Minus18 Foundation
Minus18 Foundation is an Australian registered charity, founded in 1998, that delivers life-affirming events (Queer Formals), eLearning courses, school and workplace workshops, and digital resources for LGBTQIA+ youth aged 13-25 and the schools and employers that support them.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersCollingwood, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Minus18 Foundation does
Minus18 Foundation Ltd is a registered Australian charity (company limited by guarantee, ACNC registered, ATO-endorsed Deductible Gift Recipient) headquartered at the Victorian Pride Centre in St Kilda, Melbourne. Founded in 1998 by Nan McGregor and rebuilt as a formal foundation in 2011 under CEO Micah Scott, it is positioned as Australia's only charity dedicated specifically to LGBTQIA+ youth. The organization delivers its mission through a portfolio that includes in-person events (the flagship annual "Queer Formal" trademarked events held in Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide for ages 13-19), a fortnightly Discord community for online peer connection, a Young Leaders Program for ages 18-25, school and workplace training workshops, and a digital library of free articles, videos, and downloadable resources.
Its technology stack is intentionally lightweight and accessible rather than technically differentiated: a website with an eLearning module delivering self-paced courses (Course A and Course B) and digital video keynotes, an eCommerce store for pride merchandise with Australia-wide and selective international shipping, and Discord as the online community layer. No proprietary AI or data-science capability is evident; research inputs come from survey partnerships with La Trobe University (ARCSHS) on the Writing Themselves In 4 study.
The revenue model is a hybrid nonprofit mix: tax-deductible donations and workplace giving (via Benevity, Deed, Good2Give, GiveNow); merchandise sales where 100% of proceeds support youth programs; professional training and eLearning sold to workplaces and schools (Course A from $1,980 per organization, Course B tiered by employee count, digital keynotes from $299); and consultancy services for inclusion strategy. Go-to-market spans organic social, content marketing, awareness campaigns around IDAHOBIT/Pride Month/Wear It Purple Day, partner co-marketing (e.g., Dr. Bronner's All-One! Giving Program), and event-driven community activation. Customer segments include LGBTQIA+ youth (primary), schools and educational institutions, workplaces and government bodies, and parents/guardians. A 2023-2026 Strategic Plan developed with pro bono support from Boston Consulting Group targets national expansion, including a second state office outside Victoria by 2026.
Minus18 Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Minus18 Foundation
- Legal name
- Minus18 Foundation Ltd
- Website
- https://minus18.org.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Minus18 Foundation is an Australian registered charity, founded in 1998, that delivers life-affirming events (Queer Formals), eLearning courses, school and workplace workshops, and digital resources for LGBTQIA+ youth aged 13-25 and the schools and employers that support them.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Minus18 Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- LGBTQIA+ Youth Support Services
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)
Keywords
Where Minus18 Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Collingwood
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Minus18 Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations. All donations over $2 are tax-deductible. Corporate fundraising partnerships and workplace giving programs through platforms like Benevity, Deed, and Good2Give.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of LGBTQIA+ pride merchandise including flags, badges, stickers, lanyards, notebooks, and workplace/school packs. 100% of proceeds support youth programs. Free shipping over $150, 20% off orders over $300.
- Professional Training and eLearning: LGBTQIA+ inclusion training and eLearning courses sold to workplaces and schools. Course A from $1980 for entire team, keynotes from $299, with bundle discounts available.
- Consultancy Services: Consultancy partnerships offered to brands, organizations, governments, and schools for LGBTQIA+ inclusion strategy and implementation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Course A: Understanding LGBTQIA+ Customers, Clients and Coworkers - $1980 for entire team |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Course B: Actions to Build Inclusion for LGBTQIA+ People - Organization size pricing |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Digital Keynotes - Starting from $299 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Donation Impact Tiers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise - Unit pricing with volume discounts |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Minus18 Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Minus18 Foundation delivers life-affirming events (Queer Formal, dance parties, Discord gatherings), LGBTQIA+ inclusion training and eLearning courses (Course A and Course B plus digital video keynotes), school and workplace workshops, the Young Leaders Program, and an own-brand Pride Merchandise store, all underwritten by donations and grants. Paid training and merchandise sales subsidize free youth-facing services and education resources used by 1.1 million people annually.
Product overview
Minus18 Foundation operates as a youth charity offering a portfolio of programs, events, and services for LGBTQIA+ young people. The core offerings include: eLearning courses (Course A and Course B) for workplace inclusion training; individual video keynotes covering Wear It Purple Day and Trans Awareness themes; free educational videos on queer identities and youth resources; digital downloads like the LGBTQIA+ Calendar; in-person events including Queer Formal (Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide), dance parties, and online Discord gatherings; a merchandise store with pride items; school and workplace training workshops; and a Youth Leadership Program. All proceeds from merchandise and training bookings support the free youth programs and events.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Course A: Understanding LGBTQIA+ Customers, Clients and Coworkers Online self-paced eLearning course (8 parts, ~1 hour) providing teams with knowledge to include and welcome LGBTQIA+ people, with 12-month organization-wide access.
- Course B: Actions to Build Inclusion for LGBTQIA+ People Online self-paced course (10 parts, ~1 hour) guiding team members through four inclusion actions: visible inclusion, pronouns, responding to harmful behavior, and listening to LGBTQIA+ stories. Tiered by organization size with 20% bundle discount when purchased with Course A.
- Wear It Purple Day Video Keynote Paid 11-minute introductory video keynote covering context behind Wear It Purple Day, LGBTQIA+ acronym, youth challenges, discrimination statistics, visibility, active allyship, and workplace tips.
- Trans Awareness Week Workplace Video Keynote 16-minute paid workplace video speech covering actionable trans allyship tips, lived experiences, sex/gender/sexuality distinctions, key terms, and workplace inclusion strategies.
- Trans Awareness Week Youth Video Keynote Free 13-minute video resource for school-age students featuring lived experiences from trans and gender-diverse young people and guidance on building school cultures of support.
- LGBTQIA+ Allyship at Work: Real Stories, Real Change 15-minute paid eLearning video featuring real perspectives and lived-experience stories from LGBTQIA+ executives, professionals, and young people about allyship in workplaces.
- Queer Formal Events Minus18's flagship annual registered-trademark event, held in Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide for LGBTQIA+ young people aged 13-19, featuring drag performances, dancing, activities, and friendship-building; free ticketed with accessibility features including gender-neutral facilities, wheelchair access, and sensory-friendly options.
- Discord Online Community Server Fortnightly moderated online gathering on Tuesdays for LGBTQIA+ youth aged 13-19, with Minus18 staff and Youth Workers facilitating connection in a safe environment.
- School Workshops In-person facilitated sessions delivered in schools and youth organisations, empowering young people to respond to discrimination and champion inclusivity through language and knowledge.
- Workplace Training Professional LGBTQIA+ training and workshops for workplaces, health services, and organisations, with proceeds subsidising school workshop accessibility.
- Youth Leadership Program 10-month commitment program for LGBTQIA+ young people aged 18-25 to develop leadership skills and drive change for LGBTQIA+ youth.
- Pride Merchandise Store Own-brand online store selling flags, badges, stickers, lanyards, posters, wristbands, notebooks, pens, pronoun pins, and Workplace/School pride packs; 100% of proceeds support LGBTQIA+ youth programs; ships Australia-wide with international shipping to USA, UK, and Europe, plus discrete packaging.
Quantifiable outcome
- 98% of LGBTQIA+ youth report improvement to mental wellbeing after attending a Minus18 event
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Minus18 Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Minus18 Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Minus18 Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Dr. Bronner's / Lateral FoodscoreProduct-first fundraising partnership through All-One! Giving Program. Donates 100% of sales from specific products (Deluxe Sampler Pack) to support LGBTQIA+ youth. Expanded to limited-edition Pride Soap collaboration for Pride Month 2026. Values-aligned brand with activist mission supporting LGBTQIA+ causes.
- Wear It PurplecoreLicensed partner for Wear It Purple Day products and resources. Creates official video keynotes and merchandise for the annual awareness day celebrating LGBTQIA+ young people.
- Boston Consulting Group (BCG)coreConsulting support provided for development of 2023-2026 Strategic Plan. Pro bono strategic advisory to help shape organization's growth direction and impact goals for LGBTQIA+ youth nationwide.
- Rainbow FamiliesminorCommunity partner during 2016 Queer Formal when conservative groups targeted the event. Community Angels group of LGBTQIA+ organizations gathered to protect and welcome young attendees.
- La Trobe University (ARCSHS)coreResearch partnership for Writing Themselves In 4 study - largest ever study on LGBTQA+ young people aged 14-21 in Australia with 6,418 participants. Supports evidence-based programming.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Minus18 Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Wear It Purple: Australian LGBTQIA+ youth awareness organization that Minus18 is a licensed partner of. Compares as a peer awareness organization focused on Wear It Purple Day, with significant overlap in audience and mission but a narrower awareness-day focus versus Minus18's year-round programming.
- It Gets Better Project: Global nonprofit connecting LGBTQIA+ youth with stories of hope and community. Comparable digital content and storytelling model to Minus18's online articles and video resources, but operates as a US-headquartered media/awareness platform without the in-person events focus.
Direct peers
- Twenty10 (incorporating QLife): Australian LGBTQIA+ youth organization providing housing, mental health, and peer support services across NSW and nationally via QLife. Directly comparable mission and target population as Minus18, though Twenty10 has a stronger housing/homelessness service focus rather than events.
- Pride in Diversity: Australian LGBTQIA+ workplace inclusion organization providing training, benchmarking, and consulting to corporate Australia. Directly comparable B2B eLearning and corporate training offering, though focused on adults/workplaces rather than youth programming like Minus18.
- GLSEN: US-based education organization working to create safe and inclusive schools for LGBTQIA+ students. Directly comparable school-based LGBTQIA+ inclusion training and education focus, with parallel workshops and educator resources similar to Minus18's school workshop offering.
Broad incumbents
- ACON: Australia's largest LGBTQIA+ health organization based in NSW, providing HIV prevention, health promotion, and broader community services. Comparable as a major Australian LGBTQIA+ nonprofit with workplace inclusion and community programs, but broader health mandate and larger scale than Minus18.
- Headspace: Australia's national youth mental health foundation with centers nationwide serving ages 12-25. Overlaps with Minus18 on youth mental wellbeing support but with broader mental health mandate and government-funded clinical service delivery rather than LGBTQIA+-specific community events.
- The Trevor Project: Largest US-based LGBTQIA+ youth organization providing crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and peer support. Comparable mission focus on LGBTQIA+ youth mental health and safety, with significantly larger scale and crisis-line focus versus Minus18's community-event model.
Regional players
- Drummond Street Services: Victorian-based LGBTQIA+ and family services organization providing counseling, mental health, and community programs. Comparable as a Melbourne-based LGBTQIA+ services nonprofit with overlapping client base, but with clinical services rather than events and youth programming.
- PFLAG Australia: Australian chapter of PFLAG supporting parents, families, and allies of LGBTQIA+ people. Comparable as a community-based LGBTQIA+ support organization but focused on families rather than youth programming, serving as a complementary peer in the Australian ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Minus18 Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceMinus18 Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Minus18 Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Minus18 Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Minus18 Foundation 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 Minus18 Foundation
What does Minus18 Foundation do?
Minus18 Foundation delivers life-affirming events (Queer Formal, dance parties, Discord gatherings), LGBTQIA+ inclusion training and eLearning courses (Course A and Course B plus digital video keynotes), school and workplace workshops, the Young Leaders Program, and an own-brand Pride Merchandise store, all underwritten by donations and grants. Paid training and merchandise sales subsidize free youth-facing services and education resources used by 1.1 million people annually.
Is Minus18 Foundation a public or private company?
Minus18 Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Minus18 Foundation founded?
Minus18 Foundation was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Minus18 Foundation based?
Minus18 Foundation is headquartered in Collingwood, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Minus18 Foundation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales, professional Training and eLearning and consultancy Services.
Who are Minus18 Foundation's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Wear It Purple and It Gets Better Project. Direct peers are Twenty10 (incorporating QLife), Pride in Diversity and GLSEN. Broad incumbents are ACON, Headspace and The Trevor Project. Regional players are Drummond Street Services and PFLAG Australia.
Does Minus18 Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Minus18 Foundation.
What industry is Minus18 Foundation in?
Minus18 Foundation's product category is LGBTQIA+ Youth Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAE, LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations, with a secondary code of BPAGADAH, Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.