Direct help for Housing, Health, and Safety
Lucretia – Illustration from the book of essays “Trans on Trans”.
The Trans Safety Emergency Fund, or TSEF, is the first majorly Trans and BIPOC (Black Indigenous People Of Color) led Swiss fund. Our nonprofit organization works as a bridge between allies and Trans people in need of help, redistributing financial resources.
As part of the LGBTQIA+ community ourselves, we have realized the lack of quick and easily accessible support for Trans bodies, and saw that, unfortunately, this is a pattern in Switzerland and around the world.
Our Trans siblings, especially black & brown, have historically been subjects of systemic violence, abuse, and negligence even within the LGBTQIA+ community. With TSEF our ambition is in this context, we took things into our own hands by creating this fund to gather and redistribute money to disenfranchised people on the Trans spectrum.
Support us with a one-time or monthly donation so that we can help trans people in need. As the TSEF carries a legal NGO status, donations can be deducted from your tax return (in Switzerland).
Community extends beyond national and political borders. We support both Swiss and international Trans individuals and causes. For us, values like solidarity, care, and resource redistribution extend globally.
In areas with particularly high application numbers and guided by the needs and voices of the Trans communities, the TSEF has deepened its commitment to supporting displaced and criminalized Trans individuals through dedicated pilot projects in Kakuma Refugee Camp (Kenya) and Kampala (Uganda). These initiatives were shaped by the urgent realities faced by Trans people in these regions, where systemic discrimination, violence, and lack of resources create life-threatening conditions.
These projects are not just about immediate relief— they represent a long-term investment in trans existence.
The TSEF is dedicated to providing low-threshold financial assistance to Trans* individuals around the world who are in crisis situations, facing marginalization and gender-based violence, and lacking basic necessities.
Our mission is to redistribute resources to support the well-being of these communities, increase resilience, and foster their sense of dignity by offering direct support.
Our focus is on those experiencing difficult intersectional discrimination.
Our vision is a world where Trans people, especially BIPOC, live free from fear, discrimination, and violence. We envision a future where they all have equal access to basic necessities, healthcare, and housing. A vision in which, they enjoy a living standard that contributes to their overall well-being, thus empowering them to thrive and live with dignity.
About three-quarters of all funding is used for food, housing, and basic needs such as clothing, gas, and electricity. Medical care, such as HIV medications and treatment after physical violence accounts for 17% of all support. Followed by relocation to safer areas, support with ongoing transitions, and help with primary and secondary education for minors.
We currently work with monthly applications, and once all applications have been reviewed and the selected applicants have been verified, we initiate the transfer of funds to the approved applicants. For more information please read our FAQ page.
Applications can be made from the 1st to the 3rd of every month using a simple online form.
Make sure all invalids applications are found and excluded.
Grading happens based on fixed critteria taking into consideration impact of the grant an urgency of the situation.
Follow up reports measure the impact of the grant an allow for feedback.
A journey through five very personal essays from Trans people of different walks of life, speaking on their journey, questions, and fears, it shows the uniqueness and power of Trans lives.
All profits go directly back into the TSEF and help our monthly applicants and the projects we support.
The strength of the TSEF lies in the dedication and expertise of our team, formed by an executive board of 8 members, a mentoring board of 5 members, one employee, which continues to grow in response to the evolving needs of our community. However, none of this would be possible without the unwavering commitment of our volunteers, coming from varied disciplines and expertise.
