Fairness
Fairness West Virginia is the statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy organization, operating from Charleston as a 501(c)(4) with an affiliated 501(c)(3) educational institute, serving LGBTQ+ West Virginians and allies through legislative advocacy, the Safe & Healthy Schools Initiative, the WV Equality Report Card, and community resources across 21 ordinance-holding municipalities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersCharleston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Fairness does
Fairness West Virginia is the statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy organization operating from Charleston, West Virginia. Founded in 2014 and led by Executive Director Andrew Schneider, it functions as a 501(c)(4) public charity with an affiliated 501(c)(3) educational arm called Fairness West Virginia Institute. The organization is the primary voice for LGBTQ+ rights at the West Virginia State Capitol and has supported the adoption of local fairness ordinances in 21 communities, protecting residents from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Its direct deliverables include the Safe & Healthy Schools Initiative (launched August 2022), the WV Equality Report Card tracking lawmaker votes from 2021 through 2026, a Name & Gender Change Guide co-published with Legal Aid of West Virginia, an LGBTQ+ Wedding Resource Guide of 200+ affirming vendors, the Annual Gala, Fairness for All Day Lobby Day, the Faces of Fairness Film Tour, and educational workshops such as Protect Our Pride.
The underlying technology is intentionally lightweight: a Squarespace website integrated with EveryAction and EveryAction NGP VANE for email, action alerts, and advocacy CRM, plus a directory-style resource page and online legislative lookup tool. There is no proprietary software, no AI/ML capability, and no SaaS product. The model is nonprofit advocacy rather than commercial technology: services are free to constituents, and revenue is generated through individual one-time and monthly donations, planned giving/bequests, corporate sponsorships (concentrated in the Annual Gala), and gala ticket sales. The organization mobilizes a distributed base of individual supporters — evidenced by nearly 43,000 constituent emails to legislators during the 2025 session — and partners with the Equality Federation, the ACLU of West Virginia, Legal Aid of West Virginia, the WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Trevor Project, Trans Lifeline, and local Pride organizations across the state.
In the 2026 legislative session, Fairness WV successfully defeated every anti-LGBTQ+ bill introduced, including a drag ban, a trans locker-room ban, and a bill that would have abolished all local fairness ordinances. Its competitive position rests on being the only statewide organization performing this function in West Virginia, supported by deep relationships with municipalities, local Pride organizations, and a recurring grassroots mobilization engine at the State Capitol. The organization has four named staff, a single Charleston headquarters, and no disclosed funding rounds, acquisitions, or parent company.
Fairness firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fairness
- Legal name
- Fairness West Virginia
- Website
- https://fairnesswv.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Fairness West Virginia is the statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy organization, operating from Charleston as a 501(c)(4) with an affiliated 501(c)(3) educational institute, serving LGBTQ+ West Virginians and allies through legislative advocacy, the Safe & Healthy Schools Initiative, the WV Equality Report Card, and community resources across 21 ordinance-holding municipalities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fairness industry classification
Industry- Product category
- LGBTQ+ Civil Rights Advocacy
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Educational Support Services (611710)
- akta.pro primary industry
- LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD), Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)
Keywords
Where Fairness is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Charleston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fairness business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individuals supporting LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy, educational programming, and legislative efforts in West Virginia.
- Annual Gala: Annual fundraiser gala event featuring dinner, dancing, silent auction, and entertainment to raise funds for the organization. Ticket sales and corporate sponsorships support the organization.
- Planned Giving: Bequests and estate planning contributions that help build long-term organizational strength and sustainability.
- Corporate Giving: Corporate sponsorships and gifts from businesses supporting LGBTQ+ civil rights, with gala sponsorship as a key vehicle for corporate partnerships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Annual Gala tickets |
| Other | Monthly | One-time and monthly donations |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Fairness product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fairness West Virginia is the statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy organization in West Virginia, dedicated to advancing fair treatment and equality for LGBTQ+ people through legislative advocacy, public education, community organizing, and free resource programs. It represents the LGBTQ+ community at the State Capitol, supports local fairness ordinances in municipalities, and provides toolkits, guides, and training for educators, families, and community members.
Product overview
Fairness West Virginia is a statewide civil rights advocacy organization (not a technology company) offering advocacy programs, educational initiatives, and community resources for LGBTQ+ West Virginians. Its portfolio includes the Safe & Healthy Schools Initiative (providing toolkit, legal guidance, and training for educators), the WV Equality Report Card (tracking legislative votes), the Name & Gender Change Guide, the LGBTQ+ Wedding Resource Guide, and advocacy events such as Fairness for All Day lobby events and educational workshops. These programs work together to advance LGBTQ+ civil rights through advocacy, education, and community support across West Virginia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Safe & Healthy Schools Initiative: A statewide effort to ensure that every student, especially LGBTQ+ students, can learn in a school environment that is safe, supportive, and affirming.
- WV Equality Report Card
Products and services
- Safe & Healthy Schools Initiative
- WV Equality Report Card
- Name & Gender Change Guide
- LGBTQ+ Wedding Resource Guide
- Annual Gala
- Faces of Fairness Film Tour
Quantifiable outcome
- 21 local fairness ordinances passed protecting LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Fairness
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Fairness technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Fairness partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Equality FederationcoreFairness is described as a proud member of the Equality Federation, a national network of state-based LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations that provides resources, training, and strategic support to member groups working on equality issues in their respective states.
- Legal Aid of West VirginiacoreCollaboration on the Name & Gender Change Guide, published in partnership with Legal Aid of West Virginia and the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence to help transgender people update their legal documents.
- West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic ViolenceminorCo-published the Name & Gender Change Guide with this organization to provide comprehensive resources for name and gender marker changes.
- The Trevor ProjectminorReferenced as a resource partner on the Resources page, providing 24/7 crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people under 25 through phone, text, and online chat.
- Trans LifelineminorReferenced as a resource partner providing peer-support hotline staffed by and for transgender and nonbinary people offering confidential support.
- Project Rainbow / The Rainbow HouseminorReferenced as a resource for LGBTQ+ homelessness and housing instability; The Rainbow House is West Virginia's first emergency shelter specifically designed for queer and trans people.
- West Virginia Trans CoalitionminorReferenced as a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting, empowering, and advocating for transgender and gender-diverse people across West Virginia through education, outreach, peer support, and policy advocacy.
- Local Pride OrganizationscorePartnership with local Pride organizations across West Virginia including Rainbow Pride of WV (Charleston), Huntington Pride, Morgantown Pride, The Friendlier City Project (Wheeling), Parkersburg Pride, Fairmont Pride, and others to co-host Pride events and community celebrations.
- ACLU of West VirginiaminorReferenced as a legal resource for defending and expanding civil liberties and constitutional rights for all West Virginians, including LGBTQ+ individuals.
- 84 AgencyminorMarketing and communications agency that has written news content and press releases for Fairness West Virginia.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fairness competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Fairness social profiles
Digital presenceFairness financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fairness leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Fairness subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Fairness funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fairness 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 Fairness
What does Fairness do?
Fairness West Virginia is the statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy organization in West Virginia, dedicated to advancing fair treatment and equality for LGBTQ+ people through legislative advocacy, public education, community organizing, and free resource programs. It represents the LGBTQ+ community at the State Capitol, supports local fairness ordinances in municipalities, and provides toolkits, guides, and training for educators, families, and community members.
Is Fairness a public or private company?
Fairness is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Fairness founded?
Fairness was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Fairness based?
Fairness is headquartered in Charleston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Fairness make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are annual Gala, planned Giving and corporate Giving.
Does Fairness have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fairness.
What industry is Fairness in?
Fairness's product category is LGBTQ+ Civil Rights Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAE, LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations, with a secondary code of BPAGAFAD, Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy. Its NAICS code is 813311.