Katherine Acey

Acey is a highly respected activist, known for her expertise and commitment to social justice feminism. Her creative and inclusive vision of movements has been instrumental in setting a standard for a more progressive, diverse and community driven philanthropy and activism.

Acey was named Senior Activist Fellow Emerita at Barnard Center for Research On Women where she was a fellow in 2015 and 2016.  From 2012 to 2020 she served as the Executive Director and subsequently as  the Director of Strategic Collaborations at GRIOT Circle, a people of color LGBTQ elder’s organization based in Brooklyn, N.Y From 1987 - 2010 Acey served as the Executive Director of Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice and holds the title of Executive Director Emerita.  Under her stewardship, Astraea established the nation’s first Lesbian Writers  and Lesbian Visual Artists Funds, created the International Fund for Sexual Minorities in 1996—the only fund of its kind - and launched the US Movement Building Initiative in 2005 to support the leadership and vision of people of color LGBTQ organizations.  In 2017 Astraea established the Social Justice Feminist Award in Acey’s name to honor movement elders.