Outhouse

What Outhouse does

Outhouse is a registered Irish charity and LGBTQ+ community centre established in 1996 and operating from a historic Georgian building at 105 Capel Street, Dublin 1. The organization functions as a multi-service community hub rather than a single-product business, delivering social group programming, facilitated peer support, information and referral services, community casework, addiction recovery groups, free HIV testing via MPOWER, sexual health product distribution, a community café serving locally-roasted Cloud Picker coffee, Ireland's largest LGBTQ+ library with nearly 4,000 titles, venue hire, personal development courses, and corporate LGBTQ+ inclusion training. It also runs active policy advocacy campaigns on homelessness, trans equality, hate crime law reform, and restorative justice.

The organization is structured as Outhouse Limited (company limited by guarantee), with governance provided by a board of trustees and four sub-committees, and operates with a small staff team supplemented by 67 volunteers. Its underlying technology is minimal: a WordPress-based website with standard third-party analytics, cookie consent management, and social media integrations. There is no proprietary software or AI/ML component; service delivery is physical, relational, and program-led.

Outhouse generates revenue through a diversified mix: individual and corporate donations (including legacy giving), government and public body grants (Government of Ireland, HSE, Pobal, Dublin City Council), café retail sales, venue hire, office sub-leasing to six resident LGBTQ+ and allied organizations, and corporate training workshops. Most community services are provided free of charge or at subsidized rates, and the organization's pricing for individual programs (e.g., personal development courses free; most events free) is set to maximize access rather than revenue capture.

Name

Outhouse

Legal name

Outhouse Limited

Website

https://outhouse.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Outhouse is a Dublin-based Irish registered charity operating Ireland's primary LGBTQ+ community centre since 1996, delivering social groups, peer support, casework, a community café, a 4,000-title LGBTQ+ library, venue hire, and corporate training, funded by donations, government grants, and earned income.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Services

akta.pro primary industry

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

Keywords

• LGBTQ+ community centre
• Community support services
• Peer support groups
• Community venue hire
• Charity social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations (one-time and recurring), corporate donations, birthday fundraisers, memorial donations, and collection boxes. The organization is registered as a charity (RCN 20033293, CHY11815) and participates in the Charitable Donation Scheme for tax relief on donations of €250 or more.
2. Café Operations: Community café serving locally-roasted coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and other food and beverages. All proceeds from café sales go directly back into the charitable mission to support LGBTQ+ community services.
3. Venue Hire: Rental of various spaces (Red Room, Theatre, Library, Café) for meetings, events, workshops, performances, and celebrations. Non-profit and community organizations receive competitive rates. Catering services available for bookings.
4. Corporate Workshops and Training: LGBTQ+ workplace training workshops including LGBTQ+ Essentials, Creating Safe Spaces, Coming Out Journey, Wellbeing at Work, Supporting LGBTQ+ Families, and custom workshops. Also offers keynote speaking, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions.
5. Legacy Giving: Bequests and legacies through wills, providing planned giving opportunities for donors.
6. Office Rental: Sub-leasing office space to resident LGBTQ+ and allied organizations including ShoutOut, TENI, Switchboard, Gay Health Network, Dublin Lesbian Line, and Sex Workers Alliance Ireland.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Outhouse operates a physical LGBTQ+ community centre in central Dublin providing safe social spaces, peer support groups, identity-specific meet-ups, information and referral services, community casework, health and wellness programming (including free HIV testing and addiction recovery support), and Ireland's largest LGBTQ+ library. It also generates revenue through a community café, venue hire, and corporate LGBTQ+ inclusion training workshops.

Product overview

Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre operates as a multi-service community hub in Dublin, offering a comprehensive portfolio of programmes and services rather than a unified software product. The centre provides social group meet-ups, peer support groups, information and referral services, health and wellness programmes including addiction support and HIV testing, community casework, a community café, Ireland's largest LGBTQ+ library, venue hire facilities, corporate training workshops, events programming, personal development courses, and campaigning/advocacy work. These services function as distinct but interconnected offerings, with the café and library providing informal gathering spaces, social groups and peer support offering structured community connection, and casework providing targeted individual assistance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Social Groups Programme
• Peer Support Groups
• Information & Referral Services
• Health & Wellness Services
• Community Casework
• The Outhouse Café
• LGBTQ+ Library
• Venue Hire
• Corporate Workshops & Training
• Campaigning & Advocacy
• Personal Development Courses

Quantifiable outcome

• 57,118 visitors welcomed annually through doors
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Coalition 2030supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2023Alliance of 70 civil society organizations working on Sustainable Development Goals. Outhouse became first LGBTQ+ organization in Ireland to join Coalition 2030 on June 29, 2023, ensuring LGBTQ+ needs are considered in SDG implementation.
• Queer Asian Pride IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership to deliver the QPOC (Queer People of Colour) Peer Support Group. Created safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ people of colour to affirm both their queer and racial identities.
• Dublin Lesbian LinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the LBTQ+ Women's Peer Support Group, providing safe and supportive peer support environment for LBTQ+ women in partnership with Dublin Lesbian Line.
• Intersex IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop the Intersex Peer Support Group, providing a space for intersex people to speak openly about their experiences in a safe and supportive environment.
• Insight MatterssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNext-door neighbours and partner for personal development courses. Provides facilitators Dil Wickremasinghe and Anne Marie Toole for LBTQ+ Women's Personal Development Course. Counselling, psychotherapy, and wellness centre with inclusion at its heart.
• HIV Ireland / MPOWER ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free rapid HIV testing at Outhouse every Wednesday 6-8pm on walk-in basis. MPOWER Programme delivers sexual health outreach services at Outhouse and LGBTQ+ venues throughout Dublin.
• Irish Refugee Integration Network (IRIN)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in delivering 'Queer and Here' personal development course for LGBTQ+ refugees and people seeking protection. IRIN works with Outhouse and DCU on this 10-workshop program.
• Dublin City University (DCU) - EROSSsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpressions, Research, Orientations: Sexuality Studies (EROSS) at DCU partners with Outhouse and IRIN on 'Queer and Here' course. Dr. David Carroll and Jean-Philippe Imbert from DCU serve as course facilitators.
• Government of IrelandcoreOthersCore funder of Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre. Funding supports operational costs and service delivery.
• Health Service Executive (HSE)coreOthersCore funder and partner. Supports addiction support services, sexual health products (free condoms via National Condom Distribution Service), period products (HSE Period Poverty Pilot), and general operations.
• PobalsupportingOthersGovernment funding agency that provides financial support and oversight for community organizations in Ireland.
• Dublin City CouncilsupportingOthersLocal government partner providing funding and regulatory oversight for the organization operating in Dublin.
• SexualWellbeing.iesupportingOthersHSE-funded sexual health website that supports Outhouse's health and wellness programming and resources.
• ShoutOutsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorResident organization renting office space at Outhouse. LGBTQ+ education and training organization.
• TENI (Transgender Equality Network Ireland)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorResident organization renting office space at Outhouse. National transgender organization in Ireland.
• SwitchboardsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorResident organization renting office space at Outhouse. Provides confidential listening and support helplines.
• Gay Health Network (GHN)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorResident organization renting office space at Outhouse. Network of organizations working on gay men's health.
• Dublin Lesbian LinesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorResident organization renting office space at Outhouse. Provides support line for lesbian and bisexual women.
• Sex Workers Alliance IrelandsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorResident organization renting office space at Outhouse. Alliance advocating for sex workers' rights.
• Belong To - LGBTQ+ Youth IrelandsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner for youth services. Outhouse directs under-18 individuals to Belong To for youth groups and services, as Outhouse social groups are for adults 18+ only.
• LGBTQ+ Homelessness Multi-Stakeholder GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConvened by Outhouse, includes advocates, government bodies, service providers, and community leaders committed to tackling LGBTQ+ homelessness. Goal: secure dedicated LGBTQ+-specific shelter.
• Trans Equality Together CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOuthouse is a member organization of civil society coalition working to create an Ireland where trans and non-binary people are equal, safe, and valued. Advocates for policy and legislative changes.
• Coalition Against Hate Crime Ireland (CAHC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOuthouse is a member of CAHC, chaired by Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL). Coalition promotes hate crime law reform, improves data collection, education, training, victim support.
• LGBTQ+ Restorative Justice CampaignsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampaign to exonerate those convicted under Ireland's anti-gay laws (repealed 1993). Outhouse supports this initiative through commemoration and education on LGBTQ+ histories.
• Library Association of IrelandsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOuthouse Library is a member of the Library Association of Ireland, providing professional network and standards support.
• KindrsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBTQ+ Men's Recovery Group meets at Outhouse every Saturday. Contact Niall at [email protected] for more information. 12-step recovery fellowship for LGBTQ+ men.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (The Center): The world's largest LGBTQ+ community centre, based in NYC. Operates community space, health services, youth/family programming, cultural events and advocacy under one roof — directly comparable to Outhouse's integrated community-centre model, only at much larger scale.
• LGBT Foundation: Manchester-based LGBTQ+ charity offering community space, peer support, helpline, sexual-health services and advocacy. Closest UK analog to Outhouse's mix of social/peer support programming, community casework, and policy campaigning.
• London Friend: London LGBTQ+ charity focused on mental health, wellbeing, addiction recovery and community support groups. Directly comparable to Outhouse's addiction-support meetings, peer-support groups, and community casework services.
• Belong To — LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland: National Irish LGBTQ+ youth organisation and explicit referral partner of Outhouse (which directs under-18s to Belong To). Comparable mission footprint in Ireland with similar advocacy and direct-service model.
• Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI): National Irish trans advocacy organisation and resident tenant at Outhouse. Operates adjacent advocacy, support, and policy-submission work in the Irish LGBTQ+ sector.
• Switchboard LGBT+: UK LGBTQ+ helpline and support charity, also a resident tenant at Outhouse. Provides confidential listening, information and referral services — directly comparable to Outhouse's information-and-referral and peer-support offerings.
• PFLAG: Largest US family-and-allies LGBTQ+ advocacy organisation. Comparable to Outhouse's Rainbow Families Café programming and broader advocacy/campaigning work on behalf of LGBTQ+ people and their support networks.
• SAGE (Advocacy & Services for LGBTQ+ Elders): US organisation serving LGBTQ+ older adults — directly comparable to Outhouse's GOLD and Golden Group social meet-ups for LGBTQ+ over-50s, with a similar mix of direct programming, peer support, and policy advocacy.
• GMFA — the gay men's health charity: UK charity focused on gay men's health, sexual wellbeing, and HIV prevention — closely comparable to Outhouse's free HIV testing (via MPOWER), sexual-health products, and addiction-recovery programming.

Broad incumbents

• GLAAD: Major US LGBTQ+ media-advocacy organisation working on policy, representation and cultural change. Comparable to Outhouse's campaigning/advocacy work but operates at national-media scale rather than as a community-services provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Outhouse_Dublin
• Facebookfacebook.com/outhouse.ie
• Instagraminstagram.com/outhouse_lgbtq_centre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/outhouse-dublin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

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 Outhouse