GATE’s Innovation Lab is a new strategy for sustaining the trans and gender diverse movement. Created to address the critical emergency funding needs of our communities, it is a bold and strategic approach to reducing financial dependency and fostering economic resilience among trans and gender diverse organizations worldwide.
How the Innovation Lab works
The Innovation Lab is a shared platform for trans- and gender diverse-led organizations to design, test and refine income-generating models. By aligning with community priorities and organizational missions, it advances new approaches to financial sustainability. Designed to be purpose-driven and rooted in community priorities, it is shaped through broad collaboration across sectors, bringing together trans-led organizations, donors and social enterprise experts. A key objective is to develop a transparent mechanism that connects donors with trans-led organizations to streamline support and reduce barriers to funding.
Phases of the Innovation Lab
The Innovation Lab is structured across four interconnected phases:
- Strategic Vision
- Knowledge Production
- Technical Assistance & Tailored Support
- Funding and Implementation
These phases move from collective strategy-setting and knowledge generation to practical support and resource mobilization for trans-led organizations.
Progress update: currently on phase 3
Work in progress – Phase 3: Technical Assistance & Tailored Support
This phase supports a cohort of trans-led organizations in developing or strengthening social enterprise models through tailored technical assistance, combined with flexible financial support of up to USD 10,000 per organization.
The application process launched in April 2026 invited organizations at various levels of income-generation experience, from newcomers to social enterprises to those already engaged in income-generating activities. Out of 30 organizations based in 18 countries, 10 were selected from regions including Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean
Six Technical Assistance Providers – social enterprise and business experts – have been contracted and matched with the organizations based on their background and expertise, regional familiarity, language skills and alignment with the organization’s needs. The organizations are:
- Alliance Trans Shield and The Voice Organization.
- Belize Trans Colors and KRISHNACHURA.
- Blue Diamond Society.
- Organización de Mujeres Unidas y Diversas de Honduras.
- QMA Initiative and Sisters Foundation.
- The Gila Project and TWEET Foundation.
This phase focuses on assessment, planning, capacity strengthening and business development. It is designed to build the foundations required for implementation rather than to launch business activities immediately.
By the end of the program on 30 November 2026, each organization is expected to have completed an organizational capacity and readiness assessment, undergone a tailored technical assistance process to strengthen their capacities where identified, and ultimately developed an organizational business plan.
These outputs will help each organization assess its readiness, identify the capacities and systems it needs to strengthen and develop a realistic pathway toward implementation. They will also help GATE and potential funding partners assess which models are ready to move into the next phase. Ultimately, the intended result of this phase is a cohort of trans-led organizations well-positioned for business implementation and funding.
Completed – Phase 1: Strategic Vision
- GATE formed the Innovation Lab Brain Trust, a diverse strategic advisory group bringing together trans community representatives, donors and social enterprise experts (17 members).
- On 12-13 September 2025, GATE convened the Brain Trust in Mexico City at a time when many trans-led organizations were experiencing shrinking resources, rising political hostility and attacks from anti-gender movements.
- The main goal of the meeting was to lay out an actionable plan for the next phase of the Innovation Lab. The meeting confirmed the value of the Brain Trust as a multidisciplinary space where diverse perspectives can guide the Innovation Lab’s direction and outputs.
- Brain Trust members identified priorities for the Social Enterprise Handbook and gave direction on the design of the technical assistance and funding phases. The meeting also established practical next steps for developing the Handbook, identifying technical assistance providers and designing a transparent approach to selecting and supporting participating organizations.
Links and resources:
- Read the Innovation Lab’s Open Letter
- Download the Brain Trust Meeting Report
- Learn more about the Mexico City meeting
Completed – Phase 2: Knowledge Production
GATE developed the Social Enterprise Handbook as a practical resource for trans and gender diverse-led organizations exploring social enterprise as a strategy for financial sustainability. The Handbook was informed by a global survey that received 71 responses, a review of existing resources, consultations with the Brain Trust and case studies of community-led social enterprises. The Social Enterprise Handbook provides tailored, accessible guidance on:
- Understanding what social enterprise is and what it is not.
- Assessing organizational and community assets.
- Considering legal structures and requirements.
- Identifying financing options.
- Planning, launching and sustaining a social enterprise.
- Learning from five community-led social enterprise case studies.
The Handbook was published in December 2025 and launched through two one-hour webinars held at different times to reach participants across global time zones. Representatives of community-led social enterprises featured in the Handbook shared their experiences, followed by interactive question-and-answer sessions.
GATE subsequently launched a free, self-paced online course based on the Handbook in March 2026. As of 13 July, 60 participants have taken the online course It guides participants from understanding social enterprise and assessing organizational readiness through to financing, operational planning and long-term sustainability.
Links and resources
The Brain Trust
The strategic vision for the Innovation Lab is guided by the Brain Trust, which unites diverse stakeholders, including community representatives, donors and social enterprise experts, to set the agenda for the initiative. The Brain Trust guides the Innovation Lab’s development throughout its phases, providing a multi-sectoral space for different perspectives to guide the direction and outputs.
Why it matters
Trans and gender diverse communities are experiencing major funding losses, targeted political attacks and increasing barriers to resources. The Innovation Lab responds to this context by supporting alternative economic models and strengthening the capacity of trans-led organizations to sustain their work.
Combining knowledge production, technical assistance, and resource mobilization under the strategic guidance of the Brain Trust, the Innovation Lab contributes to a more resilient and financially autonomous movement.
Meet the Innovation Lab cohort!
Alliance Trans Shield, Kenya
Alliance Trans Shield is a survivor-led collective that advocates for and empowers trans and gender diverse asylum seekers and refugees.
The organization aims to develop a social enterprise combining cooperative farming and poultry production. Profits would be reinvested in safe housing, food security, sustainable livelihoods and other essential support for community members.
Belize Trans Colors, Belize
Belize Trans Colors works toward a Belize where trans and gender diverse people can live with safety, dignity, legal recognition and equal access to services.
Its initial plan is to launch a trans-led digital services enterprise offering graphic design, social media management and video editing. The enterprise would provide safer employment opportunities while generating unrestricted income for the organization.
Blue Diamond Society, Nepal
Founded in 2001, Blue Diamond Society is a pioneering organization led by gender and sexual minorities, dedicated to enhancing their human rights and overall well-being in Nepal.
The organization aims to broaden its existing social enterprise by introducing a catering service associated with its conference facilities. This initiative is designed to provide culinary training for local community members, minimize outsourcing expenses and create revenue streams that will further support the organization’s objectives.
KRISHNACHURA: A Center for Gender Minorities Rights, Bangladesh
KRISHNACHURA works toward a Bangladesh where transgender, hijra, intersex, non-binary and queer people can live with dignity, safety, economic independence and social recognition.
The оrgаnizatiоn plans tо еstablish a bеаuty and саrе business that will be оpеrаted by trans аnd gender-diversе individuals, оffering inclusive care and wellnеss serviсеs. This prоject seеks tо creаte significant еmplоyment оppоrtunitiеs whilе аlsо rаising funds tо bоlster the оrgаnizatiоn’s аdvоcacy initiatives and cоmmunity prоgrаms.
La Organización de Mujeres Unidas y Diversas de Honduras, Honduras
The organization works to build a society where women, trans and gender diverse people can live freely, exercise their rights and access equal opportunities.
It aims to strengthen DiversaLab, a digital services enterprise specializing in graphic design, video editing, social media management and digital communications. The project would build market-relevant skills among trans and gender diverse people while generating sustainable income.
QMA Initiative, Uganda
QMA Initiative works to strengthen the dignity, safety, rights and opportunities of trans and gender diverse young people through media, information and creative platforms.
The organization plans to develop TransForm Market, an online marketplace where trans and gender diverse creators can offer their products and services. Participants would also receive training in entrepreneurship, branding and digital marketing.
The Gila Project – Transgenders for Social Justice, Israel
The Gila Project centers trans voices and community experience in its work toward systemic change and builds alliances with other movements addressing exclusion and inequality.
The organization already operates a professional training enterprise and intends to strengthen and expand it. Its priorities include improving marketing, client management, operational systems and educational quality to increase revenue from trans competency training and reduce long-term reliance on donations.
The Voice Organization, Malawi
The Voice Organization works toward a society where trans and gender diverse people can live with freedom, dignity, bodily autonomy and economic security.
It plans to establish Identity Stitch Collective, a tailoring and garment production initiative focused on clothing, accessories and gender-affirming products such as binders and tuckers. The model would combine vocational training with business development to strengthen livelihoods and generate organizational income.
TWEET Foundation, India
TWEET Foundation is a community-led organization working toward the legal recognition, social dignity and economic independence of trans and gender diverse people across India.
Its proposed Trans-Value e-commerce platform would connect trans-led microenterprises with customers across the country. The platform would also provide digital entrepreneurship training and support participants in growing their businesses.
Sisters Foundation, Thailand
Founded in Pattaya in 2004, Sisters Foundation is one of Thailand’s earliest organizations established specifically to respond to the needs of transgender communities.
The Foundation already has a registered social enterprise and aims to turn it into a fully operational, mission-aligned business. Its priorities include refining the business model, strengthening operational systems and developing staff capacity to generate unrestricted income for its health, legal and community services.