FSU Graduate’s Role with National Task Force Fosters Grassroots Support
Taylor Biro, a two-time FSU College of Social Work graduate (MSW 2023, BSW 2021), has been a long-time community organizer and activist with roots in Tallahassee, Florida. “When I started in social work, I wanted to make a difference,” she explained. “I began in direct service delivery but quickly saw the inequities and harmful practices embedded in many systems.”
Adding: “I thought, ‘If I train others to do their work better, that will create change. Then I tried policy work, believing that writing the rules would force change—but the event that fell short of what I hoped to accomplish.’”
Taylor served in various roles with Capital City Youth Services and the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence for many years, acquiring a well-rounded range of community organizing skills and a love of grant writing.
“At first, it was one of those necessary tasks no one seemed excited to tackle,” she recalled about her initial foray into the world of grant writing, “but I leaned into it and discovered I actually enjoy it. Grant writing became a way to tell a story, connect with others and turn big dreams into reality.”
Eventually, she realized that the change she hoped to make happen really happens “when we invest in the people and communities leading the fight for justice.”
In 2018, she established her own consulting business, Bread and Roses Community Funders, where she still serves as the director of community impact to support justice-driven organizations.
Work in development and fundraising have allowed Taylor to “support leaders, amplify their visions and secure the resources needed to bring those visions to life.”
Her skills and passion are now channeled into her most recent role as the foundation giving officer for the National LGBTQ Task Force, which she described as not just a job but work that is deeply personal.
Her role enables her to find personal fulfillment and connect these populations to the resources needed to fund LGBTQ+ communities and initiatives. A 2021 report indicated that of every $100 of funding awarded by US Foundations supporting LGBTQ communities and issues, only 4 cents going to support trans communities.
A large part of the task force’s role beyond fostering community and connection in the LGBTQ+ community is to connect movement builders to the resources they need. Their annual Creating Change Conference brings together the LGBTQ+ community to strategize, learn and advocate for social justice across many areas. It also offers a key component to train participants in development and fundraising.
Run by Taylor, Creating Change’s Grassroots Funding Institute empowers LGBTQ+ advocates to break from cycles of scarcity and build sustainable financial foundations, as larger organizations can often dominate fundraising and leave grassroots groups with fewer resources.
“This institute helps level the playing field by equipping grassroots leaders with tools to tap into new funding sources, build relationships with donors, and develop plans tailored to their needs,” shared Taylor. “It reframes fundraising as an inspiring, community-centered process that sustains long-term change.”
Although Taylor values her social work training in the classroom, she notes that social work started before institutional training and equally credits the importance of learning from working within her community. “Social work, in its truest sense, taught me to approach challenges with a people-centered lens, focusing on systemic solutions rather than quick fixes.”
Taking skills like coalition building, mutual aid and abolition, Taylor has utilized her skills in solidarity with her peers to create a more just world for everyone.
She advises, “Don’t be afraid to start small. Whether it’s volunteering, joining a local group or amplifying voices online, every contribution matters. Over time, you’ll find your niche and your unique voice will help strengthen the movement. Most importantly, be authentic. Advocacy thrives on diverse experiences and perspectives, and your story is part of the collective power that drives change.”
To connect with Taylor Biro, reach out on LinkedIn.
