GLAAD

What GLAAD does

GLAAD, founded in 1990 and headquartered in Pasadena, California, is the world's largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, operating as an independent 501(c)(3) public charity. Its functional focus is monitoring, shaping, and accelerating LGBTQ representation across film, television, journalism, music, gaming, and digital platforms through a portfolio of research publications (Where We Are on TV, Where We Are in Film, Social Media Safety Index, State of HIV Stigma Report, and the inaugural 2026 AI Report), accountability tools (ALERT Desk, Trump Accountability Tracker, GLAAD Accountability Project), training and consulting programs (GLAAD Media Institute), signature events (GLAAD Media Awards in its 37th year, GLAAD Honors, Latin Honors, Black Queer Creative Summit, Spirit Day), and community programs (Write It Out!, 20 Under 20, GLAAD Ambassador Program).

The organization's technology stack is primarily a website and digital platform operation (glaad.org) supporting content distribution, donations, and event registration, with no proprietary software products, APIs, or patented technology disclosed. Distribution occurs through owned social channels across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Bluesky, plus earned media and event-based channels. GLAAD holds Charity Navigator's 4-Star Rating and Candid's Platinum Seal of Transparency, indicating strong nonprofit accountability standards.

GLAAD's business model is donation- and grant-funded rather than revenue-generating: income derives from individual donations (one-time and monthly recurring), corporate partnerships and sponsorships (Hyundai Motor America as presenting sponsor of the Media Awards; Hulu as the official streaming partner for the sixth consecutive year), foundation and grant funding (ViiV Healthcare, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Tyson Family Foundation), and event-based revenue from its awards and honors programs. All programs and research outputs are provided free to the public. Leadership rests with President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis and VP of Research Brandon Grabowski, with governance by a board of directors; there is no parent company, venture capital, or private equity backing.

Name

GLAAD

Legal name

GLAAD

Website

https://glaad.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

GLAAD is the world's largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, founded in 1990, that monitors and accelerates LGBTQ representation through research reports, accountability tools, industry training, and flagship awards events, funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

LGBTQ Media Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO), Public Health & Health Equity Organizations (BPAGACAL)

Keywords

• LGBTQ media advocacy
• Media representation research
• Diversity consulting
• Anti-bullying programs
• Corporate inclusion partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: GLAAD receives donations from individual supporters through its website and donation pages, including one-time gifts and monthly giving programs.
2. Corporate Partnerships: GLAAD engages corporate partners for sponsorship and support of events and programs.
3. Event Revenue: GLAAD generates revenue through events including the GLAAD Media Awards, GLAAD Honors, Latin Honors, and other signature events.
4. Foundation and Grant Funding: GLAAD receives support from foundations including ViiV Healthcare and other institutional funders for specific programs.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

GLAAD is a nonprofit LGBTQ media advocacy organization that produces annual industry-standard research reports on LGBTQ representation (Social Media Safety Index, Where We Are on TV, Where We Are in Film, State of HIV Stigma, AI Report), runs the annual GLAAD Media Awards and signature cultural events, and delivers advocacy training and consulting through the GLAAD Media Institute. Its programs and accountability tools (ALERT Desk, Trump Accountability Tracker, GLAAD Accountability Project) monitor extremism and media representation, while campaigns and programs such as Spirit Day, Write It Out!, GLAAD I Found You, and the Common Ground Project drive grassroots engagement.

Product overview

GLAAD operates as a media advocacy organization offering a portfolio of research reports, awards programs, training initiatives, and accountability tools focused on LGBTQ representation and acceptance. Core offerings include the annual GLAAD Media Awards (now in its 37th year), the GLAAD Media Institute providing training and consulting, and research publications including the Social Media Safety Index, Where We Are on TV, Where We Are in Film, State of HIV Stigma Report, and the inaugural 2026 AI Report on LGBTQ representation in AI systems. Additional programs include the Write It Out! HIV writing initiative, Spirit Day anti-bullying movement, the ALERT Desk extremism tracking tool, Trump Accountability Tracker, and campaign initiatives like GLAAD I Found You and the Common Ground Project. GLAAD also recognizes leaders through the Latin Honors, #GLAADHonors, Black Queer Creative Summit, and 20 Under 20 List programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GLAAD Media Institute: Enables people to build core skills and techniques that effectuate positive cultural change through training, consulting, and research.
• GLAAD Media Awards
• Social Media Safety Index (SMSI)
• ALERT Desk
• GLAAD Accountability Project
• Write It Out!
• The Common Ground Project

Quantifiable outcome

• 291 culture-changing nominees across 32 categories at the 37th GLAAD Media Awards
• +1 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hyundai Motor AmericacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 March 2026Hyundai Motor America is the presenting sponsor of the 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, supporting LGBTQ media representation through corporate sponsorship.
• STAMP Event Co.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 6 March 2026STAMP Event Co. is the event production partner for the GLAAD Media Awards, handling ceremony production and logistics.
• HulucoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 March 2026For the sixth consecutive year, Hulu is the official streaming destination for the GLAAD Media Awards, continuing support of LGBTQ stories and storytellers through exclusive streaming of the ceremony.
• Equality VirginiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquality Virginia is Virginia's leading statewide advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring LGBTQ people can live, love, learn, and work free from discrimination. They are a key coalition partner in Virginia's 2026 pro-marriage ballot measure.
• Stop the Ban CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA broad coalition including the National Women's Law Center, National Women's Political Caucus of Missouri, League of Women Voters of Missouri, and Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus working together to oppose Missouri Amendment 3.
• Corporate PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGLAAD maintains corporate partnerships for sponsorship and marketing collaboration, though specific partner names are not detailed on the main website.
• GROUND MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLAAD and GROUND Media launched the 'Here We Are' storytelling campaign to increase support for transgender Americans.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Human Rights Campaign: The largest US LGBTQ civil rights advocacy organization. Directly comparable to GLAAD in mission and constituency (LGBTQ equality advocacy, federal/state policy, corporate engagement), with broader lobbying focus versus GLAAD's media representation emphasis.
• The Trevor Project: Leading LGBTQ youth organization focused on crisis intervention and suicide prevention. Comparable as a large US LGBTQ nonprofit with broad individual donor base, programmatic research output, and strong brand recognition among the same constituency GLAAD serves.
• PFLAG: National LGBTQ family and ally advocacy organization with a national chapter network. Comparable to GLAAD as a grassroots-to-national LGBTQ advocacy nonprofit reliant on individual donations and community organizing.
• Lambda Legal: National legal organization pursuing LGBTQ rights through impact litigation. Comparable as a mission-aligned LGBTQ advocacy nonprofit, though GLAAD's media-advocacy focus differs from Lambda Legal's litigation-led approach.
• National LGBTQ Task Force: National LGBTQ civil rights advocacy organization with policy, movement-building, and conference programs. Comparable as a peer advocacy nonprofit serving overlapping LGBTQ constituencies, with a stronger policy training and conference emphasis.
• GLSEN: Education-focused LGBTQ nonprofit working on safe and inclusive K-12 schools. Comparable as an LGBTQ advocacy nonprofit producing recurring research reports (National School Climate Survey) and engaging institutional partners, with a narrower education-only mission.
• Freedom for All Americans: Bipartisan campaign to win full nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people. Comparable as a US LGBTQ policy advocacy organization that runs state-level campaigns; GLAAD's media advocacy reach complements rather than overlaps its legislative focus.
• National Center for Lesbian Rights: National LGBTQ legal advocacy organization focused on litigation, policy, and public education. Comparable as an advocacy nonprofit serving overlapping LGBTQ communities, with a litigation-and-policy emphasis rather than media representation.

Emerging players

• CenterLink: Member organization supporting a network of LGBTQ community centers across the US and globally. Comparable as a peer in the LGBTQ nonprofit ecosystem but at the infrastructure/aggregator level rather than direct advocacy or media representation.
• InterPride: International network of Pride organizations coordinating Pride events globally. Comparable as a peer organization operating within the LGBTQ advocacy space but with a narrow event-organizing focus rather than media advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/glaad
• YouTubeyoutube.com/glaad
• Facebookfacebook.com/glaad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/21333
• Instagraminstagram.com/glaad
• TikToktiktok.com/@glaad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GLAAD