LGBTQ Center of Durham

What LGBTQ Center of Durham does

The LGBTQ Center of Durham, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 27-1277498) founded in October 2015 and headquartered at 118 Hunt Street in Durham, North Carolina, with an additional space at 114 Hunt Street (114 House). The Center serves LGBTQ+ individuals, families, and allies across Durham County and surrounding counties, and extends statewide reach through its Southern Queer Survivor Network (SQSN), which operates across all 100 North Carolina counties. Its program portfolio includes the LGBTQ+ Youth Center (ages 12–24, launched 2020 with City of Durham Participatory Budgeting funding), Gender Identity Programs (Trans and GNC Closet, Transforming Families NC support group, Name Change Navigator with court-fee scholarships), the Southern Queer Families Network (SQFN), an HIV/STI testing partnership with the Durham County I Take Testing Seriously (ITTS) program, a volunteer-cataloged Library (TinyCat/LibraryThing, returning to circulation Fall 2026), a Food Pantry, and the LGBTQ+ People's Archive launched spring 2025.

The Center is led by Co-Executive Directors Raye Dooley and Vanity Reid Deterville, supported by a Director of Development & Community Engagement, a Youth Center Director, an SQSN Director, an Operations Manager, an SQSN Survivor Services Coordinator, and an SQFN RPE Prevention Specialist, with an eight-member Board of Directors including a Co-Chair and Treasurer. Its technology footprint is operational rather than product-oriented: NeonCRM for constituent/donation/event management, TinyCat and LibraryThing for the library catalog, and standard email plus social media (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook) for community engagement. Annual Pride: Durham, NC programming, inherited from NC Pride in 2018, serves as the Center's flagship community engagement and fundraising event series.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through charitable donations and community fundraising campaigns — most prominently an active Special Pride campaign targeting $50,000 — supplemented by sliding-scale space rental at 114 House (large meeting room, ~30 capacity) and 118 Warehouse for community-aligned events. Nearly all direct services (drop-in hours, programming, support groups, food pantry, HIV/STI testing, name change navigation) are provided free of charge to community members, consistent with a donation-dependent nonprofit economics rather than a transactional pricing model. The Center's go-to-market is community-led, relying on volunteer engagement, word-of-mouth referrals, school-based Gender and Sexuality Alliance outreach, and event-driven participation rather than paid acquisition.

Name

LGBTQ Center of Durham

Legal name

LGBTQ Center of Durham, Inc.

Website

https://lgbtqcenterofdurham.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The LGBTQ Center of Durham is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 that operates community programs — Youth Center, Pride events, Gender Identity programs, statewide anti-violence services, library, and archive — for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies across Durham and all 100 North Carolina counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAFAE

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAEAL

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

Keywords

• LGBTQ community services
• Youth programming
• Gender identity support
• Anti-violence services
• Community center programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 27-1277498), the center relies primarily on charitable donations from community members and organizations. Currently running a special Pride campaign for $50,000 to support Pride programs and essential center operations.
2. Space Rental: Community-aligned events welcome on a sliding-scale basis at 114 Hunt Street (large meeting room, ~30 capacity) and 118 Warehouse (open space for larger gatherings).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The LGBTQ Center of Durham is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community center operating physical locations at 118 and 114 Hunt Street in Durham, NC. It delivers direct services including LGBTQ+ youth programming (ages 12-24), gender identity support programs (clothing closet, name change navigation with scholarships), anti-violence services through the statewide Southern Queer Survivors Network, food pantry distribution, and an LGBTQ-focused library with archival collection. The center also produces the annual Pride: Durham, NC event series and maintains space rental for community-aligned gatherings.

Product overview

LGBTQ Center of Durham operates as a community center offering multiple interconnected programs serving the LGBTQ+ community in Durham and surrounding counties. The organization provides direct services through its Youth Center for ages 12-24, a comprehensive Library with physical and archival materials, the annual Pride: Durham, NC event series, the Southern Queer Survivors Network (SQSN) providing anti-violence services statewide, and Gender Identity Programs including clothing assistance and legal name change navigation. The center operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in October 2015, with all programs designed to affirm, support, and celebrate LGBTQ+ lived experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Southern Queer Survivors Network (SQSN): An anti-violence project serving LGBTQ+ survivors in all 100 counties of North Carolina, providing safety planning, support, and logistical to emotional to material support.
• Southern Queer Families Network (SQFN)
• LGBTQ+ Youth Center

Products and services

• LGBTQ+ Youth Center Physical hub of LGBTQ+ youth resources providing programming, drop-in space, meeting rooms, educational and arts-based events, leadership development, and dedicated staff for LGBTQ+ youth ages 12-24 in Durham and the Triangle region.
• Pride: Durham, NC Annual series of special programs celebrating community, history, activism, and Pride of LGBTQ+ people in Durham and across North Carolina. Includes Beaver Queen Pageant, OUT On The Block, community marches, vendor events, and protests held in June and early Fall.
• Gender Identity Programs Comprehensive services for transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender diverse community members including the Trans and GNC Closet (clothing wardrobe service), Transforming Families NC support group, and Name Change Navigator (seven-step legal name change assistance with scholarship funds available for court fees).
• Southern Queer Survivors Network (SQSN) Anti-violence project serving LGBTQ+ survivors of interpersonal violence in all 100 counties of North Carolina. Provides safety planning, logistical, emotional, and material support for folks experiencing abuse.
• Southern Queer Families Network (SQFN) Community building and organizing project for queer and trans families with children, focused on bringing families together to share joy, build power, and keep each other safe.
• LGBTQ Center of Durham Library Fully-cataloged library featuring LGBTQ-focused books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, and zines serving the local community. Volunteer library committee cataloging collection with plans for full circulation by Fall 2026.
• LGBTQ+ People's Archive Community-driven archive collecting and preserving grassroots, community-driven, and underrepresented LGBTQ+ histories. Features changing display at 118 Hunt Street and hosts monthly Community Archive Days.
• Food Pantry Food distribution program operating on the 3rd Thursday and following Saturday of each month by appointment, serving LGBTQ+ community members in need.
• HIV/STI Testing Program Partnership with Durham County I Take Testing Seriously (ITTS) Program providing HIV/STI testing using 4th generation tests processed at NC State Lab, with PrEP referrals and Quick Start program connections.
• Community Space Rental Rental of 114 House (large meeting room with mounted TV, tables or theater seating for approximately 30) and 118 Warehouse (open warehouse space for larger gatherings) available on a sliding-scale basis for community-aligned events.

Quantifiable outcome

• LGBTQ+ Youth Center serves as singular physical hub of LGBTQ+ youth resources in the City and Triangle region
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Southern Queer Survivors Network (SQSN)coreOthersSQSN is an anti-violence project serving LGBTQ+ survivors in all 100 counties of North Carolina. The center houses this program as a core initiative, providing advocacy, safety planning, and support services. SQSN is also home to Southern Queer Families Network for queer and trans families.
• Durham County I Take Testing Seriously (ITTS) ProgramsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Durham County public health for HIV/STI testing services. Testing conducted at the center using 4th generation tests processed at NC State Lab. Includes PrEP referrals and Quick Start program connections.
• NC Pride ArchivessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with NC Pride Archives for preserving LGBTQ+ history and Pride traditions. Center took over Pride leadership from NC Pride in 2018 to continue legacy.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• GLAAD: National LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization focused on representation and storytelling. Thematically aligned with the center's archive and Pride visibility work but operates as a media advocacy entity rather than direct services.

Emerging players

• PFLAG National: National LGBTQ+ family and ally support organization with local chapters. Overlaps with the center's Southern Queer Families Network (SQFN) program supporting queer and trans families with children.
• The Trevor Project: National LGBTQ+ youth crisis intervention and suicide prevention organization. Comparable to the Youth Center (ages 12-24) but operates via digital/phone crisis services rather than physical community hub model.

Direct peers

• San Francisco LGBT Center: San Francisco's LGBTQ community center offering youth programs, senior services, health resources, legal aid, and community gathering space. Directly comparable as a community hub with similar program breadth and demographic focus.
• Center on Halsted: Chicago-based LGBTQ community center offering youth programs, senior services, behavioral health, and community gathering space. Directly comparable as a multi-program community hub serving LGBTQ+ populations with similar funding model (donations, grants, earned income).
• The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (NYC): New York City's LGBTQ community center providing youth services, family programs, cultural programming, and advocacy. Direct peer operating as a multi-program community hub with comparable mission scope and operational model.

Broad incumbents

• Human Rights Campaign (HRC): Large national LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy organization. Overlaps with the center's LGBTQ+ advocacy and Pride organizing mission but operates primarily as a national lobbying/policy organization rather than local community services.
• Los Angeles LGBT Center: One of the largest LGBTQ centers in the world, providing health services, housing, youth programs, and cultural programs. Operates in the same category as a multi-program LGBTQ community organization but at significantly larger scale and with broader geographic reach.

Regional players

• Charlotte LGBTQ+ Community Center (Charlotte PRIDE / Time Out Youth): North Carolina LGBTQ community center in Charlotte with youth programming and community services. Comparable regional peer operating in the same state with similar program types including youth services and community gathering.
• LGBT Center of Raleigh: North Carolina-based LGBTQ community center serving the Triangle-adjacent Raleigh area. Comparable as a regional LGBTQ community center operating in the same state and partially overlapping Triangle service area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lgbtqdurham
• Facebookfacebook.com/lgbtqcenterdurham
• Instagraminstagram.com/lgbtqdurham
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lgbtqdurham

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LGBTQ Center of Durham