Movement Advancement Project

The Movement Advancement Project, founded in 2006, is an independent think tank that provides rigorous research, insight and analysis that help speed equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. MAP’s work is focused on three primary areas:
 * Policy & Issue Analysis
 * LGBT Movement Overviews
 * Effective Messaging

Mission
"MAP's mission is to provide independent and rigorous research, insight and analysis that help speed full equality for LGBT people."

Audience
MAP’s work helps educate and persuade public audiences (such as policymakers, allied organizations and funders, media and the American public) and helps support LGBT movement audiences (including LGBT organizations and advocates, and LGBT funders).

Public Audiences
By articulating the need for change and outlining solutions, MAP hopes to enable these audiences to better understand the need for change, become motivated to act, and take effective action. The intended impact of this work:
 * Policymakers can better understand the challenges facing LGBT US Americans, feel more compelled to take action, and more effectively advocate for solutions that best achieve equality.
 * Allied organizations and funders can gain a better sense of how LGBT issues intersect with their existing work and funding, feel more compelled to act in favor of LGBT equality, and have a better sense of how to take effective action.
 * Media can better understand the issues facing LGBT US Americans, feel more compelled to cover LGBT issues in ways that build public understanding, and better articulate what needs to happen to achieve equality.
 * The US American public can better understand the challenges facing LGBT US Americans, become more supportive of LGBT people and issues, and take greater action to achieve equality and end social stigma.

LGBT Movement Audiences
MAP works with LGBT organizations, advocates and funders, providing them with tools, research and resources to help their efforts. MAP also provides information and analysis about the health and capacity of the LGBT movement, with the goal of helping these audiences more strategically apply and coordinate resources for maximum impact. The intended impact of this work:
 * LGBT organizations and advocates can access tools and resources that make these groups more effective, as well as benefit from sophisticated analysis that can help strengthen organizations and increase coordination.
 * LGBT funders can access analysis and gain insight on how to better apply and coordinate existing resources.

Logic Model
MAP hopes to help speed equality for LGBT people by educating and influencing external change agents, such as policymakers and media, while simultaneously strengthening the LGBT movement.

Policy & Issue Analysis
MAP provides resources and information about how LGBT organizations can frame issues and run communications campaigns that move equality forward.

Equality Maps
As a part of this program, MAP has published maps which aim to provide quick and easy summaries of laws that affect LGBT Americans on a state-by-state and issue-by-issue basis.

LGBT Movement Overviews
MAP provides information and analysis about the health, capacity and focus of the LGBT movement. The goal is to help LGBT organizations and their allies and supporters understand the strengths and weaknesses of the movement, current levels of activity and funding in priority areas, and where resources are needed most. Additionally, MAP provides tools that LGBT organizations can use to help strengthen their individual capacities in areas including leadership, fundraising, and financial management.

Effective Messaging
MAP works to uncover how inequitable and prejudicial laws have a negative effect on LGBT people’s lives - and what needs to happen to make things better.

Funding / Support
MAP is privately funded by a group of LGBT donors and foundations, including:
 * Arcus Foundation
 * David Bohnett Foundation
 * David Dechman
 * Gill Foundation
 * Jim Hormel
 * Johnson Family Foundation
 * Amy Mandel & Katina Rodis
 * Weston Milliken
 * Kevin J. Mossier Foundation
 * The Palette Fund
 * Mona Pittenger
 * Two Sisters and a Wife Foundation
 * H. van Ameringen Foundation