Black Tie Dinner

What Black Tie Dinner does

Black Tie Dinner is a private nonprofit organization headquartered in Dallas, Texas, that operates what it describes as the nation's largest LGBTQ+ fundraising dinner. Founded in 1982, the organization focuses on raising funds for the LGBTQ+ community through a large-scale annual dinner event format. It operates with a headcount in the 11–50 employee range and conducts its operations under the legal name "Black Tie Dinner," also doing business as "Black Tie Dinner Dallas." The organization's stated mission centers on providing a prominent fundraising platform for LGBTQ+ causes and organizations, channeling proceeds to community beneficiaries.

The organization's core product is a flagship fundraising dinner event rather than a technology platform or recurring service line. No distinct product modules, sub-brands, named service offerings, or proprietary technology components are documented in the available source material. The organization has no publicly disclosed API, integrations, or digital product surface, and its website (blacktie.org) serves primarily as an informational and brand presence channel. There is no disclosed pricing model, as the organization is a nonprofit funded through event ticket sales, sponsorships, and donations rather than commercial pricing.

Black Tie Dinner's business model is that of a traditional nonprofit fundraising entity: revenue is generated through its annual dinner event and related donor activities, with proceeds directed to LGBTQ+ community causes. No corporate parent, institutional investors, subsidiaries, or ownership structure details are disclosed. The organization has no documented funding rounds, acquisitions, partnerships, leadership changes, or regulatory actions in the available source material, and management team information is not provided.

Name

Black Tie Dinner

Legal name

Black Tie Dinner

Website

https://blacktie.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Black Tie Dinner is a Dallas-based nonprofit, founded in 1982, that operates the nation's largest LGBTQ+ fundraising dinner, channeling proceeds from the annual event to LGBTQ+ community causes and organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Fundraising Events

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Caterers (722320)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Gala, Fundraiser & Nonprofit Event Catering (THAHAKAF)

Keywords

• LGBTQ fundraising
• Nonprofit events
• Charitable dinners
• Community fundraising
• Event philanthropy

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Core offering

Black Tie Dinner is a non-profit organization that produces an annual large-scale fundraising dinner to generate financial support for organizations serving the LGBTQ+ community. Founded in 1982 and based in Dallas, Texas, it operates the nation's largest LGBTQ+ fundraising dinner event, channeling ticket sales, sponsorships, and donations to beneficiary non-profits.

Product overview

Black Tie Dinner is identified as the nation's largest LGBTQ+ fundraising dinner organization. Based on the limited source material, no distinct product modules, sub-brands, or named service offerings are identified beyond the core fundraising dinner event.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Black Tie Dinner Annual Fundraising Event An annual large-scale fundraising dinner event in Dallas, Texas, recognized as the nation's largest LGBTQ+ fundraising dinner, designed to raise funds for LGBTQ+ organizations and causes through ticket sales, sponsorships, and donations.

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights1 record

Broad incumbents

• GLAAD: GLAAD is a leading LGBTQ+ media and advocacy nonprofit that runs high-profile fundraising events (e.g., GLAAD Media Awards). Comparable to Black Tie Dinner as an established LGBTQ+ nonprofit funding itself through marquee events targeting corporate sponsors and high-net-worth donors.
• Human Rights Campaign (HRC): Human Rights Campaign is the largest U.S. LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy organization and runs national fundraising dinners and galas. It is comparable to Black Tie Dinner because both operate large-scale LGBTQ+ fundraising events and compete for the same corporate sponsor and high-net-worth donor base.
• National LGBTQ Task Force: The National LGBTQ Task Force runs Creating Change Conference and accompanying fundraising galas. Comparable as an LGBTQ+ advocacy nonprofit using high-profile events to drive donations from corporate and individual supporters.
• Lambda Legal: Lambda Legal is a national LGBTQ+ legal organization that hosts fundraising events and galas. Comparable to Black Tie Dinner because it relies on signature fundraising events in the LGBTQ+ nonprofit space and competes for similar institutional donors.
• The Trevor Project: The Trevor Project is a national LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention nonprofit that runs galas and large fundraisers. Comparable to Black Tie Dinner as a prominent LGBTQ+ nonprofit that monetizes its brand through signature fundraising events and competes for the same donor wallet.

Direct peers

• Hetrick-Martin Institute: Hetrick-Martin Institute serves LGBTQ+ youth and hosts annual benefit galas/dinners as a core fundraising mechanism. Comparable to Black Tie Dinner as a smaller LGBTQ+ nonprofit where the marquee annual dinner is central to operating revenue.
• Point Foundation: Point Foundation is an LGBTQ+ scholarship nonprofit that runs annual galas and fundraising dinners (e.g., Point Honors Gala). Directly comparable as an LGBTQ+ nonprofit funding scholarships through marquee dinner-format galas targeting corporate and individual donors.
• Ali Forney Center: Ali Forney Center is an LGBTQ+ youth homelessness nonprofit that runs benefit galas. Comparable to Black Tie Dinner as a cause-driven LGBTQ+ nonprofit leveraging a single high-profile annual dinner to fundraise from the same donor pool.
• DIFFA Dallas (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS): DIFFA Dallas is a local Dallas-based HIV/AIDS fundraising gala organization. Directly comparable to Black Tie Dinner as a similarly sized nonprofit running a marquee annual fundraising dinner in the same Dallas market and competing for overlapping corporate sponsors.

Regional players

• Empire State Pride Agenda gala / NYC LGBTQ fundraising dinners: Comparable regional LGBTQ+ fundraising galas (such as NYC Pride-affiliated benefits) serve a similar function to Black Tie Dinner — large-scale LGBTQ+ fundraising dinners — but in a different geography. Useful as a regional comp for replication strategy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BlackTieDinner

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Black Tie Dinner