ERA - LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Turkey

What ERA - LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Turkey does

ERA - LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Turkey is a regional non-profit civil society organization headquartered in Belgrade, Serbia, founded in 2014 to coordinate LGBTIQ+ rights work across the Western Balkans and Türkiye. It operates as the only regional umbrella network connecting more than 80 member organizations across nine countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, and Türkiye), and serves as a recognized interlocutor with EU institutions, the UN human rights system, and the Council of Europe. Its work focuses on LGBTIQ+ people, with deliberate sub-segment programs for lesbian, bisexual, and queer women (LBQ/WLW caucus), trans, non-binary, and intersex communities (TNBI caucus), people living with HIV, refugees, Roma LGBTIQ+ people, and youth.

The organization's core service portfolio comprises advocacy and policy influence, capacity building and movement strengthening, research and evidence-based advocacy, public awareness campaigns, international/EU-level advocacy, grant-making and subgranting, a Training Hub, community caucuses, and direct community support services. It produces regional policy papers, hate-speech monitoring output, and evidence-based reports that have been formally integrated into UN Independent Expert on SOGI submissions. Notable operational outputs include EUR 306,645.41 distributed to 19 grassroots organizations via the Together for LGBTQI+ Equality programme and the multi-country Working Safe programme on socio-economic inclusion of LGBTQI+ communities.

ERA's business model is that of a grant-funded non-profit: the European Union is the primary institutional donor, supplemented by the EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community and select national ministries (e.g., Montenegro's Ministry of Human and Minority Rights). Revenue is not publicly disclosed. A small secretariat of approximately 10 staff, led by Executive Co-Director Danijel Kalezić, coordinates the network, while delivery is executed through member organizations and project partners. Governance is provided by a Board composed of representatives from member organizations. The organization has no proprietary technology platform, no commercial products, and no AI capabilities; its competitive position rests entirely on network scale, institutional access, and reputational capital built over a decade of regional convening.

Name

ERA - LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Turkey

Legal name

ERA-LGBTI Equal Rights Association for the Western Balkans and Türkiye

Website

https://lgbti-era.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ERA is a regional non-profit umbrella network connecting 80+ LGBTIQ+ member organizations across the Western Balkans and Türkiye. It advances LGBTIQ+ rights through advocacy, capacity building, research, grant-making, and engagement with EU and international institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Rights Advocacy / LGBTIQ+ Civil Society Network

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

Keywords

• LGBTIQ+ rights advocacy
• Civil society network
• Capacity building programmes
• Human rights research
• Grant-making and subgranting

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: ERA operates primarily through grant funding from institutional donors including the European Union. The organization receives funding for regional programs that redistribute resources to member organizations and grassroots initiatives.
2. Donations: ERA accepts donations to support its work connecting organisations, moving resources, and driving change where it is most needed across the region.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ERA is a regional civil society network that connects, strengthens, funds, and represents 80+ LGBTIQ+ member organizations across the Western Balkans and Türkiye through an integrated suite of advocacy, capacity-building, research, grant-making, and public-awareness services. It translates grassroots LGBTIQ+ needs into regional coordination, EU-level policy influence, and UN human rights engagement, while redistributing institutional funding to grassroots organizations via programmes such as Together for LGBTQI+ Equality and Working Safe.

Product overview

ERA operates as a unified regional advocacy platform rather than a modular software product. The organization offers an integrated suite of non-profit services including advocacy and policy influence, capacity building and movement strengthening, research and evidence-based advocacy, public awareness campaigns, international/EU-level advocacy, grant-making and subgranting, a Training Hub, WLW & TNBI Caucuses, community support services, and resources/publications. These services work together as a comprehensive ecosystem to advance LGBTIQ equality across the Western Balkans and Türkiye, connecting grassroots organizations with regional and international advocacy processes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Together for LGBTQI+ Equality Programme Regional grant-making and capacity-building programme, funded principally by the European Union with the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights of Montenegro as co-funder, that distributes financial support to grassroots LGBTIQ+ organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Kosovo and provides accompanying management and advocacy capacity building.
• Working Safe: Socio-economic Inclusion of the LGBTQI+ Community in the Western Balkans and Türkiye Multi-country EU-funded programme that produces policy papers and advocacy on labour market inclusion, workplace safety, and the socio-economic position of LGBTIQ+ persons in the Western Balkans and Türkiye.
• Training Hub Educational resources and capacity-building programme offering training materials, mentorship, and skills development for movement leadership and organizational development across the region.
• WLW & TNBI Caucuses Dedicated caucus spaces supporting women who love women (WLW) and trans, non-binary, and intersex (TNBI) communities, enabling focused advocacy, community organizing, and representation within ERA's regional work.
• Community Support Services Direct services for LGBTIQ+ community members including legal support, psychological support, and solidarity resources delivered through the member organization network across the region.
• Research, Policy Papers and Resources Evidence-based research reports, policy papers, and analysis documents on discrimination, hate crimes, workplace inclusion, and violence against LBTIQ women across the Western Balkans and Türkiye, used for policy advocacy and member support.
• EU and International Advocacy Direct engagement with the European Commission, European Parliament, UN agencies, and Council of Europe to prioritize LGBTI+ issues in policy discussions, funding mechanisms, and human rights reports, including contributions to UN Independent Expert reports on SOGI.
• Public Awareness and Social Change Campaigns Communication strategies, storytelling, education programmes, and media engagement delivered through national and regional campaigns to counter misinformation, foster empathy, and create inclusive narratives.

Quantifiable outcome

• ERA's regional input on gender-based violence against LBQ women was accepted, integrated and referenced in UN Independent Expert report submitted to 62nd session of UN Human Rights Council
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.

• UN Independent Expert on SOGI (Graeme Reid)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 July 2026ERA's regional input on gender-based violence against LBQ women was accepted, integrated and referenced in the landmark UN Independent Expert report submitted to the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council.
• Centre for Civic EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Lead implementing partner of the Together for LGBTQI+ Equality programme. ERA serves as project partner working to strengthen locally driven initiatives, regional cooperation, and long-term sustainability of the LGBTIQ+ movement.
• Council of EuropeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026ERA participated in the Council of Europe's No Hate Speech Week in Strasbourg, engaging in discussions on hate speech, discrimination, and democratic resilience. ERA also presented its online hate speech monitoring work.
• Queer MontenegrocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in Working Safe initiative focusing on socio-economic inclusion of LGBTQI+ communities in Montenegro, including policy paper development on labor market position of LGBTIQ+ persons.
• Tuzla Open CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in Working Safe initiative working on LGBTQI+ rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, contributing to policy papers and research on safe and inclusive work environments.
• Open Mind Spectrum AlbaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in Working Safe initiative focusing on socio-economic inclusion of LGBTQI+ communities in Albania through policy research and advocacy.
• Center for Social Group DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in Working Safe initiative working on socio-economic inclusion of LGBTQI+ community in Kosovo through policy research and advocacy.
• Coalition MarginscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in Working Safe initiative focusing on advancing LGBTQI+ workplace rights in North Macedonia, including policy paper development.
• Group Come OutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in Working Safe initiative working on inclusion of LGBTQI+ persons in the workplace in Serbia, bridging legal framework and lived reality.
• Kaos GLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in Working Safe initiative focusing on LGBTQI+ workplace inclusion in Türkiye, developing inclusion policy document for the private sector.
• Queer CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the Together for LGBTQI+ Equality programme implementing grant agreements for grassroots initiatives.
• LBTQ Women's Association StanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in joint events addressing violence against LBTIQ women in Montenegro, contributing local research findings and community perspectives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ILGA-Europe: The European region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, ILGA-Europe is the most direct peer to ERA: a regional LGBTIQ+ umbrella advocacy organization that influences EU policy and supports member organizations across Europe, including the Western Balkans and Türkiye.
• TGEU - Transgender Europe: Transgender Europe is a regional trans-led umbrella network advancing trans rights and supporting member organizations across Europe, including in the Western Balkans and Türkiye. It is directly comparable to ERA's TNBI Caucus work and its EU-level advocacy model.
• EL*C - EuroCentralAsian Lesbian Community: A regional network of LBTIQ women-led organizations across Europe and Central Asia, EL*C is a direct peer to ERA's WLW Caucus and LBQ-focused work, sharing a comparable function as a network coordinator, advocacy platform, and grant-maker for lesbian and queer women's organizations.

Broad incumbents

• OutRight Action International: A global LGBTIQ+ human rights organization that, like ERA, conducts research, advocacy at UN and regional bodies, and capacity building for LGBTIQ+ organizations, but operates at a global rather than regional scale.
• ILGA World: The global federation of national and local LGBTIQ+ organizations, ILGA World mirrors ERA's role as a network coordinator and policy advocate, but at a global rather than regional level, providing comparable governance and convening functions.
• COC Netherlands: One of the oldest LGBTIQ+ organizations in the world, COC combines advocacy, international solidarity, and capacity building for LGBTIQ+ movements in restrictive regions, with operations that directly overlap with ERA's regional support work.
• RFSL - Swedish Federation for LGBTQ Rights: A national-level LGBTI rights organization that conducts advocacy, international development cooperation, and capacity building for LGBTIQ+ organizations in restrictive regions, including the Western Balkans and Türkiye, directly overlapping with ERA's geographic and thematic focus.
• Stonewall: A major LGBTI rights organization that combines advocacy, research, training, and public campaigning, comparable to ERA's integrated advocacy-plus-capacity-building model, though operating in a single, more permissive national market (UK).

Regional players

• ILGA-Asia: The Asian branch of ILGA, ILGA-Asia plays a comparable role to ERA as a regional LGBTIQ+ umbrella coordinating advocacy, capacity building, and member support across Asian countries, but operates in a different geography.

Others

• Front Line Defenders: An international human rights organization focused on protecting human rights defenders, including LGBTIQ+ activists. While not a direct LGBTIQ+ peer, it serves an adjacent enabling role for the same population ERA supports through its Community Support and safety work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lgbtiera

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 ERA - LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Turkey