Pay It Forward #5: Mutual aid & job referral requests

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Hello to the 4,792 hotties who subscribe to this newsletter! Thank you for being here.

For those of you who are new here, The Pay It Forward project allows me to provide financial coaching for queer & trans people living in states where anti-trans legislation has been passed or introduced — free of charge.

Thanks to our allies and monthly supporters, we’ve raised $5,800 since November 2024! Here’s how your money is being spent:

• $187 on administrative fees

• 24 people were selected for scholarships, but 8 have not claimed their sessions.

• 11 clients have received a total of 15 sessions

• 3 clients have been offered more than 1 session — ongoing accountability has already helped them achieve results!

• 5 people selected for scholarships booked appointments, but ended up not showing up :(

• We’ll award 4 more scholarships and redirect the 8 no-replies to clients who need more ongoing sessions.

If you want to help us offer more services for free, donate here.

We are also looking for monthly supporters who can give a fixed amount — whether it’s $10, $100, or $1,000, we’re here for it! — between April and December 2025. Please reach out to Andrea at hello@queerandtranswealth.org to set up a recurring donation.

Mutual aid requests

Some clients and community members desperately need mutual aid for gender-affirming surgery and to help them move to safe states.

14-year-old Andy and their family are trying to raise a total of $8,000 to move from Alabama to Illinois. On top of facing discrimination and harassment in their state, Andy’s family is being evicted from their home because their building is being sold to a corporate overlord. Donate to their campaign here.

In Minneapolis, Ash is trying to pay off $4,000 worth of debt incurred for their chest reduction surgery back in November. Donate to their campaign here.

Job referral requests

We need help from anyone who knows of remote jobs, skill-building opportunities, and resume-editing services. A few clients need professional development help so they can secure higher-paying jobs.

If you’re hiring for remote positions in the following areas, please reach out to me at leo@queerandtranswealth.org

• Administrative support

• Executive assistance

• Social media

• Community/Human Resources

Some community members are looking for part-time or contract work to supplement their income, while others are looking for full-time work.

In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, a sweet, outgoing, and super intelligent trans/nonbinary person is looking for a full-time job where they can let their personality shine. He organized a Dungeons & Dragons club in college, and he wants to use his interests to build team spirit. He would be great at the front desk of a hip coworking space or a logistics plant!

A nonbinary person in Alabama is looking for a new job in Chicago, Illinois. They work at a James Beard-nominated bakery, and we just need someone to give them a chance to stage at a bakery or restaurant in Chicago. They’re super talented, organized, and intuitive! You won’t regret hiring them.

Please reach out to leo@queerandtranswealth.org if you have any leads.

A trans person in rural Missouri saved $1,200 so far!

When it comes to money, results are slow and the process is… to be quite honest, so boring. Instead of focusing on numbers-based wins, I try to focus on other milestones like these:

• Clients are having more honest conversations with their partners, roommates, or family members about money

• Clients develop the discipline and courage to open their accounts regularly, instead of ignoring financial habits that cause more harm than good in the long run

• Clients measure their progress along the way instead of setting an unrealistic goal and giving up before they put any plans in place

• Clients are having more fun now that they spend their money with a little more intention

But of course, it’s always so satisfying to hear that continued gentle accountability yields actual numbers in folx’ bank accounts!

I’ve been working with a trans person, M, in rural Missouri, who uses roughly 50% of his take-home pay each month to pay off debt. We worked together to plan their annual bonus and tax return, and he’s been able to save $1,200 for emergencies!

Wooohooooo!!!!!

Given that most Americans can’t afford a $1,000 emergency, it gives me a little relief that M and his family are better equipped to handle unexpected emergencies.

This win wouldn’t be possible without all of your support! Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. <3