What Outvertising does

Outvertising is a UK-based volunteer-run non-profit organization founded in 2019 with the mission of driving LGBTQIA+ representation and inclusion across the UK advertising and marketing industry. The organization operates as a company limited by guarantee with no external ownership, parent, or equity shareholders, and is governed by a management board of industry volunteers who serve without compensation. Its operational base is in London, with periodic events extending into Manchester and other UK cities.

The organization's portfolio consists entirely of free resources, programmes, and events targeted at brands, agencies, and media owners. Core offerings include The Advocacy Playbook (developed with the Conscious Advertising Network), the Outvertising Consumer Report (a national LGBTQIA+ attitudes study produced in partnership with YouGov), the Pronouns in Adland guide (part of the industry's All In Action Plan), The Outvertising Guide, and an LGBTQIA+ Network Guide. Professional development services include a six-month Mentoring Programme and Role Model Training. Content and community channels include The Outvertising Podcast, a monthly newsletter, and Slack community. Flagship engagement vehicles are the annual Outvertising Live conference (held since 2022, drawing 200+ attendees in 2025) and monthly networking socials held at queer venues across London and Manchester. The organization also runs the Outvertising Awards and has coordinated collective advocacy efforts, including the ACT+ (Allies Coming Out for Trans+) collective and Pride Month interventions endorsed by 120+ organizations.

The business model is donation- and sponsorship-funded, with no commercial product sales or membership fees. Revenue is generated through individual donations, event sponsorships (headline sponsors of Outvertising Live 2025 included Channel 4, Publicis Groupe UK, and Attitude Magazine), and media partnerships (Campaign UK). The organization is currently recruiting for its first paid CEO position, with applications open through 31 July 2026, indicating an inflection point from a pure volunteer model toward partial professionalization. Geographic scope is the United Kingdom, though its institutional partnerships (WFA, Stonewall) and earned media reach extend into international advertising industry circles.

Name

Outvertising

Legal name

Outvertising Limited

Website

https://outvertising.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

LGBTQIA+ Industry Advocacy

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

Keywords

• LGBTQIA+ advertising advocacy
• Industry inclusion resources
• Marketing diversity programs
• Professional mentoring schemes
• Nonprofit community organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: Outvertising operates as a not-for-profit organization funded primarily through donations. The organization states it is 100% run and operated by volunteers on a not-for-profit basis.
2. Sponsorship Revenue: The organization generates revenue through event sponsorships for Outvertising Live and other industry events. Sponsors include brands, agencies, and media owners.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Outvertising is a volunteer-run UK non-profit that provides free educational guides and reports, a six-month mentoring programme for LGBTQIA+ talent, role model training, an annual awards programme, a podcast, and flagship events (Outvertising Live conference and monthly networking socials) to drive LGBTQIA+ representation and inclusion across the UK advertising and marketing industry.

Product overview

Outvertising is a volunteer-run not-for-profit advocacy organisation focused on driving LGBTQIA+ representation and inclusion in UK advertising and marketing. The organisation offers a portfolio of free resources, programmes, and events designed to educate industry professionals, support LGBTQIA+ talent, and promote authentic inclusive practices. The core offering consists of educational guides and reports (The Advocacy Playbook, Consumer Report, Pronouns in Adland, Network Guide), professional development programmes (Mentoring Programme, Role Model Training), recognition platforms (Outvertising Awards), content creation (The Outvertising Podcast), and flagship events (Outvertising Live annual conference and Monthly Social networking events).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Advocacy Playbook

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% of LGBTQIA+ people are more likely to say brands should express views on political/social issues
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major and minor.

• ACT+ (Allies Coming Out for Trans+)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2024Cross-industry collective formed with Creative Equals, Smarty Pants, The Unmistakables, and Utopia to encourage support for the trans+ community among marketing and communications leaders. The collective provides practical ways for industry leaders to come forward as allies.
• WFA (World Federation of Advertisers)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Endorsed Outvertising's Pride Month intervention statement calling for businesses to stand behind their campaigns against coordinated attacks.
• ISBAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Endorsed Outvertising's Pride Month intervention statement.
• Advertising AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Endorsed Outvertising's Pride Month intervention statement and partnered on the All In Action Plan which includes Pronouns in Adland.
• StonewallcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Endorsed Outvertising's Pride Month intervention statement and is a partner in LGBTQIA+ advocacy efforts.
• Conscious Advertising Network (CAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutvertising partnered with The Conscious Advertising Network to develop The Advocacy Playbook, the first-ever comprehensive LGBTQIA+ advocacy resource for the UK advertising sector. The partnership was inspired by the substance and spirit of CAN's manifestos.
• YouGovcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to produce the Outvertising Consumer Report, a comprehensive national census of the LGBTQIA+ community examining attitudes and intentions in relationships with brands and advertising.
• Attitude MagazineflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerAttitude magazine is a headline sponsor of Outvertising Live 2025. As the UK's leading LGBTQ+ magazine, Attitude provides media partnership and visibility for the annual conference.
• Channel 4majorGTM or Marketing PartnerChannel 4 is a headline sponsor of Outvertising Live 2025, supporting the flagship conference for LGBTQIA+ inclusive advertising.
• Publicis Groupe UKmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublicis Groupe UK is a headline sponsor of Outvertising Live 2025, demonstrating commitment to LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the advertising industry.
• Campaign UKmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCampaign UK serves as the official media partner for Outvertising Live 2025, providing media coverage and visibility for the event.
• D&ADminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed Outvertising's Pride Month intervention statement and is part of the ACT+ collective.
• WARCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed Outvertising's Pride Month intervention statement.
• WACLminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed Outvertising's Pride Month intervention statement and part of ACT+ collective.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• D&AD: UK-based global organization that promotes excellence in design and advertising. Endorsed Outvertising's Pride statement and provides industry platform and awards programs that overlap with Outvertising's mission.
• PinkNews: UK's largest LGBTQ+ digital media publisher. Nominated Outvertising for a 2023 PinkNews Award and covers the organization's work, functioning as a complementary media partner rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Stonewall: UK's largest LGBTQ+ rights charity. Directly comparable in mission focus (LGBTQ+ advocacy) but operates at a much broader societal level rather than industry-specific to advertising. Endorses Outvertising's Pride interventions and is a partner on the All In Action Plan.
• Pride in London: UK volunteer-led organization running London's annual Pride parade. Operates on a similar community-led, volunteer-driven event model and shares overlapping corporate sponsor pools with Outvertising.
• World Federation of Advertisers (WFA): Global trade association representing major brand advertisers. Endorsed Outvertising's Pride statement and is a core strategic partner, giving the organization reach into multinational brand owners.

Direct peers

• Creative Equals: UK organization focused on diversity and inclusion in the creative industry. Co-founded the ACT+ collective with Outvertising and addresses overlapping inclusion questions in advertising, serving similar agencies and brand audiences.
• The Unmistakables: UK-based consultancy and community focused on inclusive marketing and communications. Co-partner in the ACT+ collective with Outvertising, addressing parallel DEI questions in advertising and marketing strategy.
• Conscious Advertising Network (CAN): UK-based alliance of organizations tackling harmful advertising practices. Co-developed Outvertising's Advocacy Playbook and operates in the same ethical-advertising advocacy space, with overlapping brand and agency stakeholders.

Regional players

• GLAAD: US-based LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization focused on fair, accurate, and inclusive representation in media. The most direct functional equivalent to Outvertising in a different geography, making it a potential international expansion template or competitor.
• Kaleidoscope Trust: UK-based charity supporting LGBTQ+ rights globally. Comparable in advocacy focus but operates at a policy and international human rights level rather than industry-specific to advertising.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Outvertising