As the only non-governmental organization in Lithuania exclusively representing the interests of the LGBT community, LGL faces the need to address the LGBTI+ community’s issues more frequently than just once every three years during the “Baltic Pride” festival organized by LGL. Since 2024, LGL has taken a leadership role in organizing Lithuania’s largest LGBT human rights event – the LGBT community “Pride” parade – on an annual basis.

Funding an event of the scale of an annual “Pride” festival solely through project-based financing is impossible, making it particularly important to develop relationships with business entities, state and municipal institutions, and to diversify LGL’s funding sources.

Through the implementation of the proposed project, LGL will provide recommendations on state and municipal institutions’ involvement in organizing the “Lithuanian Pride” 2026 festival.

To strengthen ties with business entities, LGL will organize fundraising meetings for the “Lithuanian Pride” 2026 festival and participate in the annual conference of the international Pride business network, EPBN.

Active volunteer involvement is essential for organizing Pride events. Therefore, it is necessary to develop LGL’s volunteer program and increase volunteer motivation to ensure long-term engagement. As part of the project, LGL will implement a Pride volunteer program, overseen by a volunteer coordinator. LGL volunteers will participate in training sessions and volunteer meetings, and the most motivated volunteers will represent the organization at the international IGLYO conference.

LGL will also increase the visibility of Pride events held in Lithuania, strengthen international cooperation, and enhance staff competencies by organizing the annual conference of the European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA) in Vilnius, and by participating in the EuroPride conference, the Baltic Pride 2026 festival in Estonia, the InterPride annual members’ conference, as well as actively engaging in international umbrella LGBTI+ rights organizations.

It is expected that the proposed project will strengthen LGL’s financial sustainability, ensure strategic development, and reinforce the LGL team with new employees and volunteers. The project will also provide an opportunity to develop relationships with business entities, state and municipal institutions, as well as international Pride and LGBTI+ rights organizations.