Global Action on Gun Violence

What Global Action on Gun Violence does

Global Action on Gun Violence (GAGV) is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit legal advocacy organization founded in August 2022, operating with a staff of approximately 15 and a fully remote/hybrid model spanning the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Europe, Africa, and Australia. Its core business is providing impact litigation, human rights proceedings, and policy advocacy services to foreign governments, sub-national U.S. government clients, and victims of gun violence, with a stated focus on holding the U.S. gun industry accountable for cross-border gun trafficking and extraterritorial harm.

GAGV's product portfolio comprises four core service lines: (1) Impact Litigation Services, including flagship matters such as Mexico v. Smith & Wesson (first sovereign-nation suit against the U.S. gun industry), Mexico v. Diamondback (first RICO action against gun dealers), Gustafson v. Springfield Armory (first appellate decision holding PLCAA unconstitutional), and the City of Gary v. Smith & Wesson matter; (2) Human Rights Proceedings, including the Joaquin Oliver v. USA "Lawsuit for Survival" at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights; (3) Policy Advocacy at the UN, OAS, and domestic levels; and (4) International Assistance to Countries, providing research, coalition-building, and co-counsel representation to foreign governments. The organization's work is supported by an amicus brief program at the U.S. Supreme Court and lower courts.

GAGV is a private nonprofit (501(c)-equivalent) funded through a diversified mix of philanthropic grants (Everytown for Gun Safety, Open Society Foundations, Joyce Foundation, Fund for Safer Futures, Lisa & Doug Goldman Fund, The Donald A. Pels Charitable Trust, Harold Simmons Foundation, Metro Bethesda Rotary Foundation), corporate donations (Lush), individual donations, and government support from foreign jurisdictions. The organization also benefits from substantial in-kind pro bono legal services from major law firms (Arnold & Porter, Covington & Burling, Crowell Moring, Katten, Paul | Weiss) and creative services from Zulu Alpha Kilo. GAGV is registered under FARA as an agent for the Governments of Mexico and the Bahamas. No fees are charged for services; donations are tax-deductible (Tax ID# 88-4053494).

Name

Global Action on Gun Violence

Legal name

Global Action on Gun Violence

Website

https://actiononguns.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Global Action on Gun Violence is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit that uses impact litigation, human rights proceedings, and policy advocacy to hold the U.S. gun industry accountable for cross-border gun trafficking, serving foreign governments (notably Mexico and the Bahamas), U.S. municipalities, and victims of gun violence.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gun Violence Prevention Advocacy & Legal Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Legal Services (5411), Offices of Lawyers (54111)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Gun Violence Prevention & Public Safety Policy Advocacy (BPAGAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Safeguarding, Accountability & Compliance (ESG, Gender/GBV, Do No Harm) (BPADAEAM), Transitional Justice, Accountability & Reparations (BPADAGAL), Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAA), Human Rights, Democracy & Rule of Law IGOs (BPADAAAG)

Keywords

• Gun violence prevention
• Impact litigation services
• Human rights advocacy
• Nonprofit legal advocacy
• Policy advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington, DC

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic/Foundation Grants: GAGV receives funding from institutional foundations including Everytown for Gun Safety, Fund for Safer Futures, Joyce Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Lisa & Doug Goldman Fund, The Donald A. Pels Charitable Trust, Harold Simmons Foundation, and Metro Bethesda Rotary Foundation.
2. Law Firm Pro Bono Support: Major law firms provide pro bono legal support including Arnold & Porter, Covington & Burling, Crowell Moring, Katten, and Paul | Weiss.
3. Government Support: GAGV receives support from governments outside the United States for their work.
4. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals via the organization's website donation portal.
5. Corporate Donations: Corporate donations from companies like Lush and other businesses.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

GAGV provides impact litigation, human rights proceedings, and policy advocacy services to prevent gun violence globally. The organization represents governments (Mexico, Bahamas) and victims in lawsuits against U.S. gun manufacturers and dealers, brings human rights actions before international tribunals including the IACHR and the UN, and advocates for stronger gun laws at the domestic and international levels. Its core operational model combines tort and RICO-based impact litigation, international human rights mechanisms, and coalition-based policy advocacy in a coordinated global strategy.

Product overview

Global Action on Gun Violence (GAGV) is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of legal and advocacy services rather than a commercial product. Its core offerings include Impact Litigation Services (strategic lawsuits against gun manufacturers and dealers), Human Rights Proceedings (actions before international tribunals including the IACHR and UN), Policy Advocacy (campaigning for stronger gun laws), and International Assistance to Countries (helping foreign governments address gun trafficking from the U.S.). The organization is currently litigating several landmark cases including Mexico v. Smith & Wesson (the first lawsuit by a sovereign nation against the gun industry), Mexico v. Diamondback (first RICO case against gun dealers), the Gustafson case (first appellate decision holding PLCAA unconstitutional), and the Lawsuit for Survival (Joaquin Oliver v. USA) at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Impact Litigation Services
• Human Rights Proceedings
• Policy Advocacy
• International Assistance to Countries
• Cross-Border Gun Trafficking Prevention Strategy
• Amicus Brief Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 84% decrease in crime guns from 25 dealers in NYC after lawsuits
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Arnold & PortercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMajor pro bono legal partner providing free legal services to support GAGV's litigation work against the gun industry.
• Covington & BurlingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPro bono legal partner providing free legal services to support GAGV's impact litigation and advocacy work.
• Crowell MoringcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPro bono legal partner providing free legal services to support GAGV's gun violence prevention work.
• Katten Muchin RosenmancoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPro bono legal partner providing free legal services to support GAGV's impact litigation.
• Government of MexicoflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGAGV serves as legal counsel for Mexico in landmark lawsuits against U.S. gun manufacturers and dealers. This is GAGV's flagship client relationship and includes the first lawsuit by a sovereign nation against the gun industry.
• University of California at Berkeley School of Law Gun Violence Prevention ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing research support and student involvement in GAGV's gun violence prevention work.
• Zulu Alpha KilominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarketing and communications agency providing pro bono creative services to GAGV.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Human Rights Watch: Leading international human rights organization that conducts investigations and advocacy before international bodies including the UN. Comparable to GAGV's human rights proceedings work before the IACHR and UN, though operating across all human rights issues at much greater scale.
• Center for American Progress: Major U.S. progressive policy organization addressing gun violence among other issues. Shares the policy advocacy and research publication functions of GAGV, with comparable communications and earned media presence but broader thematic mandate.
• Amnesty International: Global human rights organization with established advocacy mechanisms at the UN, OAS, and other international forums. Functionally analogous to GAGV's international advocacy and human rights litigation model, but at significantly larger scale and broader thematic scope.

Direct peers

• Sandy Hook Promise: National gun violence prevention nonprofit focused on school shooting prevention through programming, advocacy, and policy. Mission-aligned peer working in the same donor and advocacy ecosystem, though oriented toward prevention programs rather than industry accountability litigation.
• Everytown for Gun Safety: The largest U.S. gun violence prevention advocacy organization and a major philanthropic funder of GAGV. Operates in the same gun violence prevention mission space, combining litigation, lobbying, and grassroots advocacy, but with significantly greater resources and a domestic focus.
• March for Our Lives: Youth-led gun violence prevention movement and advocacy organization founded after the Parkland shooting. Shares GAGV's advocacy and policy goals and an overlapping funder base (Manuel Oliver is connected to both organizations).
• Change the Ref: Gun violence prevention organization founded by Manuel Oliver (now GAGV's Global Outreach & Artistic Adviser) after the Parkland shooting. Uses creative activism and guerrilla advocacy — closely allied with GAGV's communications strategy and advocacy footprint.
• Giffords (Giffords Law Center): Major gun violence prevention organization combining legal advocacy, state-level policy reform, and litigation. Directly comparable to GAGV in litigation strategy and policy advocacy, though concentrated on U.S. federal and state legislative channels rather than international mechanisms.
• Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence (Brady United): The preeminent U.S. gun violence prevention organization where GAGV's founder Jonathan Lowy spent 25 years leading impact litigation against the gun industry. Brady is the most direct functional peer, sharing GAGV's litigation, policy, and education strategy, though focused on the U.S. domestic arena.

Emerging players

• International Crisis Group: International organization working on conflict prevention and engaging governments on cross-border security issues. Comparable to GAGV's international assistance work with sovereign nations on cross-border gun trafficking as a security and governance issue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/actiononguns
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/actiononguns
• Instagraminstagram.com/actiononguns

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Global Action on Gun Violence