Persad Center

What Persad Center does

Persad Center, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit behavioral health agency headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, founded in 1972 by Randal Forrester and James Huggins as the nation's second-oldest licensed counseling center specifically serving LGBTQ+ individuals. The organization delivers culturally affirming mental health services — individual, couples, and family counseling; psychiatric evaluation and medication management; outpatient substance use disorder treatment including Medication-Assisted Treatment (suboxone, acamprosate, naltrexone, gabapentin); transgender services following WPATH Standards of Care; senior programming via the Persad OWLS program (SAGE-affiliated since 2011); a court-approved Battering Intervention Program; and community support services including a food pantry. Service delivery occurs at two physical locations (Pittsburgh HQ at 5301 Butler Street and a Washington, PA satellite supported by Johnson Family Foundation and United Way Washington County) and via telehealth launched in 2020. Training & Education is a discrete business unit delivering LGBTQ+ competency workshops (LGBTQ+ 101, Gender Diversity 201, history training) to businesses, schools, healthcare organizations, and government agencies across 12 Western Pennsylvania counties, reaching 2,183 individuals in the most recent reporting period.

The operating technology stack is intentionally minimal and commodity-based: a Wix-hosted public website for information and pre-registration, an InSynch CS client portal ("InTouch") for existing-client payments and appointment management, and a Network for Good integration for donor and mailing-list management. There is no proprietary software product, no mobile application, and no API. Differentiated capability rests on human specialization — board-certified psychiatrists (with subspecialty certifications in child/adolescent psychiatry), licensed clinicians trained in CBT/DBT/EMDR with ITCA Transgender Certification, peer-support models, and crisis partnerships with UPMC Resolve Crisis Services, The Trevor Project, and Trans Lifeline — rather than on technology differentiation.

The revenue model blends fee-for-service insurance billing (accepted plans include Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, Highmark, Medicaid PA, Medicare, Meritain, Optum, Tri Care, United Behavioral Health, and UPMC) with sliding-scale support, tax-deductible individual/corporate/foundation donations, restricted grants (federal HHS, FedEx, Johnson Family Foundation, United Way), Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program funding, and nominal training-program fees. Phoenix Fitness, opened in 2024 as Pennsylvania's first nonprofit fitness facility for the transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming community, represents a recently added non-clinical revenue and community-engagement vertical co-located within the Pittsburgh facility.

Name

Persad Center

Legal name

Persad Center, Inc.

Website

https://persadcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Persad Center is a Pittsburgh-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1972, providing culturally affirming mental health counseling, psychiatric care, substance use treatment, transgender services, and senior programming to the LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS communities across Western Pennsylvania.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Behavioral Health Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Ambulatory Health Care Services (621)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers (HLAFACAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community-Based Senior Centers with Adult Day Services (HLADAIAJ)

Keywords

• LGBTQ+ behavioral health
• Culturally affirming counseling
• Substance use treatment
• Transgender mental health
• LGBTQ+ competency training

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Mental Health and Counseling Services: Revenue generated from counseling sessions, psychiatric evaluations, and medication management billed through insurance plans including Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, Highmark, Medicaid, Medicare, and others.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations supporting the nonprofit mission. Includes annual gala events, Art for Change auction, and general fundraising.
3. Grants: Funding from government and private foundations including grants for training programs, youth services, and specific initiatives like FedEx grant for name change assistance.
4. Food Pantry and Social Services: Community support services including food pantry, though primarily a charitable program rather than revenue-generating.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Persad Center provides culturally affirming outpatient mental health and substance abuse counseling, psychiatric evaluation, medication management, transgender support services, senior programming, battering intervention, and LGBTQ+ competency training to the LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS communities of Western Pennsylvania. Services are delivered in-person at its Pittsburgh and Washington offices, via telehealth, and through group/support formats, with billing to most major insurance plans plus sliding scale options.

Product overview

Persad Center is the nation's second oldest licensed counseling center specifically created to serve the LGBTQ+ community (founded 1972), offering a comprehensive suite of behavioral health and social services through its Pittsburgh and Washington, PA locations. The organization operates as a single integrated service organization providing Mental Health Counseling (including psychiatric evaluation and medication management), Drug & Alcohol Treatment, Transgender Services (individual/family counseling, support groups, legal assistance), LGBTQ+ Senior Programs (Persad OWLS), Battering Intervention Program, Training & Education for external organizations, and community support services including a food pantry. Phoenix Fitness provides a dedicated fitness facility for the transgender community. Services are delivered in-person, via Telehealth, and through various group formats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Counseling Services Professional, culturally-affirming individual, couples, and family counseling and psychiatric services for LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS-affected people, including therapy, support groups, and medication management.
• Drug & Alcohol Treatment LGBTQ+-affirming outpatient substance use therapy including individual therapy, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) using suboxone, acamprosate, naltrexone, gabapentin, and peer support groups.
• Transgender Services Comprehensive transgender support including individual/group/family counseling, TransParent and TransTrouble support groups, name change assistance, gender marker change assistance, and pre-surgical mental health evaluations following WPATH Standards of Care.
• Persad OWLS (Older Wiser LGBTQ+ Leaders) LGBTQ+ senior program for individuals ages 50+ offering Coffee & Conversation gatherings, social events, field trips, movie nights, newsletter, and educational programming.
• Battering Intervention Program Court-approved domestic violence intervention program helping LGBTQ+ individuals examine negative relationship patterns, recognize abuse triggers, and develop healthier communication skills.
• Training & Education Programs LGBTQ+ competency training programs for businesses, schools, organizations, and government agencies including LGBTQ+ 101, Gender Diversity 201, LGBTQ+ History, and one-hour workshops.
• Telehealth Services Remote counseling and psychiatric services offered via video, enabling continued access to mental health care introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Phoenix Fitness Safe gym facility for the transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming community, featuring strength and cardio equipment and functional wellness accessories; Pennsylvania's first non-profit fitness facility for this community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12,000+ hours of therapy provided annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SAGE (Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Elders)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Persad was named a regional affiliate of the national SAGE organization, supporting LGBTQ+ elder services and programming including the Persad OWLS senior program.
• PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990Persad helped found the Pittsburgh chapter of PFLAG in 1990, supporting family acceptance and education for LGBTQ+ individuals.
• Phoenix Fitness GymminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA safe gym for the Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender Nonconforming community located inside Persad Center, also Pennsylvania's first non-profit fitness facility for this community. Website: www.Phoenixfitnessgym.org
• PFLAG PittsburghminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization providing support for parents, families, and friends of LGBTQ+ individuals. Listed as a community resource on Persad's website.
• Resolve Crisis ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UPMC Resolve Crisis Services providing 24/7 crisis hotline (1-888-796-8226) for Allegheny County residents in crisis.
• Trans LifelineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeer support hotline run by and for trans people (877-565-8860), referenced as a crisis resource for transgender individuals.
• The Trevor ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner24/7 crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ youth (1-866-488-7386), referenced as a crisis resource for young people.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Howard Brown Health: Chicago-based LGBTQ+ focused community health center with multi-site outpatient medical, behavioral health, and youth/senior programming. Comparable in vertical scope (counseling, psychiatry, transgender services, community programs) and similar payer mix.
• Fenway Health: Boston-based federally qualified community health center specializing in LGBTQ+ care, behavioral health, and HIV services. Operates a similar integrated model of outpatient counseling, psychiatry, and transgender care, making it one of the closest structural analogs to Persad.
• Callen-Lorde Community Health Center: New York City community health center providing LGBTQ+ affirming primary care, mental health, and supportive services. Highly comparable in mission, service mix, and reliance on insurance + grants + donations funding.
• Whitman-Walker Health: Washington, D.C.-based community health center providing LGBTQ+ affirming medical, behavioral health, and supportive services. Directly comparable to Persad as a multi-disciplinary nonprofit serving LGBTQ+ and HIV-affected populations with integrated counseling, psychiatry, and community programs.
• Mazzoni Center: Philadelphia-based LGBTQ+ health and wellness provider offering primary care, behavioral health, and transgender services. Closest geographic and demographic peer to Persad outside of Western PA.
• Los Angeles LGBT Center: One of the largest LGBTQ+ community organizations in the world, offering behavioral health, seniors (Triangles), youth, and transgender services. Much larger scale, but directly comparable service lines and population focus to Persad.

Regional players

• Allies for Health + Wellbeing: Pittsburgh-based community health and HIV/AIDS services provider (formerly Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force). Overlaps with Persad's HIV/AIDS counseling, Ryan White programming, and case management in the same service area.

Others

• The Trevor Project: National LGBTQ+ youth crisis intervention and suicide prevention organization. Not a direct service competitor, but a complementary ecosystem partner (Persad refers youth to Trevor's 24/7 lifeline) and an indirect competitor for LGBTQ+ youth donations and federal grants.

Emerging players

• SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders): National LGBTQ+ elder advocacy organization. Persad is a SAGE regional affiliate, and SAGE provides the policy, advocacy, and programming backbone for senior services that Persad delivers locally — a parent-network/peer relationship.

Broad incumbents

• Pittsburgh Mercy (Trinity Health): Large regional behavioral health and social services provider operating crisis, residential, and outpatient mental health and SUD programs in Western PA. Competes with Persad for therapists and contracts, and operates the Central Recovery Center where one of Persad's clinical staff previously worked.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/persadcenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/PersadCenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/persadcenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Persad Center