GRIOT Circle
GRIOT Circle is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1996, serving 400+ LGBTQ+ elders of color aged 50+ in New York City with free health, wellness, nutrition, support, and caregiver programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What GRIOT Circle does
GRIOT Circle is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1996 that provides free health, wellness, advocacy, and leadership programs to LGBTQ+ elders of color aged 50 and older across New York City. The organization operates six core program areas: Health & Wellness Activities (fitness, Tai-Chi, self-defense, men's sexual health, book club), Nutrition & Meals Program (with NYC Department of Health's Health Bucks), Support Groups (men's, women's, and transgender-focused), Buddy to Buddy Peer Caregiver Program, Information & Referrals, and Community Training (LGBTQ+ 101 and Still Standing HIV education). All services are delivered free of charge, in-person at the Brooklyn headquarters and via hybrid online channels, serving over 400 members—70% women, 90% from low-income households, 50% on fixed incomes, and 91% residing in Brooklyn neighborhoods (East New York, Crown Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Fort Greene, Flatbush, Red Hook).
The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and operated by a small staff team consisting of an Executive Director (Aundaray Guess), Director of Programs (Lisa Eddy), and Program Coordinator (Melissa Parke). It maintains no proprietary technology products, with infrastructure limited to a website, social media channels, and email communications. Annual program activity includes 420+ wellness, educational, and social programs, 150+ hours of coordinated case management, and 200+ volunteer hours.
GRIOT Circle's revenue model is donation-based, drawing from individual contributions, five-tier corporate sponsorships ($2,500–$25,000), foundation grants (Guitar Center, Kolibri, Horizons), workplace giving, and government funding (NYC Department of Health). The organization maintains a diversified partner ecosystem including SAGE, Brooklyn Community Pride Center, Broadway Cares, Con Edison, Vevo, Home Depot, New York Presbyterian, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and Visiting Nurses of NY. In 2025, GRIOT Circle signed a ten-year lease at 25 Flatbush Avenue in downtown Brooklyn, establishing a permanent operational home.
GRIOT Circle firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GRIOT Circle
- Legal name
- GriotCircle
- Website
- https://griotcircle.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- GRIOT Circle is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1996, serving 400+ LGBTQ+ elders of color aged 50+ in New York City with free health, wellness, nutrition, support, and caregiver programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GRIOT Circle industry classification
Industry- Product category
- LGBTQ+ Elder Services and Aging Support
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Community Food Services (624210)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Senior Social Clubs & Community-Based Day Programs (Non-Clinical) (HSABANAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community & Senior Center Lifelong Learning Programs (EDAAAMAB), Arts, Culture & Creative Learning for Seniors (Music, writing, crafts) (EDAAAMAI)
Keywords
Where GRIOT Circle is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
GRIOT Circle business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to support GRIOT Circle's programs and services for LGBTQ+ elders of color.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners provide financial sponsorships at various tiers from $2,500 to $25,000, plus in-kind contributions for events and programs.
- Foundation Grants: Foundations including Guitar Center Foundation, Kolibri Foundation, Horizons Foundation, and others provide grant funding.
- Government Funding: Government partners including NYC Department of Health's Health Bucks Program provide programmatic funding.
- Workplace Giving: Corporate workplace giving programs including payroll deductions, matching gifts, and employee giving campaigns.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Community Ally sponsorship tier |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Visibility Partner sponsorship tier |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Engagement Sponsor sponsorship tier |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Empowerment Partner sponsorship tier |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Legacy Sponsor sponsorship tier |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
GRIOT Circle product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GRIOT Circle provides free health, wellness, advocacy, and leadership programs to LGBTQ+ elders of color aged 50 and older, centered on six core service areas: Health & Wellness Activities, Nutrition & Meals Program, Support Groups, Buddy to Buddy Peer Caregiver Program, Information & Referrals, and Community Training. All programming is delivered at its Brooklyn headquarters and through hybrid online/in-person formats, with no membership fees.
Product overview
GRIOT Circle offers a suite of hybrid programs and services for LGBTQ+ elders of color aged 50 and older, centered around six core program areas: Health & Wellness Activities (fitness, education, cultural programming), Nutrition & Meals Program, Support Groups (gender-specific and LGBTQ+-focused), Buddy to Buddy Peer Caregiver Program, Information & Referrals, and Community Training. All programs are provided free of charge and aim to combat isolation, support mental and physical wellness, and celebrate the unique stories of members. The organization operates from its Brooklyn headquarters and provides both in-person and online programming.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Health & Wellness Activities
Quantifiable outcome
- Serves over 400 older adults with 420+ wellness, educational, and social programs annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use GRIOT Circle
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
GRIOT Circle technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
GRIOT Circle partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- SAGEcoreNational organization advocating for LGBTQ+ elders. Listed as a supporting organization and board member affiliation (Barbara Turk served on SAGE board). Partnership in shared mission of serving LGBTQ+ elders.
- Brooklyn Community Pride Center, InccoreBrooklyn-based LGBTQ+ community organization serving the same geographic region and demographic.
- Broadway CaressupportingNational HIV/AIDS and community services organization providing support to community-based organizations.
- RAICESsupportingRefugee and immigrant legal services organization, part of broader community support network.
- Con EdisonsupportingCorporate partner providing support for community programs and events.
- VevosupportingCorporate partner supporting GRIOT Circle's mission and programs.
- Home DepotsupportingCorporate partner providing in-kind contributions for facility improvements.
- New York PresbyteriansupportingHealthcare system partner supporting health and wellness programming for members.
- New York CaressupportingVolunteer organization supporting community service programs.
- Visiting Nurses of NY (VNSNY)supportingHealthcare partner providing health-focused programming, established through Arthur Fitting's collaboration with GRIOT.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GRIOT Circle competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- DOROT: NYC-based nonprofit providing services to older adults including wellness programs, case management, and social engagement—similar service model but not LGBTQ+ specific. Useful benchmark for comparable elder-services programs at larger scale.
- The LGBT Community Center (NYC): NYC's largest LGBTQ+ community center offering programming across the lifespan, including elder services. Overlaps with GRIOT's mission but serves a broader demographic and significantly larger scale; could be a referral and partnership partner.
- PFLAG NYC: NYC chapter of the national LGBTQ+ family support organization. Aligned mission and overlapping NYC service area, with documented GRIOT Circle board overlap; comparable in advocacy and community education focus.
- JASA (Jewish Association for Services for the Aged): Large NYC-based nonprofit serving older adults with case management, wellness programs, and community-based services. Comparable in delivering free community programming to seniors, though with a different cultural focus and far larger scale.
Others
- Sylvia Rivera Law Project: NYC-based legal organization serving low-income and people-of-color transgender and gender-nonconforming communities. Aligned through GRIOT board overlap (Pooja Gehi) and shared focus on the intersection of race, gender, and LGBTQ+ status; serves a younger demographic but in the same NYC ecosystem.
- CenterLink (LGBTQ+ Community Centers Network): National network of LGBTQ+ community centers. Comparable as an ecosystem peer; GRIOT could leverage membership for capacity-building, peer learning, and shared funding opportunities.
Regional players
- Brooklyn Community Pride Center: Brooklyn-based LGBTQ+ community organization serving the same geographic area. Active GRIOT Circle partner; comparable in community-based service delivery but broader demographic focus (not elder-specific or elder-of-color specific).
Direct peers
- SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders): National advocacy and services organization for LGBTQ+ elders, with a similar mission and overlapping programmatic offerings (case management, support groups, advocacy). GRIOT Circle's board includes a SAGE board member, evidencing direct collaboration. SAGE is the largest and most established peer in the space.
- Openhouse: San Francisco-based nonprofit that provides housing, community programs, and services for LGBTQ+ seniors, with a similar community-based model. Operates a more established housing arm but shares the focus on affirming, culturally competent support for LGBTQ+ elders.
- Diverse Elders Coalition: Coalition of advocacy organizations serving diverse elders, including communities of color and LGBTQ+ elders. Comparable in mission and policy/advocacy focus, though more of a coalition than a direct service provider.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GRIOT Circle social profiles
Digital presenceGRIOT Circle financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GRIOT Circle leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
GRIOT Circle funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GRIOT Circle 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 GRIOT Circle
What does GRIOT Circle do?
GRIOT Circle provides free health, wellness, advocacy, and leadership programs to LGBTQ+ elders of color aged 50 and older, centered on six core service areas: Health & Wellness Activities, Nutrition & Meals Program, Support Groups, Buddy to Buddy Peer Caregiver Program, Information & Referrals, and Community Training. All programming is delivered at its Brooklyn headquarters and through hybrid online/in-person formats, with no membership fees.
Is GRIOT Circle a public or private company?
GRIOT Circle is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was GRIOT Circle founded?
GRIOT Circle was founded in 1996. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is GRIOT Circle based?
GRIOT Circle is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does GRIOT Circle make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, foundation Grants, government Funding and workplace Giving.
Who are GRIOT Circle's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are DOROT, The LGBT Community Center (NYC), PFLAG NYC and JASA (Jewish Association for Services for the Aged). Others are Sylvia Rivera Law Project and CenterLink (LGBTQ+ Community Centers Network). Brooklyn Community Pride Center is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders), Openhouse and Diverse Elders Coalition.
Does GRIOT Circle have an API?
No public API is recorded for GRIOT Circle.
What industry is GRIOT Circle in?
GRIOT Circle's product category is LGBTQ+ Elder Services and Aging Support. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSABANAK, Senior Social Clubs & Community-Based Day Programs (Non-Clinical), with a secondary code of EDAAAMAB, Community & Senior Center Lifelong Learning Programs. Its NAICS code is 62412 and its SIC code is 8300.