Matt Easterwood
AFP Golden Gate Board Member
Founder and CEO, Queer for Hire
Nonprofit fundraiser with 10+ years of experience
Welcome to our monthly Board Member Spotlight where we highlight the incredible individuals who make up the board of the AFP Golden Gate Chapter. Each month we feature a different board member to share their journey, expertise and contributions to the nonprofit sector. In the spirit of Pride Month, we’re excited to spotlight Matt Easterwood, Founder and CEO of Queer for Hire, a consulting and coaching practice supporting LGBTQIA+ nonprofits and professionals. With over ten years of experience, Matt is a fundraiser, advocate and leader committed to advancing equity and inclusion across the sector.
What does Pride Month mean to you personally and professionally?
Pride Month is a celebration, a protest and a reminder. Personally it is a time to honor the Queer elders and ancestors who fought for visibility and rights, many of whom were never celebrated in their lifetimes. It is also a time to reflect on how far we have come and how much work remains.
Professionally Pride is an accountability checkpoint. It asks how we are showing up for LGBTQIA+ people beyond June. Are our values performative or structural? Pride is not a campaign. It is a commitment. At Queer for Hire we build that into every strategy, campaign and conversation.
How has your identity shaped the way you show up in your work?
I have spent my life navigating systems that were not built for me and that gives me the insight to build better ones. I lead with transparency, empathy and intersectionality. My Queerness reminds me that being different is a strength and that lived experience is not a liability but a leadership asset.
What are some LGBTQ+ causes that inspire you?
I am inspired by grassroots organizations that center QTBIMPOC, trans and disabled communities. Local centers and Pride events powered by volunteers and mutual aid show what it looks like to lead with love, purpose and community. That is where Queer liberation lives.
What can organizations do to support LGBTQ+ fundraisers year round?
Support us beyond rainbow graphics. That means equitable hiring, paid time for ERG work, clear inclusion policies and investment in professional development. Ask Queer employees what support looks like, then listen and act. If your focus on our community ends in June, that is not inclusion. It is marketing.
What advice would you give to young LGBTQ+ professionals entering the nonprofit sector?
Your story is your superpower. Do not feel pressure to change who you are to fit outdated systems. This field needs your vision. Find people who will support you and ask for what you need emotionally, professionally and financially.
How did you get involved with AFP?
I have followed AFP’s work for many years and joined the Golden Gate Chapter because of its commitment to equity and community centered fundraising. Serving on the board has been a meaningful way to give back and help create space for more inclusive leadership in our sector.