GLSEN

What GLSEN does

GLSEN (Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network) is a US-based non-profit organization founded in 1990 and headquartered in New York that works to end discrimination, harassment, and bias against LGBTQ+ students in K-12 schools. It serves three primary constituencies: LGBTQ+ students aged 13 and older, K-12 educators and school administrators, and a broader base of allies and donors. Its core offerings include the National School Climate Survey (a recurring proprietary research instrument), student and educator resource hubs, a Policy Action Center for advocacy, a National Student Council student-leadership program, crisis hotline and legal support services, and a branded merchandise shop.

The organization operates on a non-transactional model: all programmatic resources, research reports, and tools are distributed free of charge. Revenue is generated through charitable donations (processed via the Fundraise Up platform, with periodic matched-giving campaigns) and merchandise sales. Distribution is omnichannel, anchored by the glisten.org website, supplemented by a nationwide network of local chapters, organic social media presence across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube, email newsletters, and earned media. The technology stack is limited to standard web infrastructure (Cloudflare, Google Analytics, CookieHub, Fundraise Up); no proprietary software platforms, AI/ML capabilities, mobile applications, or API products are disclosed.

Name

GLSEN

Legal name

Glisten

Website

https://glsen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

GLSEN is a US non-profit founded in 1990 that advocates for LGBTQ+ K-12 students by providing free educational resources, conducting the National School Climate Survey, operating a Policy Action Center, supporting student leadership, and offering crisis and legal support services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

LGBTQ+ K-12 Education Advocacy Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

School Counseling & Guidance Services (Academic/Social-Emotional) (EDAJALAF)

Keywords

• LGBTQ+ education advocacy
• School climate research
• Educator training resources
• Student support programs
• Policy advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Glisten relies on charitable donations from individuals and institutional funders to support its operations and programs. The site features a donation portal (act.glsen.org) and periodically runs matched giving campaigns (e.g., donations matched up to $25,000 during a defined campaign period).
2. Merchandise Sales: The organization operates an online shop (shop.glsen.org) selling branded merchandise, generating revenue that supports the organization's mission and programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

GLSEN is a non-profit organization that provides free research, educational resources, advocacy tools, and direct support services aimed at creating safer, more affirming K-12 school environments for LGBTQ+ students. Its core offerings include the recurring National School Climate Survey, student- and educator-facing resource hubs, a Policy Action Center, a National Student Council leadership program, crisis and legal support referrals, and a branded merchandise shop that funds its mission.

Product overview

GLSEN is a non-profit organization focused on championing LGBTQ+ issues in K-12 education. The organization operates as a resource and advocacy network rather than a traditional software product company. Its core offerings include the National School Climate Survey research initiative, Student Resources and Educator Resources hubs providing guidance materials for LGBTQ+ youth and school staff, a Policy Action Center for advocacy, a National Student Council leadership program, Crisis Hotline & Legal Support services, and a Shop for merchandise. These products work together to create safer school environments through research, advocacy, and direct support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• National Student Council: Student advisory body for the organization focused on LGBTQ+ youth representation
• National School Climate Survey

Products and services

• National School Climate Survey Annual research product that collects and publishes proprietary data on the school climate experienced by LGBTQ+ students in K-12 settings; used by educators, policymakers, advocates, and the broader research community.
• National Student Council Student leadership program that connects LGBTQ+ K-12 students across the United States for peer organizing, leadership development, and youth-led advocacy campaigns.
• Crisis Hotline & Legal Support Support service that provides LGBTQ+ K-12 students with information and referrals to crisis hotlines and legal resources in cases of discrimination or emergency.
• Shop (shop.glsen.org) Online merchandise storefront selling branded apparel and accessories, generating revenue that funds GLSEN's advocacy and programs.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Trevor Project: The Trevor Project is a leading LGBTQ+ youth nonprofit providing crisis intervention (TrevorLifeline), research, and advocacy — directly comparable to GLSEN's LGBTQ+ youth support and crisis/legal referral services, though with a stronger crisis-counseling focus and larger donor base.
• Campus Pride: Campus Pride is an LGBTQ+ student advocacy organization focused on higher education campuses, with parallel mission to GLSEN's student-led advocacy model. It is a direct peer in LGBTQ+ student organizing and policy, albeit shifted to the higher-ed segment.
• PFLAG: PFLAG is the nation's largest family and ally LGBTQ+ organization with a chapter-based network offering support, education, and advocacy. Its grassroots chapter structure and educational mission overlap directly with GLSEN's local chapter model and K-12 educator/community support work.
• Point Foundation: Point Foundation is the nation's largest LGBTQ+ scholarship-granting nonprofit, providing financial support and leadership development to LGBTQ+ students — a directly comparable mission in LGBTQ+ youth empowerment and leadership development.

Broad incumbents

• Human Rights Campaign: HRC is the largest U.S. LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy organization, operating across federal policy, corporate equality, and broader advocacy. While not K-12 specific, HRC competes for the same donor dollars and policy mindshare in LGBTQ+ education advocacy.
• GLAAD: GLAAD is a leading LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization driving cultural change through media representation and anti-defamation work. Its advocacy and narrative-change mission overlaps with GLSEN's policy and public-education efforts around school climate.

Emerging players

• Learning for Justice (Southern Poverty Law Center): Learning for Justice (formerly Teaching Tolerance) provides free K-12 educational resources on equity, inclusion, and social justice. Its K-12 educator resource hub and free-distribution model are directly comparable to GLSEN's educator resources business.
• Matthew Shepard Foundation: The Matthew Shepard Foundation works to erase hate by inspiring and empowering individuals to embrace human dignity, including K-12 education and LGBTQ+ youth programs. It overlaps with GLSEN's school-climate mission but at smaller scale.
• Facing History and Ourselves: Facing History and Ourselves provides K-12 professional development, curriculum, and resources on history, ethics, and social justice. Its educator PD model and K-12 SEL focus overlap directly with GLSEN's educator training and inclusive-curriculum work.
• Family Equality: Family Equality advances equality for LGBTQ+ families through advocacy, support, and storytelling. Its education and family-advocacy mission partially overlaps with GLSEN's K-12 family/educator engagement work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@glistencommunity
• Facebookfacebook.com/gaystraightalliances
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/glsen
• Instagraminstagram.com/glistencommunity
• Xx.com/glsen

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 GLSEN