Keep RyAnne and Rose Safe and Housed

Help Us Make Rent & Hold On

Hi, my name is RyAnne Graff. I’m a Software Engineer and a Transgender Woman.

My life started in deep poverty. College was out of reach, and with severe ADHD, I couldn’t focus in school long enough to earn a scholarship. I didn’t understand what was happening to me—or how the world worked—and at one point, it looked like I might be headed for prison.

But people fought for me. Through my late teens and early adulthood, I was lucky to have folks who believed in me, who helped me acclimate and survive. What saved me was my obsession with computers, graphics, the internet, and how small businesses worked. That passion drove me to a career I never thought I’d have—eventually working for Fortune 500 companies and earning one of the highest salaries in my extended family.

For over 15 years, I built a career solving hard problems and creating powerful software. I turned my life around. I hoped I could be proof that it is possible.

But nothing in life is guaranteed. A couple of years ago, I was working for a company I loved—Formstack—when they laid off 40% of the workforce. Since then, everything I built has fallen apart. I've applied to hundreds of jobs, tried to land contracts, networked, and spent countless hours trying to figure out what I was doing wrong.

I don’t know if it’s the state of the world, the economy, transphobia, or just a cruel combination of all of it—but today, I have nothing. I’m in debt. I’m behind on rent. I’m just trying to keep the lights on.

I’m not giving up. I’ve got a few real leads now—a passionate recruiter who believes in me, and a dear friend who just sent me a new opportunity. My girlfriend Rose and I are both fighting to hang on.

Right now, we just need help making rent. Anything you can give—truly anything—will help us stay afloat.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for your kindness. Please know you are loved.

With gratitude,

RyAnne