What Race Forward does

Race Forward is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advances racial equity and justice across communities, public institutions, and culture. Headquartered in New York with a Washington, DC mailing address, it has operated for approximately 45 years (firmographics founding year 1981) and is described in source material as one of the largest racial-equity nonprofits in the United States, with a staff in the 11–50 range. The organization's primary stakeholder groups include local, state, and federal government jurisdictions, community organizers and movement builders, nonprofit and NGO practitioners, the education sector (parents, students, educators), and individual donors and corporate sponsors.

The portfolio of programs breaks into four functional clusters. Training and capacity-building includes the Racial Equity Training Series, H.E.A.L. Together training for educators and families, and Government Employee Training. Government-facing work operates primarily through the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) national network and the Federal Initiative to Govern for Racial Equity (FIRE). Movement building and convenings include the biennial Facing Race National Conference (over 4,000 attendees), the inaugural Just Narratives for Multiracial Solidarity convening (November 2025, 400+ attendees), and the Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy (launched 2024 with Americans for the Arts). Media and resources include the award-winning Colorlines news site, the Momentum podcast, toolkits, reports, policy briefs, the #RaceAnd webinar series, and the Butterfly Lab for Immigrant Narrative Strategy. Underlying technology is conventional web infrastructure — domain websites and donation processing systems — rather than any proprietary platform, and AI/ML capability is not disclosed.

Revenue is assembled, not earned in a commercial sense. Streams include individual donations (online via credit card, ACH, PayPal, ApplePay; by phone; by mail; IRA and planned giving; Donor-Advised Funds), institutional philanthropy and foundation grants, corporate sponsorships across events, research, media and programs, workplace giving including employer matching and the Combined Federal Campaign (#91782), and merchandise sales through the dedicated Race Forward online store. Go-to-market is community- and event-led: large convenings and training engagements anchor engagement, with narrative content (Colorlines, podcasts, social channels) building top-of-funnel awareness and donations, sponsorships, and training contracts converting at the bottom of the funnel. Pricing is not applicable in a product sense; pricing information is not publicly disclosed and the operating currency is charitable contribution rather than commercial billing. In January 2025, the organization voluntarily recognized NOLSW UAW Local 2320 AFL-CIO as the bargaining representative for non-managerial staff.

Name

Race Forward

Legal name

Race Forward

Website

https://raceforward.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Race Forward is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advances racial equity through training, media, and government partnerships. It serves local, state, and federal government jurisdictions via the GARE network, community organizers, the education sector, and individual donors across roughly 45 years of operation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Racial Justice Advocacy and Equity Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311)

akta.pro primary industry

Racial & Ethnic Justice Organizations (BPAGAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

Keywords

• Racial equity training
• Social justice advocacy
• Government equity consulting
• Movement building services
• Antiracism education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Race Forward accepts online donations via credit card, ACH, PayPal, and ApplePay. The organization also processes donations by phone and mail. Recurring gifts provide consistent year-round support.
2. Institutional Philanthropy: Foundation grants and institutional philanthropy from national, regional, and local foundations support programmatic work. Early investments from philanthropy helped create conditions for programmatic success.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate giving and sponsorships including event sponsorship (Facing Race conference), research sponsorship, media sponsorship (Colorlines, Momentum podcast), program sponsorship, and general operating support.
4. Merchandise Sales: Race Forward operates an online store selling Juneteenth merchandise and purpose-built apparel and gear including shirts, water canteens, hats, and sweaters.
5. Workplace Giving Programs: Race Forward is supported through workplace giving programs including payroll deduction and employer matching gift programs. The organization is an approved charity through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC#91782).
6. Planned Giving: Race Forward accepts IRA contributions (for donors aged 70½+), estate and bequest plans, and appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares. The organization is a qualified recipient of grants from Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Race Forward is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization that advances racial justice through research, media, and practice. Its core offerings include racial equity training series for organizations and government agencies, the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) national network, the Federal Initiative to Govern for Racial Equity (FIRE), narrative strategy services, the biennial Facing Race conference and other convenings, and media properties including the Colorlines news website and Momentum podcast. The organization also distributes reports, toolkits, policy briefs, and webinars, and sells branded merchandise through its online store including the Juneteenth Collection.

Product overview

Race Forward is a national nonprofit organization (501(c)(3)) providing a portfolio of programs, services, and resources focused on advancing racial equity and justice. The organization offers training programs (Racial Equity Series, H.E.A.L. Together, Government Employee Training), government-focused initiatives (GARE national network, FIRE federal strategy), narrative strategy services, and convenings (Facing Race biennial conference, Just Narratives, Cultural Week of Action). Core resources include toolkits, reports, policy briefs, webinars, and the Colorlines news website. The organization also operates a store selling merchandise including the Juneteenth Collection. Race Forward is not a technology product company but rather a social justice movement-building organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Colorlines: Award-winning news website focused on racial justice coverage.
• Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE)
• Facing Race Conference
• H.E.A.L. Together
• Butterfly Lab
• Policy Innovation Lab
• Momentum Podcast

Products and services

• Facing Race Conference Biennial national conference described as the largest multiracial, multigenerational national gathering of racial justice leaders and movement makers, providing a generative space for organizers, activists, and leaders to share ideas, strategize, and find community.
• Racial Equity Training Series Training workshops equipping participants with tools to effectively talk about racism and address systemic racism in their practice, including Building Racial Equity and Organizing for Racial Equity modules, delivered to organizations, government agencies, and educators.
• H.E.A.L. Together Training Series Training program supporting parents, students, and educators fighting to provide students with an inclusive, accurate, and fully-funded public education.
• Government Employee Training Training services for government employees to develop skills and strategies to address structural and institutional racial inequities within public institutions.
• Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) National network of local, regional, and state government jurisdictions working to achieve racial equity in their policies and practices, equipping racial equity practitioners in government with skills, resources, tools, and strategic approaches.
• Federal Initiative to Govern for Racial Equity (FIRE) Federal strategy initiative aimed at creating sustainable change across the whole of government so everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
• Just Narratives Convening Annual convening for strategists, communicators, creatives, and movement builders to build narrative power for multiracial solidarity.
• Colorlines Award-winning news website covering racial justice issues, regularly sourced by other media outlets.
• Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast Race Forward podcast featuring conversations on racial equity topics and movement building.
• Race Forward Online Store E-commerce storefront selling purpose-built apparel and gear, including the Juneteenth Collection, shirts, water canteens, hats, and sweaters.
• Narrative Strategy Practice Strategic approach to telling stories of how a racially just society benefits all, building power through connected and ongoing stories across multiple mediums and platforms to counter harmful narratives.
• Cultural Week of Action Week-long series of activities across the country leveraging arts, culture, and creativity to elevate dialogues and spark action to advance a multiracial democracy.
• Butterfly Lab for Immigrant Narrative Strategy Three-year project consisting of top immigrant justice leaders working to change narratives around migration and immigration.
• Housing, Land, and Justice Artist Fellowship Fellowship program providing $20,000 to artists producing original artwork or cultural productions using media, visual, or performance art incorporating housing justice narratives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Distributed $2 million to more than 40 organizations during 2021-2022
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Americans for the Arts (AFTA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 September 2024Race Forward and Americans for the Arts launched the Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy, a new initiative leveraging arts, culture, and creativity to elevate dialogues and spark action to advance a multiracial democracy. The partnership included 14 anchor projects receiving funding and activities across the country kicking off in St. Louis.
• PayPal Giving FundcoreOthersRace Forward processes donations through PayPal Giving Fund for some donation types, particularly through workplace giving programs and DAF grants.
• Double the DonationminorOthersProvides matching gift and volunteer grant information and services for Race Forward's corporate matching program.
• 14 Anchor Projects (Cultural Week of Action)minorOthersLocal projects receiving funding to anchor the inaugural Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy.
• National Organization of Legal Services Workers (NOLSW), UAW Local 2320, AFL-CIOmajorOthersRace Forward voluntarily recognized NOLSW as the bargaining representative for its non-managerial employees in January 2025, following months of constructive dialogue initiated by employees advocating for union representation.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PolicyLink: PolicyLink is a national research and action institute advancing racial and economic equity through policy. It is closely comparable to Race Forward's Policy Innovation Lab and government transformation work via GARE.
• UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza): UnidosUS is the largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the US, focused on racial equity for Latino communities. It is comparable as a major racial justice nonprofit operating training, convening, and policy programs supported by diversified philanthropic and corporate funding.
• Equal Justice Initiative: EJI works to end mass incarceration and confront racial injustice through research, advocacy, and the Legacy Museum. It is comparable as a high-profile racial justice nonprofit with strong narrative, educational content, and convening capabilities.
• Advancement Project: Advancement Project is a racial justice organization that combines legal action, policy advocacy, and organizing on issues including voting rights and educational equity. It overlaps with Race Forward's racial justice organizing, narrative strategy, and policy work on housing, education, and criminal justice.
• Demos: Demos is a racial justice and democracy think tank conducting research, litigation, and advocacy. It overlaps with Race Forward on narrative strategy, policy briefs, and movement-building convenings aimed at advancing structural equity.
• National Urban League: The National Urban League advances economic and racial equity for African Americans through programs, advocacy, and workforce development. It is comparable to Race Forward as a long-standing national racial equity nonprofit with programs spanning training, convening, and policy engagement.
• Southern Poverty Law Center: SPLC is a major civil rights nonprofit combining litigation, education, and monitoring of hate groups. It is comparable to Race Forward in scale and mission breadth, with both operating multi-program national infrastructures sustained by philanthropic and donor support.
• NAACP: One of the oldest and largest US civil rights organizations, the NAACP pursues racial justice through advocacy, litigation, and organizing. Race Forward shares the NAACP's racial equity mission and overlapping engagement with movement leaders, though Race Forward is differentiated by its government transformation (GARE) and narrative strategy focus.

Broad incumbents

• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): The ACLU is one of the largest US civil liberties organizations with a broad portfolio spanning racial justice, immigration, LGBTQ+, criminal justice, and voting rights. It is comparable to Race Forward on the racial justice subset of work but operates at a much larger scale across many civil liberties issues.
• Center for American Progress: CAP is a large progressive policy think tank producing research and policy advocacy across racial equity, economic, and democracy issues. It is comparable to Race Forward's policy and research output but operates across a much broader progressive agenda rather than centering racial justice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/racialjustice
• Facebookfacebook.com/RaceForward
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/race-forward
• Instagraminstagram.com/raceforward
• Xx.com/RaceForward

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Race Forward