What Freedom to Marry does

Freedom to Marry was a U.S. nonprofit advocacy organization founded by Evan Wolfson in 2001 with a singular mission: securing the legal right to marry for same-sex couples throughout the United States. Operating from a New York headquarters and active across all 50 states and U.S. territories, the organization executed a three-track "Roadmap to Victory" strategy combining strategic litigation, legislative campaigns, ballot initiatives, and public-education work to win marriage state-by-state while building a super-majority of public support for a national outcome.

The campaign's infrastructure consisted of digital organizing platforms, public-education programs, and a network of more than 30 state-level coalitions — including Washington United for Marriage (864 partner organizations, $12M+ raised from 27,000 donors) and Minnesotans United for All Families (700 partner organizations, $13M+ raised from 67,000+ donors). Freedom to Marry partnered with the leading national LGBT legal organizations — ACLU, Lambda Legal, National Center for Lesbian Rights, American Foundation for Equal Rights, and GLAD — as co-counsel across precedent-setting cases in multiple federal circuits. The organization's efforts contributed to public support growing from 27% in 1996 to 63% by 2015, secured ballot victories in Maine, Maryland, Washington, and Minnesota in 2012, and culminated in the U.S. Supreme Court's June 26, 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges that established marriage equality nationwide.

The organization was funded entirely through donations from individuals, faith communities, and corporate partners including Microsoft, Starbucks, REI, and T-Mobile. With its core mission achieved, Freedom to Marry wound down operations in early 2016 and spawned Freedom to Marry Global to continue international marriage equality advocacy.

Name

Freedom to Marry

Legal name

Freedom to Marry

Website

https://freedomtomarry.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Freedom to Marry was a U.S. nonprofit advocacy campaign founded in 2001 that secured nationwide marriage equality through litigation, legislation, ballot initiatives, and coalition building, achieving its goal with the 2015 Supreme Court Obergefell v. Hodges ruling.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Rights Advocacy

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights (BPADAGAF), Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment (BPAGABAF)

Keywords

• Marriage equality advocacy
• Civil rights campaign
• Nonprofit advocacy services
• LGBTQ rights movement
• Public education campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Freedom to Marry raised funds from individual donors and organizations to support its campaigns. The organization built a funding engine to fuel the marriage movement, investing in state campaigns and national efforts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Freedom to Marry was the focused national campaign to win marriage for same-sex couples in the United States. It executed a three-track 'Roadmap to Victory' strategy combining state-level litigation, legislation, and ballot campaigns with national public education and federal advocacy to repeal DOMA. The organization built state coalitions, conducted public education programs (Why Marriage Matters), and engaged in strategic litigation partnerships, achieving marriage in 37 states and ultimately nationwide via the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015.

Product overview

Freedom to Marry was a nonprofit advocacy organization and campaign (not a technology product company) that focused on winning marriage equality for same-sex couples in the United States. The organization operated from approximately 2003 until early 2016, when it wound down operations after achieving its goal following the Supreme Court's June 26, 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges. The organization did not offer commercial software products or technology services; instead, it provided advocacy resources, educational materials, campaign strategy guidance (Roadmap to Victory), and informational content about marriage equality efforts across all 50 states. Its primary outputs were advocacy campaigns, public education efforts, coalition building, and documented lessons learned from the marriage equality movement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved nationwide marriage equality on June 26, 2015 through Supreme Court ruling
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wisconsin Unites for MarriagecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 August 2014Broad-based coalition and public education campaign dedicated to winning marriage for same-sex couples in Wisconsin, with Freedom to Marry as founding and leading member.
• Utah Unites for MarriagecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2014Founding and leading member of Utah's public education campaign. Launched in Salt Lake City to broaden conversation about marriage for same-sex couples and showcase diverse Utahns who support freedom to marry.
• Wyoming Unites for MarriagecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2014Founding and leading member of Wyoming's grassroots public education campaign. Launched in Cheyenne, WY on steps of Capitol Building alongside Wyoming Equality to fuel conversation about same-sex couples and their families.
• Why Marriage Matters PennsylvaniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 December 2013Founding and leading partner in coalition campaign to build support for freedom to marry in Pennsylvania through grassroots public education and story-sharing.
• Texas for MarriagecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2013Campaign from Freedom to Marry in partnership with Equality Texas, focused on increasing support for the freedom to marry in Texas through coalition building and public education.
• Washington United for MarriagecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2012Founding and leading coalition partner in Washington state. Freedom to Marry was the largest out-of-state cash investor, providing $1.2 million directly and helping raise another $940,000. Provided strategic guidance on messaging, paid media, direct mail, and online strategy. Led Why Marriage Matters Washington public education program.
• Minnesotans United for All FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2012Founding member and largest funder of Minnesota's campaign to defeat anti-marriage constitutional amendment. Raised and invested $1.75 million. Provided strategic and messaging guidance and new media expertise. Led public education campaign including television spots featuring Minnesota families.
• Mainers United for MarriagecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2012Served on Executive Committee and offered strategic guidance and day-to-day support. Invested $1.3 million in direct cash and helped raise an additional $1.35 million for public education efforts in Maine's historic ballot victory.
• Marylanders for Marriage EqualitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2012Partnership with NAACP National Fund for Question 6 campaign. Created radio spot featuring President Barack Obama. Invested more than $200,000 into the campaign, building on years of partnership laying groundwork for victory.
• National Center for Lesbian RightscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNation's leading LGBT legal organization that served as co-counsel in multiple marriage cases including Tanco v. Haslam (Tennessee), Courage v. Wyoming, and Guzzo v. Meade (Wyoming).
• Lambda LegalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited States' first legal organization dedicated to achieving full equality for gay and lesbian people. Served as counsel in multiple marriage cases including Condon v. Haley (South Carolina), McGee v. Cole (West Virginia), and Harris v. Rainey (Virginia).
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Counsel in Harris v. Rainey (Virginia), Wolf v. Walker (Wisconsin), and Whitewood v. Wolf (Pennsylvania).
• American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational legal organization working toward marriage for same-sex couples nationwide. Counsel in Bostic v. Rainey (Virginia), the case that helped establish precedent in the 4th Circuit.
• SC EqualityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide coalition of fair-minded individuals, religious groups, and social justice organizations working to secure civil and human rights for LGBT people in South Carolina.
• Wyoming EqualitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWyoming's central organization connecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Served as plaintiff in both marriage legal cases in 2014 (Courage v. Wyoming and Guzzo v. Meade).
• Rhode Islanders United for MarriagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroad coalition of people, organizations, and groups working to secure the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in Rhode Island. Freedom to Marry was a leading member of the coalition.
• Marriage Equality Rhode IslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead state organization in the fight for equal marriage for same-sex couples in Rhode Island, working alongside Freedom to Marry as part of Rhode Islanders United for Marriage coalition.
• Equality TexascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide political advocacy organization working to advance the cause of equality for all Texans. Partnered with Freedom to Marry on Texas for Marriage campaign.
• MicrosoftminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that endorsed Referendum 74 in Washington state, among other business support for marriage equality.
• StarbucksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that endorsed Referendum 74 in Washington state, supporting the freedom to marry campaign.
• REIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that endorsed Referendum 74 in Washington state alongside other leading corporations.
• T-MobileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that endorsed Referendum 74 in Washington state campaign for marriage equality.
• Equal Rights WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington's statewide LGBT civil rights and advocacy organization, partner in Washington United for Marriage coalition.
• ACLU of WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, committed to standing up for equality. Counsel in 2004 court case challenging Washington's marriage ban.
• Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew England's leading legal rights organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status and gender identity. Served as counsel in Rhode Island and Vermont marriage cases.
• Fairness West VirginiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWest Virginia's largest statewide LGBT advocacy organization dedicated to bringing fair treatment to all West Virginians.
• Equality VirginiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirginia's central statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights and advocacy organization.
• Vermont Freedom to MarrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVermont's central statewide organization working to protect the freedom to marry.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GLAAD: A leading LGBTQ media advocacy organization that worked alongside Freedom to Marry on narrative and earned-media strategy to shift public opinion on marriage equality.
• Lambda Legal: A leading national legal organization dedicated to full civil rights for LGBTQ people; co-counsel with Freedom to Marry in multiple marriage cases, making it a directly comparable legal-advocacy peer.
• Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD): New England's leading LGBTQ legal organization; served as counsel in Rhode Island, Vermont, and other marriage cases, making it a directly comparable state-region legal advocacy peer.
• American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER): Founded to challenge California's Proposition 8; counsel in Bostic v. Rainey that established 4th Circuit precedent. A directly comparable single-issue marriage advocacy organization.
• National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR): A national legal organization advancing LGBTQ rights through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education; co-counsel with Freedom to Marry in Tanco v. Haslam and other cases.
• Human Rights Campaign: The largest U.S. LGBTQ civil rights advocacy organization, with overlapping focus on marriage equality, federal non-discrimination, and state-level lobbying — a directly comparable advocacy peer.
• PFLAG: The largest family- and ally-based LGBTQ organization in the U.S., with overlapping mission on marriage equality, family recognition, and public education campaigns.
• Freedom to Marry Global: The direct successor entity spawned by Freedom to Marry to advance marriage equality internationally; inherits brand, leadership relationships, and the core advocacy playbook.

Broad incumbents

• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): A broad civil liberties organization that served as counsel in multiple marriage cases (Wolf v. Walker, Whitewood v. Wolf, Harris v. Rainey). Operates across a much wider civil rights portfolio but with directly overlapping marriage litigation.

Emerging players

• Movement Advancement Project (MAP): An LGBTQ think tank that provides research and policy analysis on marriage and related civil rights; comparable as a research-and-advocacy peer informing movement strategy.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/freedomtomarry
• Facebookfacebook.com/freedomtomarry.org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Freedom to Marry