.”
Rather than define community narrowly, the Fund leans into intersectionality, directing support to those most overlooked: rural trans youth, Black queer women, Indigenous harm reduction workers, and others whose work often falls outside the mainstream funding spotlight.
“We’re not afraid to dig into the nuance. We’re interested in who’s being ignored — and how we can show up there.”
The Fund now operates with a community governance model, including a Board of Directors who reflect the people the Foundation supports: half from the U.S., half from Canada. Their job isn’t symbolic; it’s operational. They actively weigh in on grantmaking decisions, challenge gaps, and guide the Fund’s direction.
Small, Focused, and Brave
While many funders gravitate toward high-profile institutions or quantifiable scale, the Tegan and Sara Foundation Fund has committed to resourcing smaller organizations with annual budgets under $300,000, often much smaller.
And the Fund doesn’t shy away from risk. “Not all projects will last forever,” Kika shares, “and not all of them are meant to. Some are meant to meet a moment.”
Take the open-call grant round they ran in 2025: over 800 applications came in, with just 24 grants awarded. “It’s heartbreaking,” she says, “because most of the applicants are doing brilliant work. But we have to stay focused and responsive.”
Even with modest grant sizes, the Fund’s impact extends beyond the dollar. Grantees gain access to capacity-building workshops, peer town halls, and, perhaps most importantly, a vote of confidence that can help them unlock other support.
“We know that when we invest early, we’re helping organizations gain legitimacy and build long-term sustainability.”
Spotlight: The LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory
Among the Foundation’s most impactful and rapidly growing grantees is the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory – a free, searchable database that connects 2SLGBTQ+ people with affirming, knowledgeable healthcare providers across the U.S. and Canada. Originally developed in response to the well-documented health disparities faced by queer and trans communities, the directory now features thousands of providers and continues to grow daily. The goal isn’t just access – it’s dignity.
“We’ve heard from so many people that finding a doctor who sees and affirms them changed their whole relationship to healthcare. That’s why this matters.”
With support from the Foundation and other partners, the Directory is becoming a vital tool in advancing health equity, especially for people in remote or underserved regions. It’s a testament to how targeted, responsive funding can seed lasting systemic change — one listing at a time.
Why MakeWay? A Trusted Home in Canada
For a U.S.-based team operating with a deep commitment to Canadian communities, partnering with MakeWay was both a practical and philosophical choice. The Tegan and Sara Foundation Fund at MakeWay enables the Foundation to channel donor dollars directly to Canadian organizations while navigating legal and compliance frameworks.
“MakeWay has made it possible to do our work in Canada with integrity. We know our dollars are going to the right places — and that we’re doing it right.”
By establishing a Community Advised Fund with MakeWay, the Foundation is able to fund grassroots Canadian organizations that align with their mission — without directing the grants themselves. Instead, decisions flow through the Foundation’s board and staff, who bring deep insight into each funding decision.
MakeWay created Community Advised Funds as an additional tool to evolve the traditional DAF (Donor Advised Funds) model, shifting more power to community leaders.
What’s Needed Now: An Invitation to Join the Work
The philanthropic landscape is shifting. For many queer-led organizations — and the intermediaries who support them — funding has become more precarious. As Kika notes, the Foundation has lost several funders due to political pressure and changing priorities.
And yet, they remain steadfast.
“We’re not changing our mission to survive. We’re staying true to our communities. We know the pendulum will swing back and when it does, we’ll be ready.”
In the meantime, the Fund continues to rely on a blend of individual donors, philanthropic partners, and — yes — proceeds from Tegan and Sara’s royalties and ticket sales. But celebrity-led philanthropy can only go so far.
“Tegan and Sara are incredibly generous, but they can’t do this alone. The scale of need is far bigger than any one person or artist.”
The invitation is clear: if you care about community-led change, queer and trans futures, and want to donate to an initiative deeply connected to the community, this is the Fund to support.
Learn More & Support the Work
Learn more about the Tegan and Sara Foundation at teganandsarafoundation.org. If you are inspired, please donate to the Tegan and Sara Foundation Fund at MakeWay.