Koppa | A Newsletter On Unleashing LGBTI+ Economic Power
Stay updated on Koppa’s latest initiatives driving LGBTI+ economic inclusion, from global collaborations and key reports to upcoming events and new partnerships.
Welcome to the second edition of Koppa’s newsletter update. Thank you for joining Koppa’s mission to unleash global LGBTI+ economic power.
Throughout 2024, Koppa has engaged with communities across the LGBTI+ ecosystem along three pillars: job creation and entrepreneurship, data collection, and inclusive finance. Here is the latest update on our activities.
End of Year Reflection
Dear friends,
At the end of Koppa’s first year, I’m reflecting on the insights gleaned from discussions with many of you, things I’ve read, and the work we’ve been doing to expand LGBTI+ economic power. One theme stands out to me: the queer circle of care. Queer for Queer founder Hrvoje Kondzic used this term when he told me his own story of being a refugee and why he created programs to improve the livelihoods of LGBTI+ migrants.
My community of feminist economists has written for decades about the economic importance of care labor — work done not just for pay but because of some other emotional value we get from it. A lot of care work is unpaid, so it doesn’t show up in GDP. But I would argue it’s the work that makes life worth living. It’s the work we do for each other that is essential to keep us fed, healthy, safe, and loved.
This year, I’ve seen how care shows up in economic empowerment work. The circle of care drives LGBTI+ entrepreneurs to hire other LGBTI+ people. Care drives volunteers who give back to community organizations with their time, energy, and knowledge. Care is built into the foundation of mutual aid groups of LGBTI+ refugees who help feed, house, and support each other in tough environments. Care for each other makes it possible to survive when families, communities, laws, and public institutions fail us.
Now the importance of care work in LGBTI+ lives is starting to show up in research, in development institutions, and in the start-up phase of Koppa. It’s one of the ideas that we’ll be using in our work to create a broad and caring ecosystem to generate LGBTI+ economic power.
Thank you all for walking down this road with us and with LGBTI+ communities in 2024. Rest up — we have a lot to do when 2025 rolls around!
Yours,
Lee Badgett - Koppa Chief Economist
Inclusive Finance
Potluck Fund Announcement at GPP
At the Global Philanthropy Project Conference in Cape Town, Chief Economist Lee Badgett announced that Koppa’s Potluck Fund would participate in GPP’s “Funding our Futures” campaign, which raised a total of $100 million in new funding commitments for LGBTI+ communities globally. Koppa’s grant-making focuses on LBTI+ economic empowerment. These grants began late this year and will continue being made until the end of 2026.
Koppa’s Lee Badgett presenting on the Potluck Fund in Cape Town
Koppa Crew In The News
LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors Summit, Concordia Summit, and NYSE
Top photo: Concordia Summit in NYC - left to right - The Hon. Luanne Peterpaul, H.E. Paolo Rondelli, Fabrice Houdart, Charles Moran, and Dr. Shereen El Feki
Bottom photo: LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors Summit in NYC - Reggie Van Lee and Fabrice Houdart
31st ILGA World Conference
In November, Koppa’s Justus Eisfeld attended the ILGA World’s Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. This marked one of the largest gathering spaces of LGBTI+ activists ever recorded. One stand-out point from the event was the need to focus on the under-investigated issue of poverty in intersex communities. EU data, for example, shows that the percentage of intersex people who have had to sleep rough (i.e. outside) at some point in their lives is thirty times the EU average.
Earlier this December, Justus Eisfeld moderated a panel on trans leadership as well as a panel on trans economic development at the TGEU — Trans Europe and Central Asia council in Malta. One focus was the hidden aspects of trans economic inequality, such as the effect that lower self-esteem due to discrimination can have on developing a career path, asking for a raise, or pursuing scholarships.
Koppa’s Justus Eisfeld at the TGEU Trans Leadership Panel in Malta
ADB Advance on SOGIESC
In November, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) marked two groundbreaking achievements. The Board unanimously adopted a new Environmental and Social Framework, enshrining "do no harm" protections for LGBTQ+ individuals across all ADB interventions. Additionally, it approved a five-year roadmap, “Operational Approach to Sexual and Gender Minorities’ Inclusion – A Road Map for 2025-2030”, to actively promote LGBTQ+ inclusion under the "do good" principle. These initiatives signal a pivotal shift toward integrating LGBTQ+ rights into global development standards and sets a high standard among international finance institutions — a cause Koppa is championing. Co-Founders Fabrice Houdart and Phil Crehan contributed to the ADB’s groundbreaking roadmap.
Phil and Lee also joined the ADB on a mission to Nepal, Bhutan, and Thailand for meetings and presentations with governments, statistical offices, development partners, and civil society.
Koppa Lab meeting with partners at the ADB and the National Statistical Office of Nepal in Kathmandu
Data Initiatives
2nd Launch of Belize Report
In October, the University of Belize hosted Koppa co-founder, Phil Crehan, and the United Belize Advocacy Movement (UniBAM) for a second launch of their recently published report. The launch was chaired by the Acting CEO of the Ministry of Economic Development, who was a proponent of more LGBTQ+ data to drive inclusive development strategies. This now sets up the next phase of work for UniBAM and Koppa Lab, explicitly partnering with the national statistical office and the multilateral development banks on an economic inclusion agenda.
5th UN World Data Forum
In November, Phil also joined the 5th UN World Data Forum in Medellín, Colombia. Koppa Lab joined a new initiative, iCount, representing nearly a dozen other organizations and statistical offices working for more inclusive data.
This Year Ahead
February & April: Consortium for Inclusive Data (CID)
CID’s next webinar will be on February 20 on the theme of building effective data partnerships with civil society. Additionally, the next convening of the CID will take place in Washington D.C. in April 2025 around the World Bank Spring Meetings. Details to follow, and if you’d like to join CID please click here.
May: Ring the Bell for LGBTIQ+ Equality
From May 14-23, stock exchanges worldwide will join forces for the first time for the inaugural Ring the Bell for LGBTIQ+ Equality initiative, marking IDAHOBIT. Hosted by the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative in collaboration with Koppa and global partners, including the UN Global Compact, UN OHCHR, and PGLE, the event highlights the private sector’s role in advancing LGBTIQ+ economic inclusion and human rights. Exchanges are encouraged to register here.
October: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Finance Forum
The Global LGBTQ+ Inclusive Finance Forum will be held in New York City from October 9-10th, 2025, at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth New York City Tech Hub. Join us for two days of impactful dialogue, networking, and innovation to foster inclusive financial ecosystems. Stay tuned for updates and registration details.
Reading Corner
Each year brings many new reports, containing new perspectives on the intersection of what it means to be LGBTI+ in our world — and what needs to happen to improve the lived experience of many in our community.
What did we miss? Leave a comment to let us know about other relevant reports.
Thank you for joining us on Koppa’s journey toward a more equitable world for the LGBTI+ community. We’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, or ideas — reach our team at newsletter@koppalab.com and help shape our future efforts and newsletters!
Koppa Team at Retreat in October in New Hope, Pennsylvania
