OUT Maine x Onion Foundation Fall 2026 Learning Cohort

Register Here

The Onion Foundation is partnering with OUT Maine to provide a comprehensive cohort program for grantee organizations to develop and implement inclusive LGBTQIA2S+ programming.

This learning cohort is for arts and environment nonprofit workers (an organization's staff, board, and/or volunteers) who want support developing inclusive policies, understanding best practices for supporting LGBTQIA2S+ program participants, and meeting peers engaged in similar work.

Cohort participation is free, has both virtual and in-person components, and is open to all Onion Foundation grantees regardless of funding type.

The cohort will begin with an in-person training day covering foundational best practices, a self-assessment, and goal setting for each organization. After the in-person training day, cohort participants may attend regular virtual follow-up meetings to check in on group progress towards goals and cover specific topics more in depth. The cohort works best with a team; we strongly recommend 2-3 members from each participating organization to attend together, whether that includes leadership staff, programming staff, or board members.

2026 Fall Cohort Dates:

April 10 - Registration opens

October 16 - Registration closes

October 30 - In person cohort meeting in Augusta, ME (address provided at registration)

November 2026-May 2027 - Virtual cohort meetings

For more information, contact Holly Taylor, Arts Program Associate, at holly@onionfoundation.org (Arts Grantees) or Ben DeHaven, Environment Program Associate, at ben@onionfoundation.org (Environment Grantees).

About this cohort:

Nonprofits do amazing work supporting their communities and increasing access to the arts and environment for Mainers. In recognition of the unique role nonprofits can play in their communities as trusted third spaces, and in light of increasing hostility aimed at LGBTQIA2S+ identities and support systems nationwide, the Onion Foundation and OUT Maine are partnering for a third year to offer a range of training options, designed to help Maine’s nonprofits serve queer community members with the support of an aligned network of peers. For information on training opportunities, visit OUT Maine.