Encircle

What Encircle does

Encircle is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates physical community homes providing free LGBTQ+ youth (ages 12-25), adult (26+), and family services, including drop-in programming, peer-led Friendship Circles, family education, and licensed affirming therapy. Founded in February 2017 by Stephenie Larsen in Provo, Utah, the organization has expanded to five Utah locations in Provo, Salt Lake City, St. George, Heber City, and Ogden, with a stated multi-state expansion plan into Arizona, Idaho, and Nevada. Since founding, Encircle has served more than 70,000 individuals, logged 34,000+ visits in 2024, and reports zero youth suicides among program participants.

The organization's core offering combines free in-person safe spaces, identity-segmented peer support groups, community events (Rainbow Brunch, Pride Carnival, Only Love Gala), and a wholly-owned clinical subsidiary, Encircle Therapy, that bills insurance across major Utah payers and operates a 100% donor-funded 26-session scholarship program. There is no proprietary technology platform; delivery runs through residential-style physical homes plus standard video conferencing for telehealth sessions. Encircle's trademarked "No Sides, Only Love" philosophy and HBO documentary exposure (via Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds) have built national brand recognition and unlocked flagship donor commitments.

Revenue is generated through individual donations (one-time and recurring Community Circle giving), corporate partnership tiers ($10K-$100K+), event sponsorships, insurance-billed therapy, and legacy/planned giving. Major capital has come via the "$8 Million, 8 Houses" campaign anchored by Apple ($1M), Ryan and Ashley Smith ($2M), and Dan Reynolds/Aja Volkman ($1M home), with debt-free real estate donated by philanthropist Brad Clark and builder support from Nilson Homes. In 2024, Alex Cutini (former Goldman Sachs VP) was appointed Executive Director, succeeding Jordan Sgro.

Name

Encircle

Legal name

Encircle Family and Youth Resource Center

Website

https://encircletogether.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Encircle is a Utah-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating five physical community homes that provide free LGBTQ+ youth, adult, and family services — including drop-in programs, peer-led support groups, and licensed affirming therapy — funded primarily through donations, corporate partnerships, and insurance-billed clinical revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

LGBTQ+ Youth and Family Community Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

Keywords

• LGBTQ+ youth services
• Community mental health
• Peer support groups
• Affirming therapy services
• Family support programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Encircle's primary revenue comes from individual donations (one-time and monthly recurring through Community Circle), corporate giving partners, and major donor campaigns. The Pride 2026 campaign seeks to raise $300,000 with a $150,000 match. The $8 Million, 8 Houses capital campaign targeted major gifts.
2. Therapy Fees and Insurance: Encircle Therapy generates revenue through insurance billing. Accepted plans include SelectHealth, BlueCross BlueShield, Molina, Cigna, Medicaid (some plans), University of Utah Health, PEHP, EMI, and UnitedHealthcare. This provides a sustainable revenue stream for clinical operations.
3. Event Sponsorships and Brand Partnerships: Corporate brand partnerships include event sponsorships (Pride Carnival, Rainbow Brunch, Only Love Gala), cause marketing campaigns, and employee giving/matching programs. Partnership tiers at $10,000, $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000+ fund specific homes and programs.
4. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Encircle accepts planned gifts including bequests in wills/trusts, beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance, donor-advised fund successor grants, stock appreciated securities gifts, IRA/retirement account gifts, and real estate donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Encircle operates five physical community homes across Utah that provide free drop-in safe spaces, peer-led Friendship Circles, and weekly programs (Art Night, Music Night, Family Dinner, etc.) for LGBTQ+ youth ages 12-25, adults 26+, and parents/families. The organization also runs Encircle Therapy, offering licensed LGBTQ+-affirming individual, family, and couples therapy delivered in-person and via telehealth, with a donor-funded scholarship program covering 26 sessions per awardee for those experiencing poverty.

Product overview

Encircle is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive ecosystem of LGBTQ+ youth and family support services through physical community homes and mental health programs. The core offering consists of five physical locations (Provo, Salt Lake City, St. George, Heber, and Ogden, Utah) providing safe spaces, peer-led Friendship Circles, and community programming. Encircle Therapy provides licensed LGBTQ+-affirming mental health services with a scholarship program for those experiencing financial barriers. The organization also operates volunteer, intern, and brand partnership programs, plus legacy giving options for donors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Encircle Youth Programs Drop-in hours, groups, and weekly activities for LGBTQ+ youth ages 12-25, including Youth Friendship Circles, Art Night, Music Night, Media Night, Fun Friday, and Dungeons & Dragons, offered free at all five Utah homes Monday-Friday 3-8pm.
• Encircle Adult Programs Resources, support services, and adult-specific programming for LGBTQ+ adults ages 26+, including designated creative programs and identity-segmented peer support groups, offered free at Utah homes.
• Encircle Parents, Families & Allies Programs Programs connecting parents, families, and allies with community resources, peer support groups, family dinners, and family therapy to support an LGBTQ+ loved one.
• Encircle Therapy One-on-one sessions with licensed LGBTQ+-affirming therapists for youth, adults, parents, families, and couples, delivered in-person at Utah homes and via telehealth; billed through insurance with a scholarship program for uninsured clients.
• Encircle Therapy Scholarship Program Fully funded therapy scholarships covering 26 sessions per awardee for LGBTQ+ individuals who cannot afford mental health care; 100% community/donor-funded.
• Friendship Circles Weekly peer-led support groups divided by age and identity, including Youth Friendship Circle, Young Adult Friendship Circle, Gay Adult, Lesbian Adult, Bi/Pan & Nonbinary, Ace/Aro, QTBIPOC, and Trans Friendship Circles.
• Community Events Regular community gatherings including Rainbow Brunch (monthly first Saturday), Pride Carnival (June), Halloween Carnival, Holiday Party, and weekly Family Dinners, serving as both service delivery and community-building touchpoints.
• Crisis Resources Immediate support, hotlines, and emergency contacts for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing mental health crises, provided through the therapy program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 70,000 individuals served since 2017
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Park RecordminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 February 2026Local Heber Valley newspaper that covered Encircle Heber's community impact story, providing earned media and visibility for the organization.
• Standard ExaminerminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 September 2025Local Ogden newspaper that covered the opening of the Encircle Ogden facility, providing earned media coverage for the launch.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• GLSEN: GLSEN works to create safe and inclusive K-12 schools for LGBTQ+ students through educator training, student programs, and policy advocacy. Encircle's School and Educator outreach segment parallels GLSEN's mission, though Encircle delivers via community homes while GLSEN works inside school systems.
• Point Foundation: Point Foundation provides scholarships, mentorship, and leadership development for LGBTQ+ students. It is comparable to Encircle in serving LGBTQ+ young adults with developmental programming, but focuses on higher-education pathways rather than community centers and therapy.
• It Gets Better Project: The It Gets Better Project is a nonprofit media organization that connects LGBTQ+ youth with storytelling and global community resources. It is comparable to Encircle in mission (LGBTQ+ youth support) but operates primarily through digital storytelling and content rather than physical service delivery.
• Trans Lifeline: Trans Lifeline is a peer-support hotline run by and for transgender people, providing crisis intervention and community resources. It parallels Encircle's crisis resources and Trans Friendship Circles, though Trans Lifeline is entirely volunteer-driven and digital while Encircle combines physical and clinical delivery.

Direct peers

• Lambert House: Lambert House is a Seattle-based LGBTQ+ youth center offering drop-in spaces, support groups, and community programming for young people ages 10-22. It is a direct comparable to Encircle's youth Friendship Circles and drop-in model, both operating physical community homes serving LGBTQ+ youth in a defined metro area.
• Out Youth (Austin): Out Youth is an Austin, Texas-based organization providing drop-in services, counseling, and support groups for LGBTQ+ youth ages 12-18. It is highly comparable to Encircle's youth programming structure and Friendship Circles, operating a physical community space for LGBTQ+ youth in a single metropolitan area.
• PFLAG National: PFLAG is the largest family-ally organization for LGBTQ+ people, with hundreds of local chapters providing support groups for parents, families, and allies. It directly mirrors Encircle's Parents, Families & Allies Programs and CONNECT Night parent programming, though PFLAG delivers via volunteer-led chapters rather than physical centers.
• Hetrick-Martin Institute: Hetrick-Martin Institute serves LGBTQ+ youth and young adults ages 13-24 with education, housing, mental health, and arts programming out of a New York City center. It is a direct peer to Encircle's physical-community-home model for LGBTQ+ youth services, though concentrated in a single urban market.

Broad incumbents

• Los Angeles LGBT Center: The Los Angeles LGBT Center is one of the largest LGBTQ+ community organizations in the world, offering youth services, mental health care, housing, and community programming under a multi-service umbrella. It is comparable to Encircle as a multi-program LGBTQ+ resource provider, though it operates at significantly greater scale across a single metro area.
• The Trevor Project: The Trevor Project is the largest national organization focused on LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention and mental health, operating a 24/7 crisis lifeline, chat, and text services. It is comparable to Encircle because both serve LGBTQ+ young people with mental health support, though Trevor Project operates nationally via digital channels while Encircle anchors delivery in physical community homes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/encircle_stg
• Xx.com/encircle2gether

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Encircle