Born This Way Foundation
Born This Way Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit co-founded by Lady Gaga and Cynthia Germanotta in 2011 that supports youth mental health through the free Be There Certificate course, the Channel Kindness storytelling platform, and a crisis resource directory, serving young people and LGBTQ+ youth globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Born This Way Foundation does
Born This Way Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Los Angeles, California, co-founded in 2011 by Lady Gaga (Stefani Germanotta) and her mother Cynthia Germanotta. The foundation's mission is to empower and inspire young people to build a kinder, braver world that supports their mental health, with particular focus on youth facing mental health challenges and LGBTQ+ young people who encounter discrimination, bullying, or isolation. It operates three core programs: the Be There Certificate, a free online mental health education course available in English, French, and Spanish that teaches a framework for recognizing and supporting someone who may be struggling; Channel Kindness, a content platform and book featuring stories written by young changemakers with personal notes from Lady Gaga; and the Get Help Now resource directory, which connects users to crisis lines including The Trevor Project, Trans Lifeline, the 988 Suicide + Crisis Lifeline, Teen Line, the LGBT National Youth Talkline, and Crisis Text Line, as well as an international directory at bekind.findahelpline.com.
The foundation's technology stack is non-proprietary and lightweight, consisting of a WordPress-based website (bornthisway.foundation), a dedicated Channel Kindness microsite, social media presence across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn, and an online donation portal. It has no native mobile app, no disclosed AI capabilities, no API or SDK offerings, and no proprietary data assets. Distribution is fully self-serve via digital channels, augmented by referral through partner organizations.
The business model is donation-driven: the foundation is a tax-exempt nonprofit whose revenue comes from individuals, corporations, and institutional funders, with no fee-based products or services. Documented funding includes a $350,000 contribution from Kaiser Permanente in January 2023 to support youth mental health work, alongside broader partnerships with Hopelab and Common Sense Media on LGBTQ+ youth research (2024–2025, with California State Assembly testimony in 2026), and engagement with Young Futures and Kid Cudi's Big Bro Foundation on teen digital wellbeing challenges announced in April 2026. The foundation has 11–50 employees, no parent company, and no disclosed management team, governance, or audited financials in the source material.
Born This Way Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Born This Way Foundation
- Legal name
- Born This Way Foundation
- Website
- https://bornthiswayfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Born This Way Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit co-founded by Lady Gaga and Cynthia Germanotta in 2011 that supports youth mental health through the free Be There Certificate course, the Channel Kindness storytelling platform, and a crisis resource directory, serving young people and LGBTQ+ youth globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Born This Way Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Mental Health Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Student Support Hotlines & Digital Wellbeing Tools (EDAJAIAL), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH)
Keywords
Where Born This Way Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Born This Way Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Born This Way Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that operates primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The foundation accepts donations through its website donation portal.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Be There Certificate - Free Mental Health Education |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Born This Way Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Born This Way Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free mental health education, crisis resource directories, and storytelling/community programs targeted at young people. Its core offerings include the Be There Certificate (free online mental health course in English, French, and Spanish), the Channel Kindness platform and book featuring stories written by young changemakers, and a Get Help Now directory connecting youth to crisis services such as The Trevor Project, Trans Lifeline, 988 Suicide + Crisis Lifeline, Teen Line, LGBT National Youth Talkline, and Crisis Text Line.
Product overview
Born This Way Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization focused on empowering and inspiring young people to build a kinder, braver world that supports their mental health. The foundation operates a portfolio of programs including the Be There Certificate (a free online mental health education course available in English, French, and Spanish), the Channel Kindness book initiative featuring stories from young changemakers and co-founder Lady Gaga, and the Get Help Now resource directory providing access to crisis support services for LGBTQ+ youth and young people facing mental health challenges.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Channel Kindness: A collection of inspirational stories written by young people as well as personal notes of empowerment from co-founder Lady Gaga, featuring young changemakers who found their inner strength and created safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth.
Products and services
- Be There Certificate
Quantifiable outcome
- Be There Certificate available in 3 languages (English, French, Spanish)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Born This Way Foundation
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Born This Way Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Born This Way Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- HopelabcoreHopelab collaborated with Born This Way Foundation and Common Sense Media on national surveys (2024 and 2025) examining the dual impact of social media on LGBTQ+ young people. Dr. Amy Green from Hopelab testified before the California State Assembly presenting findings from this collaborative research partnership.
- Young FuturesminorBorn This Way Foundation is connected to the Express Yourself Challenge Series organized by Young Futures, which includes a track called 'In My Dreams' addressing gender pressures faced by teens online. Selected organizations receive grants and participate in a leadership accelerator.
- Kid Cudi's Big Bro FoundationminorKid Cudi's Big Bro Foundation is supporting the Express Yourself Challenge Series organized by Young Futures, which is connected to the foundation's initiatives for teen digital wellbeing and confidence building.
- Common Sense MediacoreCommon Sense Media partnered with Born This Way Foundation and Hopelab to conduct national surveys examining the impact of social media on LGBTQ+ youth. The research collaboration provided evidence-based insights for policy decisions and solutions development.
- Kaiser PermanentecoreKaiser Permanente has partnered with Born This Way Foundation to support the mental health needs of young people. This partnership leverages Kaiser Permanente's healthcare expertise with the foundation's youth engagement platform to provide mental health resources and support for young people.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Born This Way Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Jed Foundation: National nonprofit focused on emotional health and suicide prevention for teens and young adults in higher education. Directly comparable as a US-based youth mental health nonprofit offering educational programs and resources.
- The Trevor Project: Leading US nonprofit providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ young people. Overlaps directly with Born This Way Foundation's LGBTQ+ youth focus and is referenced in its own Get Help Now directory.
- Active Minds: US nonprofit focused on mental health awareness and education for students, with chapters on college campuses. Directly comparable mission around youth mental health education and stigma reduction.
- Common Sense Media: Nonprofit reviewing media and technology for kids and families. A formal research partner of Born This Way Foundation, with overlapping interest in youth digital wellbeing and screen-time impact on mental health.
- Hopelab: Social innovation lab and nonprofit focused on the mental health and well-being of young people, particularly through technology. A formal research partner with overlapping interest in LGBTQ+ youth and digital mental health.
- Crisis Text Line: Nonprofit providing 24/7 text-based crisis support, including for youth. Directly comparable as a mental health crisis support service and is referenced in Born This Way Foundation's resource directory.
- DoSomething.org: Youth social-change nonprofit driving campaigns and volunteer engagement among young people. Comparable audience (young changemakers) and community-led engagement model similar to Channel Kindness.
- Stomp Out Bullying: National nonprofit dedicated to reducing and preventing bullying, particularly among youth. Comparable target audience and educational programming model around creating safe environments for young people.
Broad incumbents
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Large US mental health advocacy nonprofit with broad programming including youth-focused components. Larger and broader than Born This Way Foundation but operates in the same mental health education and stigma-reduction space.
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Major US nonprofit focused on suicide prevention research, education, and advocacy. Comparable in mission to reduce stigma and provide mental health education, though broader in scope.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Born This Way Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceBorn This Way Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Born This Way Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Born This Way Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Born This Way Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Born This Way Foundation
What does Born This Way Foundation do?
Born This Way Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free mental health education, crisis resource directories, and storytelling/community programs targeted at young people. Its core offerings include the Be There Certificate (free online mental health course in English, French, and Spanish), the Channel Kindness platform and book featuring stories written by young changemakers, and a Get Help Now directory connecting youth to crisis services such as The Trevor Project, Trans Lifeline, 988 Suicide + Crisis Lifeline, Teen Line, LGBT National Youth Talkline, and Crisis Text Line.
Is Born This Way Foundation a public or private company?
Born This Way Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Born This Way Foundation founded?
Born This Way Foundation was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Born This Way Foundation based?
Born This Way Foundation is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Born This Way Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are Born This Way Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Jed Foundation, The Trevor Project, Active Minds, Common Sense Media, Hopelab, Crisis Text Line, DoSomething.org and Stomp Out Bullying. Broad incumbents are National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Does Born This Way Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Born This Way Foundation.
What industry is Born This Way Foundation in?
Born This Way Foundation's product category is Youth Mental Health Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAK, Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPAGACAD, Mental Health & Crisis Support Services. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.