OutRight Action International

What OutRight Action International does

OutRight Action International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that advances LGBTQI human rights globally through a combination of UN-level advocacy, regranting to frontline organizations, and research and policy products. The organization holds UN ECOSOC consultative status and serves as co-founder and Secretariat of the UN LGBTI Core Group, an informal coalition of 42 Member States plus the EU delegation, OHCHR, and Human Rights Watch. Its programmatic portfolio spans seven thematic areas — Global LBQ Program, Global Trans Program, Build-Earn-Thrive (economic inclusion), Inclusive Democracy (GLIDE Initiative with Synergía and IFES), Queer Legal Futures, Global Intersex Program, and Conversion Practices — supported by knowledge resources including Country Overviews covering all 193 UN member states and a library of policy briefs.

The organization's business model is donor-funded, with five primary revenue streams: individual donations (including monthly recurring, tribute, legacy, and cryptocurrency giving), government grants, corporate partnerships ranging from $5,000 to $250,000+, foundation grants (Google.org, Scotiabank Foundation, Disney, P&G via Looking Out Foundation, and historically USAID), and time-limited campaigns such as the 2026 Funding Our Freedom $10 million emergency appeal. Distribution occurs through direct grantmaking to 500+ partner organizations across 100 countries, corporate partner programs, UN advocacy channels, individual donor campaigns, and flagship events including OutSummit, the Celebration of Courage Gala, and Pride activations. The organization is LBQ-founded and LBQ-led, governed by a board of directors, and headquartered in New York with 11–50 employees.

In 2025 OutRight experienced a material funding shock, losing $10 million in direct government funding and forcing the suspension of 120 grants across nearly 50 countries as part of $125 million in cuts to the global LGBTQI human rights ecosystem. The Funding Our Freedom campaign (reaching $7.9 million from 140+ donors toward a $10 million target) and continued expansion of corporate partnerships and programmatic verticals indicate an active diversification and recovery strategy under Executive Director Maria Sjödin.

Name

OutRight Action International

Legal name

Outright Action International

Website

https://outrightinternational.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OutRight Action International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that advances LGBTQI human rights globally through UN advocacy, regranting to 500+ frontline organizations across 100 countries, research, and policy engagement, funded by individual donors, governments, foundations, and corporate partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Rights Advocacy Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

Keywords

• Human rights advocacy
• LGBTIQ rights programs
• International nonprofit services
• Grantmaking and capacity building
• Global policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Astoria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through online giving, monthly recurring gifts, tribute gifts, and legacy/planned giving. The organization runs periodic fundraising campaigns such as Funding Our Freedom and accepts cryptocurrency donations.
2. Government Grants: Government funding represents a significant portion of revenue. The organization lost $10 million directly from government funding cuts since January 2025, representing 20-25% of grantee partner capacity.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate engagement generates revenue through partnership packages ranging from USD $5,000 to $250,000+. Partners receive advisory services, employee engagement opportunities, access to data/research, and brand visibility through community events.
4. Foundation Grants: Foundation funding supports specific programs including the Looking Outright Fund (partnership with Looking Out Foundation and P/G), Inclusive Solutions (Google.org, Scotiabank Foundation, The Walt Disney Company), and USAID-funded Alliance for Global Equality.
5. Campaign Fundraising: Time-limited fundraising campaigns such as the Funding Our Freedom campaign with a $10 million goal, with funds split 50% for regranting to frontline partners and 50% for sustaining Outright's core programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

OutRight Action International is a global LGBTIQ human rights nonprofit that delivers advocacy, research, grantmaking, and policy engagement services. It operates global programs (LBQ, Trans, Intersex, Inclusive Democracy, Queer Legal Futures, Conversion Practices, Economic Inclusion), provides regranting to over 500 grassroots organizations across 100 countries, and serves as the Secretariat of the UN LGBTI Core Group with ECOSOC consultative status. The organization also produces knowledge resources including Country Overviews and Policy Briefs.

Product overview

OutRight Action International is a global human rights organization (not a technology product company) that operates a portfolio of advocacy programs, research resources, and campaigns focused on advancing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) people worldwide. The core offerings include: Global Programs (Global LBQ Program, Global Trans Program, Build-Earn-Thrive Initiative, Inclusive Democracy Program, Queer Legal Futures Program, Global Intersex Program, Conversion Practices Program); UN Engagement as ECOSOC consultative status holder and Secretariat of the UN LGBTI Core Group; Knowledge Resources (Country Overviews covering 193+ countries and Policy Briefs on policy issues); Content & Community (Outright Proud Podcast); and Campaigns (Funding Our Freedom emergency response and Outright Proud annual pride campaign). These programs work in coordination through the GLIDE Initiative framework to strengthen global movements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LBQ Connect: Global LBQ Program supporting lesbian, bisexual, and queer communities worldwide through advocacy, research, grant-making, and leadership capacity building.
• Build-Earn-Thrive (BET) Initiative
• GLIDE Initiative
• OutSummit
• Outright Proud
• Outright Proud Podcast

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 2019, awarded nearly $8.1M in grants to over 500 organizations in 100 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• LGBTQ+ Victory InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023USAID-funded Alliance for Global Equality (2023-2025) led by Outright and implementing partner LGBTQ+ Victory Institute. Program equipped stakeholders in USAID presence countries to lead social change for more inclusive economic growth and democratic participation. Nearly $700,000 in direct grantmaking focused on livelihoods activities.
• galck+ (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019The National SOGIE Umbrella Body representing LGBQ voices across Kenya. galck+ works to establish working relationships with Government institutions and Civil Society organizations to promote a society that appreciates diversity and recognizes equal rights regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
• The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs) - NigeriacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Nigeria-based registered not-for-profit organization working to create a society where human rights are guaranteed regardless of status, identity, orientation and affiliation. Founded in 2005 as a response to discrimination and marginalization of sexual minorities in HIV prevention programming and human rights work.
• Access Chapter 2 (AC2) - South AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Organization promoting human rights and empowerment of women and girls and LGBTQI+ persons in all their diversities. Facilitates participation of civil society organizations at local, national, regional and international level through coordinating platforms for engagement on governance, policy and accountability processes.
• UN LGBTI Core GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutright serves as co-founder and Secretariat of the UN LGBTI Core Group, an informal group of 42 Member States, EU delegation, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch and Outright. Together they collaborate to mainstream LGBTQI human rights at UN headquarters in New York.
• GLIDE Initiative (Synergía - Initiatives for Human Rights and IFES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Global LGBTQI+ Inclusive Democracy and Empowerment (GLIDE) Initiative is a collaboration between Outright International, Synergía - Initiatives for Human Rights, and International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). GLIDE enables LGBTQI people to participate in and influence democratic decision-making through resourcing, knowledge hub development, and movement strengthening.
• Partnership for Global LGBTQI EqualitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutright is a Founding Member of the Partnership for Global LGBTQI Equality, a coalition of businesses committed to leveraging their individual and collective advocacy to accelerate LGBTQI equality and inclusion globally.
• Bad Law, Bluebella, BUFF, Care With Pride, CBRE, Cosmic Cherry, Critical Role, Diesel, Deutsche Bank, Dr. Martens Foundation, Dynamite, Garage, Global Impact, ING Bank, Ironwood Studios, KingsIsle, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, Legrand, Levi Strauss & Co., Looking Out Foundation, Mustard, Mythical, Newday Impact, P&G, Revolut, SeattleFWC26, Stoup Brewing, Tinder, Warner Music Group, Waterdrop, WeHeromajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partners and supporters of Outright Proud campaign. Partnership packages range from USD $5,000 to $250,000+ and include advisory services, employee engagement, access to data and research, and brand visibility through community immersion and event sponsorship.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Amnesty International: A much larger global human rights NGO with established UN ECOSOC status and country presence; covers LGBTIQ rights as one of many portfolios, providing a benchmark for scale, fundraising model, and international advocacy capability.
• Freedom House: Independent watchdog organization focused on democracy and human rights globally; comparable as a US-headquartered nonprofit with UN advocacy, research, and government grant funding streams.
• Open Society Foundations: One of the largest private foundations funding global human rights and LGBTIQ movements; relevant peer given overlap as both funder and operator of global rights programs, and shared donor ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Lambda Legal: US-based LGBTQI legal organization operating impact litigation, policy advocacy, and public education; comparable in mission focus and nonprofit funding model, though legal-services oriented.
• Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice: A global LBQ-focused philanthropic foundation that funds LGBTIQ movements internationally — directly overlapping Outright's LBQ program, regranting activity, and grassroots partner ecosystem.
• ILGA World: The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association is the closest direct peer — a global LGBTI federation of more than 1,700 member organizations from 160+ countries that operates UN advocacy, research, and capacity-building programs in the same niche as Outright.
• GLAAD: Leading US-based LGBTQI media advocacy organization; comparable in mission (advancing LGBTQI acceptance) and corporate partnership revenue model, though US-centric in operations.
• Human Rights Watch: A co-member of the UN LGBTI Core Group alongside Outright; Human Rights Watch operates global human rights research and advocacy with comparable UN access, donor base, and corporate/individual fundraising model.

Emerging players

• Front Line Defenders: Ireland-based international human rights organization protecting at-risk human rights defenders; comparable in providing emergency funding, security support, and international advocacy on behalf of frontline activists — an adjacent service line to Outright's crisis response work.

Regional players

• Stonewall (UK): UK-focused LGBTQI rights and advocacy organization with comparable corporate partnership and individual-donor fundraising model; operates a similar programmatic structure (research, advocacy, employer programs) but in a single national market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@outrightintl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/outright-international
• Instagraminstagram.com/outrightintl/?hl=en
• Xx.com/outrightintl
• Facebookfacebook.com/outrightintl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 OutRight Action International