Open to Debate
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Open to Debate firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Open to Debate
- Legal name
- Open to Debate Foundation
- Website
- https://opentodebate.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Open to Debate is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Open to Debate business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Open to Debate relies primarily on tax-deductible donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with EIN 27-1022579. Donation channels include online credit card gifts, checks, donor advised funds, and planned giving options.
- Foundation and Corporate Partnerships: The organization receives support from foundations including Rosenkranz Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Select Equity Group Foundation, and others. Corporate sponsorship and partnership opportunities are available for organizations seeking to align with the debate platform.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels13 records
Open to Debate product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Open to Debate is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media platform that produces weekly debate programming featuring opposing viewpoints on pressing political and cultural issues. Content is distributed for free across NPR radio (350+ stations), YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Substack, with additional live debate events held in major cities and at partner universities.
Product overview
Open to Debate is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media platform offering a portfolio of debate-focused content products. The core offering is the Weekly Debate Program (radio, podcast, and video), distributed through NPR stations, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Substack. Additional products include The Hopkins Forum (partnership with Johns Hopkins SNF Agora Institute) and PRO/CONversations (partnership with Arizona State University). The organization also operates live events, the Open to Debate Society membership program, and a Planned Giving Program for legacy donations. The portfolio spans audio, video, and written content across multiple distribution channels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Hopkins Forum: A debate series partnership with Johns Hopkins University's SNF Agora Institute featuring live debates on pressing policy and societal issues.
- PRO/CONversations
Products and services
- Open to Debate Weekly Program Weekly nonpartisan debate program featuring opposing viewpoints on pressing political and cultural topics. Broadcast as a one-hour weekly program on NPR stations and distributed as podcast and video series for general public audiences seeking balanced perspectives.
- Open to Debate Podcast On-demand audio debates available through Spotify and Apple Podcasts, covering a wide range of topics from politics to culture for general audiences.
- Open to Debate YouTube Channel Video platform hosting full debate recordings and clips, making content accessible to global audiences seeking visual debate content.
- Open to Debate Substack Newsletter Newsletter platform for distributing debate content, updates, and engaging with subscribers through written content for general audiences.
- Open to Debate NPR Radio Broadcast One-hour weekly program broadcast on over 350 NPR stations across the country, with individual episodes also aired as specials for public radio audiences.
- The Hopkins Forum Debate series produced in partnership with Johns Hopkins University's SNF Agora Institute, covering topics in democracy, governance, and public policy for academic and public audiences.
- PRO/CONversations Debate series partnership with Arizona State University's Institute of Politics, focusing on civic dialogue and respectful debate for academic and public audiences.
- Open to Debate Society National membership network of leaders committed to civility and reason in public discourse, providing critical financial support for the organization's mission through membership dues.
- Open to Debate Live Events In-person and virtual debate events held across the globe, including New York City and Washington D.C., designed to engage audiences in meaningful dialogue with expert debaters.
- Planned Giving Program Estate planning options including bequests, life insurance gifts, and retirement plan benefits for donors wishing to support the organization's long-term mission through legacy gifts.
Quantifiable outcome
- 32% of audience changes their mind on contentious topics after hearing a debate
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Open to Debate
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Open to Debate technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Open to Debate partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins UniversitycoreProduces The Hopkins Forum series - a partnership producing debates on democracy, public policy, and civic engagement at Johns Hopkins University locations in Baltimore and Washington D.C. Six debates planned through 2026.
- Arizona State University Institute of PoliticsmajorLaunched PRO/CONversations series bringing live debates to ASU. Inspired by former Sen. Jeff Flake, the partnership aims to bring respectful debate to the university community.
- Council on Foreign RelationsmajorStrategic editorial partnership for content development and audience reach.
- Human Rights FoundationmajorPartnered for the Oslo Freedom Forum debate on sanctions effectiveness. HRF hosts the international human rights conference while Open to Debate provides debate format and moderation.
- Bloomberg NewsmajorMedia distribution partnership for broadcast content reach.
- PBSmajorBroadcast television syndication partnership for extended content distribution.
- WNYC New York Public RadiomajorFlagship NPR station partner. WNYC is the #1 public radio station in the nation.
- Northwestern University Pritzker School of LawminorThe Newton and Jo Minow Debate Series partnership for legal and constitutional debates.
- Aspen InstituteminorPartnership for debate programming and civic engagement initiatives.
- TED ConferencesminorPartnership for debate content and speaker collaborations.
- BitchuteminorAlternative video platform distribution for debate content.
- Comedy CellarminorVenue partnership for live debate events held at Village Underground location.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Open to Debate competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- NPR (National Public Radio): Primary distribution partner for Open to Debate (350+ stations, including flagship WNYC). A much larger public media organization producing the news and talk content that surrounds and complements debate programming.
- PBS NewsHour: Established nonpartisan public affairs broadcast on television and digital. A broadcast partner of Open to Debate and a direct competitor for foundation and viewer attention in the civil discourse space.
Direct peers
- More in Common: A nonprofit that produces research, content, and events aimed at depolarization and bridging social divides. Directly comparable in mission, content format, and target audience of civically engaged citizens.
- Intelligence Squared (UK): The original UK debate series from which Open to Debate (formerly Intelligence Squared U.S.) was spun out. Both produce live Oxford-style debates featuring expert voices on policy and culture, distributed through podcasts, video, and live events.
- Aspen Institute: Nonpartisan policy and civic dialogue organization that produces debate-format events, Aspen Ideas Festival programming, and public forums. Listed as an Open to Debate partner; competes for the same foundation and civic engagement funding pool.
- Braver Angels: A nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing political polarization through structured dialogue and debate workshops. Targets a similar civically engaged audience and shares Open to Debate's mission of bridging opposing viewpoints.
- Council on Foreign Relations: Nonpartisan foreign policy think tank and an editorial partner of Open to Debate. Produces policy debates, expert convenings, and public events on geopolitical issues, targeting a similar policy-engaged audience.
Emerging players
- Crooked Media: Independent podcast media company behind Pod Save America and other political talk shows. Competes for politically engaged podcast audiences, though explicitly partisan (progressive) versus Open to Debate's nonpartisan positioning.
- The Moth: A nonprofit storytelling platform producing live events and a top-ranked podcast. Comparable in production format (live stage events, podcast distribution, NPR carriage) and nonprofit media model, though focused on personal narrative rather than policy debate.
- ProCon.org (Envision): Nonprofit that presents pro and con arguments on controversial issues. Adjacent in mission (presenting multiple sides of contentious topics) and educational use case, with overlap in school and library audience segments.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Open to Debate social profiles
Digital presenceOpen to Debate financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Open to Debate leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Open to Debate funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Open to Debate M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Open to Debate
What does Open to Debate do?
Open to Debate is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media platform that produces weekly debate programming featuring opposing viewpoints on pressing political and cultural issues. Content is distributed for free across NPR radio (350+ stations), YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Substack, with additional live debate events held in major cities and at partner universities.
Is Open to Debate a public or private company?
Open to Debate is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Open to Debate founded?
Open to Debate was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Open to Debate based?
Open to Debate is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Open to Debate make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Corporate Partnerships.
Who are Open to Debate's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are NPR (National Public Radio) and PBS NewsHour. Direct peers are More in Common, Intelligence Squared (UK), Aspen Institute, Braver Angels and Council on Foreign Relations. Emerging players are Crooked Media, The Moth and ProCon.org (Envision).
Does Open to Debate have an API?
No public API is recorded for Open to Debate.