IFGE
The International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit transgender advocacy organization founded in 1986.
IFGE's stated mission is to "promote understanding and acceptance of transgender people through advocacy and educational initiatives."
At its peak, IFGE was one of the very few TG organizations to have a paid staff and an open-to-the-public office.
IFGE published Transgender Tapestry, which was originally titled The TV-TS Tapestry, beginning in 1995.
IFGE spun off from the Tiffany Club, a social and support organization for the transgender community, in 1986.
Controversy and the Winslow Street Fund
IFGE, like many TG Community organizations, has had its share of internal difficulties, arising from, among other things, personality differences and control over finances, in particular the Winslow Street Fund.
The Winslow Street Fund was established in GET DATE IN HERE as a self-sustaining endowment fund, the purpose of which was to benefit the TG Community. Although part of IFGE, the Fund was to be managed by an independent Board Of Trustees.
Monies in the Fund were to be invested in stable moderate-growth securities and the intent was that the principal was to be "lockboxed" and untouched, with the growth being used for grants to programs of benefit to the TG community.
At its height, the Fund approached $100,000 in value. This allowed for an approximate annual grant total of $5000 without reduction of the principal.
It was explicitly stated that the Winslow Street Fund was not to be used for general operating expenses of the IFGE, although in extenuating cases it could be used as a sinking fund or as collateral for a loan.
Twice during the history of the IFGE, both in times of financial difficulty having to do with IFGE's operating expenses (mid 1990s and mid-late 2000s) there were allegations of misuse and mismanagement of the Winslow Street Fund.
Current status
As of this writing the exact status of IFGE is uncertain and unknown. Tapestry has not had a current issue for several years and the group's web site has not been updated since 2012. The current office is said to be in Washington, DC.
