SGN

What SGN does

SGN (Seattle Gay News) is an independent, non-profit LGBTQIA+ news publication founded in 1974 and headquartered at 509 10th Ave E in Seattle, Washington. It is recognized as the third-oldest LGBTQIA+ newspaper in the United States and the oldest in the Pacific Northwest. The organization delivers national and international news alongside arts, entertainment, features, op-ed, and travel content tailored to the LGBTQIA+ community, distributed through both physical print editions placed at locations throughout Seattle and the Pacific Northwest and a digital website (sgn.org) supported by Mailchimp-powered email newsletters and a digital edition archive hosted on Issuu.

The company's product portfolio consists of the core Seattle Gay News publication (print and web), an annual Pride Guide special issue, and merchandise sold through a Redbubble storefront. Its underlying technology stack is limited to standard web publishing infrastructure and third-party SaaS tools; no proprietary AI, data platform, or technology assets are disclosed in the source material. Distribution spans a regional print pickup network, the sgn.org website, social media channels, the newsletter, and the Issuu digital archive.

SGN's business model is multi-stream and donation-supported. Revenue derives from print and web display advertising (sold locally by an in-house Ad Manager and nationally through Rivendell Media as channel partner), reader donations collected via givebutter.com (including a 2026 S.O.S. campaign targeting $50,000 to cover rising printing costs), and merchandise sales through Redbubble. The customer base consists of LGBTQIA+ community readers across Seattle and the Pacific Northwest seeking community-tailored news coverage, and LGBTQIA+-friendly local and national businesses seeking targeted regional advertising reach. Editorial leadership comprises Hannah Saunders (Editor-in-Chief), Madison Jones (Managing Editor), and Maggie Bloodstone (Ad Manager).

Name

SGN

Legal name

Seattle Gay News

Website

https://sgn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SGN (Seattle Gay News) is an independent non-profit LGBTQIA+ news publication founded in 1974, serving Seattle and the Pacific Northwest through print editions, a digital website, newsletters, and advertising- and donation-supported revenue streams.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Print and Web Advertising: SGN generates revenue through display advertising in both print and digital formats, with an Ad Manager handling local sales and national advertising through Rivendell Media.
2. Donations and Fundraising: SGN conducts fundraising campaigns including an S.O.S. campaign to raise $50k for printing costs and ongoing donation collection through givebutter.com.
3. Merchandise Sales: SGN sells merchandise through Redbubble online storefront.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SGN publishes Seattle Gay News, a LGBTQIA+-focused newspaper and digital news site serving Seattle and the Pacific Northwest since 1974. Its core offering combines a physical print edition distributed throughout the region with continuously updated online content covering News, Arts & Entertainment, Features, Op-Ed, and Travel. Supporting products include an email newsletter (powered by Mailchimp), print and digital display advertising sales, and an annual Pride Guide special issue.

Product overview

SGN (Seattle Gay News) operates as a comprehensive LGBTQIA+ news and entertainment publication serving Seattle and the Pacific Northwest since 1974. The core product is the Seattle Gay News publication, available both as a digital news website (sgn.org) and physical print newspaper distributed throughout the region. The product portfolio includes the main news website with continuously updated content across categories (News, Arts & Entertainment, Features, Op-Ed, Travel), a newsletter subscription service powered by Mailchimp, print and web advertising services for businesses, and special issues like the annual Pride Guide. Print editions are also available digitally through Issuu.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Seattle Gay News (SGN) Publication Primary LGBTQIA+ news publication serving Seattle and the Pacific Northwest since 1974, available both digitally via sgn.org and as a physical print newspaper, covering News, Arts & Entertainment, Features, Op-Ed, and Travel categories for LGBTQIA+ individuals and the broader community.
• Print Advertising Display advertising sold into the print edition of Seattle Gay News, with rate cards and specifications provided by the in-house Ad Manager and national advertising handled by channel partner Rivendell Media.
• Web Advertising Digital display advertising on sgn.org featuring leaderboard (728x90 pixels), rectangle (300x250 pixels), and mobile leaderboard (320x50 pixels) placements, accepting image creatives in .jpg, .png, or .gif format at 72 dpi.
• Pride Guide Annual special issue publication celebrating Pride events and the LGBTQIA+ community in Seattle.
• Print Editions (Issuu Digital Archive) Digital archive of SGN print editions hosted on the Issuu platform, enabling online viewing of physical editions.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Rivendell MediaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational advertising representative for SGN, handling national advertising sales for the publication. Contact: 212-242-6863

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Windy City Times: LGBTQIA+ newspaper serving Chicago, combining print and digital. Comparable to SGN as a regional LGBTQIA+ news outlet with similar editorial scope (news, arts, opinion) and advertiser-supported revenue model.
• The Advocate: Longest-running national LGBTQIA+ news magazine in the U.S., covering news, politics, and culture. Comparable to SGN as a legacy LGBTQIA+ media brand monetized through advertising and audience reach, but operating nationally rather than regionally.
• Dallas Voice: LGBTQIA+ newspaper and digital outlet serving the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Comparable to SGN as a regional LGBTQIA+ publication combining print edition with website and community event coverage.
• Gay City News: LGBTQIA+ newspaper serving New York City. Mirrors SGN's regional LGBTQIA+ newspaper positioning, multi-channel content distribution, and reliance on community + advertising revenue.
• Out Magazine: National LGBTQIA+ lifestyle and culture magazine with digital presence. Comparable to SGN in covering LGBTQIA+ arts, culture, and news, but operating at national scale and primarily digital-first.
• QNotes: LGBTQIA+ publication serving the Charlotte, N.C., region and the Carolinas. Comparable to SGN as a regional LGBTQIA+ news outlet with print heritage and digital channels, serving a similar community-newspaper role.
• Bay Area Reporter: One of the oldest continuously published LGBTQIA+ newspapers in the U.S., based in San Francisco. Closely mirrors SGN's model as a long-running regional LGBTQIA+ print + digital news publication serving a major West Coast metro.
• Washington Blade: LGBTQIA+ newspaper serving Washington, D.C., with national reach. Comparable to SGN as a legacy LGBTQIA+ print publication with associated digital presence, advertising-driven revenue, and dedicated community-news editorial mission.
• Philadelphia Gay News: One of the oldest LGBTQIA+ publications in the U.S., covering Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley region. Directly comparable to SGN in product (community newspaper), audience, and regional advertising-supported business model.
• Los Angeles Blade: LGBTQIA+ newspaper serving Los Angeles, part of the Blade media network. Comparable to SGN as a legacy-format LGBTQIA+ newspaper operating in a major U.S. metro with regional advertisers and digital editions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/seattle-gay-news

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 SGN