GLASS | International NGO

What GLASS | International NGO does

GLASS (Global Alliance for Sustainable Sports) is a Swiss-registered international NGO founded in 2020 and headquartered in Lausanne, Canton de Vaud, operating as an independent, neutral, not-for-profit, membership-based organization. Its mandate is to define, promote, and certify sports clubs worldwide that meet high standards of verified societal, governance, public transparency, ethical practices, and environmental performance, with explicit alignment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The organization serves amateur and professional sports clubs across disciplines (football, basketball, handball, hockey, polo, and others) as well as sports organizations, leagues, event organizers, and corporate sponsors seeking responsible association with certified clubs.

GLASS's core products are organized around a member ecosystem. The Third Party Management System (TPMS) is the operational backbone — an online platform for due diligence, member relationship management, and certification tracking. Complementary tools include the SMART Club benchmarking instrument for ESG performance measurement, the GLASS Impact Self-Assessment Evaluation (GISAE) for onboarding, and an external Certification program that grants the SMART Club designation (Sustainable, Modern, Audacious, Responsible, Transparent). Supporting services include a members-only Resources library, an Intermediary Directory, an annual global events program (conferences and workshops in person and online), and advocacy work through partner networks. The technology stack is conventional SaaS (Google Analytics, HubSpot, LiveAgent, Stripe) layered over the proprietary TPMS.

The business model is subscription-based on annual membership fees, priced at CHF 500 for amateur clubs and CHF 1,000+ for professional clubs, billed on a 12-month rolling basis. Membership is non-cancellable and non-refundable, providing revenue predictability but limiting pricing elasticity. Members receive certification eligibility, access to the SMART Club designation, use of the GLASS logo under license, and member-only resources. The organization is governed by a General Assembly, Board of Directors, and Advisory Board, with no parent company, no disclosed funding rounds, and no equity ownership structure.

Name

GLASS | International NGO

Legal name

Global Alliance for Sustainable Sports (GLASS)

Website

https://glassinternational.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GLASS is a Swiss-registered international NGO that certifies amateur and professional sports clubs against sustainability, governance, and ethical standards via a membership-based program, using its TPMS platform, SMART Club benchmarking tools, and a globally distributed event series.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Fees: GLASS is a nonprofit organization. Members pay annual membership fees which help cover administration and related costs. The fees license members to use intellectual property like the GLASS logo and provide access to member benefits including certification, resources, and the SMART Club designation. Fees are calculated on a 12-month rolling basis from the first of the month that registration is approved.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GLASS is a membership-based international NGO that certifies, benchmarks, and advocates for sustainability standards in sport clubs worldwide. It provides the SMART Club certification framework, an ESG Benchmarking Tool for measuring environmental, social, and governance performance, the Third Party Management System (TPMS) for due diligence, and the GLASS Impact Self-Assessment Evaluation (GISAE) for member onboarding. Members receive access to a virtual resources library, networking events, and rights to display the GLASS logo.

Product overview

GLASS operates as a membership-based NGO offering a suite of interconnected sustainability products and services for sport clubs. The core offerings include the Third Party Management System (TPMS) for due diligence processing, the Benchmarking Tool for ESG performance measurement, and GLASS Certification for clubs meeting sustainability criteria. Supporting services include the GLASS Impact Self-Assessment Evaluation (GISAE) for onboarding, an Intermediary Directory for public member verification, SMART Club Framework for membership recognition, Events for peer exchange, and Resources (a members-only library). The ecosystem is anchored by the GLASS SMART Club standards, which integrate benchmarking, certification, advocacy, and community-building into a unified sustainability program for sport organizations worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GLASS SMART Club: A sustainability standard where clubs commit to being Sustainable, Modern, Audacious, Responsible and Transparent, meeting the highest standards of verified societal, governance, public transparency, ethical practices and environmental performances.
• GLASS Impact Self-Assessment Evaluation (GISAE)
• Third Party Management System (TPMS)

Products and services

• GLASS Membership Program An annual membership program for sports clubs and organizations worldwide, providing access to SMART Club certification, ESG benchmarking tools, due diligence services, member-only resources, advocacy representation, and the right to display the GLASS logo.
• GLASS Third Party Management System (TPMS) An online application platform used by GLASS to manage third-party relationships, process due diligence services, and maintain customer and intermediary data for members.
• GLASS Benchmarking Tool An ESG performance measurement tool that enables clubs to measure their environmental, social, and governance performances, identify areas of improvement, and build strategies to attain sustainability objectives.
• GLASS Certification An external certification program for sport clubs that meet high standards in management practices, tackling responsible, social, and environmental issues. Provided by GLASS as a neutral, not-for-profit NGO.
• GLASS Impact Self-Assessment Evaluation (GISAE) A self-assessment evaluation tool that helps organizations get familiar with various documents, resources, and international instruments GLASS uses to promote best practices in sport management.
• GLASS Events Annual events including conferences and workshops that bring together sports professionals, GLASS member organizations, sponsors, and partners to exchange best practices and discuss sustainability trends in the sport movement.
• GLASS Resources Library A members-only virtual library containing international instruments, best practices, links, and articles pertaining to sustainable sport management.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sport clubs can achieve SMART Club designation: Sustainable, Modern, Audacious, Responsible, and Transparent
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• International Sports FederationscoreOthersGLASS maintains close network with international sports federations through its strategic location in Lausanne, working to advocate for sustainable sport and promote best practices.
• UN and International OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDue to proximity with Geneva (host of UN and international organizations), GLASS works with partner organizations to advocate for sustainable sport and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• International Olympic Committee (IOC)coreOthersGLASS is headquartered in Lausanne alongside the IOC, enabling close proximity and potential collaboration for sustainable sport initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS): Independent, non-profit sport-security and integrity organization working with governments, federations and clubs — directly comparable mission profile (independent sport integrity/sustainability NGO), target customers and advocacy-based model.
• Sport Resolutions: Independent dispute resolution and advisory body serving sport organizations with integrity services — comparable as a sport-specific, neutral, standards/services NGO serving clubs and federations.
• Green Sports Alliance: Membership-based organization helping sport entities (teams, venues, leagues) adopt sustainable practices with benchmarking tools — directly comparable in sport-sustainability certification/benchmarking, though more North-America focused.
• Sport and Sustainability International (SandSI): International multi-stakeholder organization convening sport stakeholders around sustainability — the closest direct peer in mission, scope (sport + ESG) and global positioning. Both target sport organizations and federations with sustainability frameworks and events.
• International Fair Play Committee (CIFP): International NGO promoting ethics and fair play in sport, conferring recognition and awards — comparable in mission (sport ethics/integrity NGO), membership-style engagement and global sport-club audience.
• Centre for Sport and Human Rights: Multi-stakeholder initiative addressing human rights in sport, providing guidance, assessment frameworks and advocacy — directly comparable to GLASS as a sport-specific standards and certification-oriented NGO addressing ethical/ESG dimensions.

Broad incumbents

• SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance): Global testing, inspection and certification company that already certifies sport organizations (e.g., ISO-aligned sustainability/quality standards) — comparable as an established certification/benchmarking provider that sport clubs could turn to instead of GLASS.
• B Lab (B Corporation): Global nonprofit operating a widely adopted ESG/social/environmental certification with benchmarking tools — analogous business model (membership-based NGO offering sustainability certification and benchmarking), though serving cross-industry rather than sport-specific clients.
• World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA): Established international sport governance/standards body headquartered in the broader sport-governance ecosystem. Comparable as an internationally-recognized authority issuing standards and certifications that sport organizations must adopt, though on doping rather than sustainability.

Others

• United Nations Global Compact — Sport Compact: UN-led sustainability framework and reporting initiative with a dedicated Sport for SDGs track — thematically comparable in promoting SDG alignment and ESG reporting in sport, but a UN framework rather than a competitive certification body.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/glassinternational

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 GLASS | International NGO