DAISSI, formally GLOSSI (gays and lesbians of Salt Spring Island) has been a registered non-profit Society for many years. The Society Board has 6 Directors.

Although best known as holding a very large and popular September Pride Parade and week of Pride events, attended by thousands with many off island visitors, DAISSI is also active throughout the year. DAISSI supports individual queer folks in need, provides social opportunities throughout the year, makes referrals, does community awareness building through consultations and workshops for organizations that service islanders, and publishes poignant public statements on current queer issues highlighting intersectionality. One Society purpose is to encourage a positive and visible presence in the community. All Society funds have come from within the community with a vlaue on grassroots engagement.

Is there a specific project that this new money would be applied to, or would it be used for your ongoing work? Please describe. : Planning The Pride Village July 2023! 
Funding would go towards the Planning of and Fundraising for a Queer Camping Village and Festival in Ganges, at the Farmers Institute (on Rainbow Road no less!)

This location is where the Fall Fair is held and provides amply camping space, a large hall suitable to dances and workshops, vendor spaces, indoor and outdoor kitchens, a large outdoor stage, bathrooms, showers, a short bus shuttle to ferries and grocery stores, walking distance to restaurants, and more.
This would be a festival atmosphere with an invitation for participants to co-create events and experiences. 

We would provide a sound system for both professional musicians plus open mic for participants. In the spirit of Burning Man we would encourage wild creativity, free giveaways, trades, sharing, contests for creative group camping extravaganzas, and more.Our community needs a boost in intergenerational connections as youth are coming forward identifying as queer and elders are aging. Elders have much to share as well as they have increasing needs to create and strengthen family of choice.

Our Pride Dance Oct 1, 2021, with volunteer entertainment, including amateur drag from all ages, was very successful and held at the Farmers Institute. As a result we now feel more confident knowing how to access all bookings, permits, security and making full use of the space, and trusting volunteer entertainers will come forward. Planning for such an event must start within the next month, and funds are needed to hire an experienced planner to ensure success and avoid volunteer burnout.

Please elaborate on how your work or project will benefit the Queer community and how it enhances the community in two or more of these critical dimensions: Inclusion, Diversity, Accessibility and Equality.: 

Increased Queer Community Building and Engagement as well as Coalition Building with our other Salt Spring progressive community organizations. We envision creating safe spaces particularly for our trans and non binary youth and our elder adults. 
Accessibility for differently abled people will be a priority and we have already assessed and made an inventory of how the site can accommodate many of these needs. 
Intergenerational connections - much needed - will be built into the organizing and programming. 
We also value making visible the intersectionality of non conforming gender identity and sexual orientation lives with community members challenged further by lower income, being differently abled and having non-white experiences. We will do this by prioritizing diversity in the early involvement of the planning, on site workshops, dancing, volunteer teams, and post evaluation activities. 
Our 2SLGBTQIA+ community members will benefit from a more visible understanding and respect of our diversity in addition to building understanding and respect for diversity amongst our allies and soon to-be allies. Awareness of Climate Crisis and strengthening community responses will be an ongoing context.

What is the estimated budget for the project that you are proposing or working on?: $5,000.
To cover the cost of 3 months of project description and budget development, event planning, to be positioned for further fundraising.
The DAISSI Board would appoint a Board Director and a committee to create the job description, search, interview, hire and oversee and manage the Planners time.
The funds would almost exclusively go towards wages/fee-for-service. Further fundraising would raise the funds for Farmer Institute rental/booking, permits, advertising, volunteer coordination, sound person with sound systems (already with interest expressed) and more.

What are your other funding sources for this project (if applicable) ? Include approximate amounts if possible.: Our Fundraising will tap funds from: The Legion ($1000 max), Island Savings Credit Union ($500-800 max) , SSI Foundation Small Neighbourhood Grants ($500 per grant for 4 individual events at the Pride Village - total estimate $2000), Government of Canada Community Services Recovery Fund ($ amount range is not available until Jan 6), SSI Businesses and individual donations ($3,000) , Province of BC Festival Grants (not available at this time), Ferry Workers Union ($700), BC Community Response Networks (SSI CRN grant for queer elders response to elder abuse and neglect resulting from isolation and dependency $1,000).