Rainbow Rose

What Rainbow Rose does

Rainbow Rose is a Brussels-based non-profit political advocacy organisation founded in 2013, serving as the official LGBTIQ+ network of the Party of European Socialists (PES). It represents social-democratic, labour, and socialist LGBTIQ+ organisations and networks established within PES sister parties, currently spanning 16+ European countries including Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The organisation's functional mandate is to campaign for LGBTIQ+ rights at all levels across Europe, translate PES-aligned positions into law where PES members hold power, and respond to backlash against LGBTQ+ rights.

The organisation is governed by a 9-member Board elected for two-year terms at the annual General Assembly, with the current mandate running 2025–2027 following the Dublin General Assembly in November 2025. Leadership comprises President Dajana Bakić, Secretary General Ian Dylan Thomas, Treasurer Carola Ebhardt, and Vice Presidents Sam Van de Putte, Marene Elgershuizen, and Sebastian Pay. Operations are coordinated through a small team (~10 employees) based in Brussels, with activities executed via participation in pride events (EuroPride, Baltic Pride, WorldPride), PES Congresses and political rallies, conferences, and direct engagement with elected representatives.

Rainbow Rose's business model is membership-funded and partner-supported. Revenue derives from annual individual membership fees of €10 (€5 reduced rate for students or unemployed), supplemented by programme funding from partners such as Foundation Max van der Stoel (FMS) for its Western Balkans LGBTIQ+ programme. There are no technology products or proprietary platforms beyond a Squarespace-hosted website (rainbowrose.eu) used for information dissemination, news, and newsletter signup. The organisation holds no patents, has not raised venture funding, and is not a commercial entity. Strategic alliances with PES Women, Young European Socialists (YES), the S&D Group in the European Parliament, ILGA Europe, and ERA underpin its advocacy reach.

Name

Rainbow Rose

Legal name

Rainbow Rose

Website

https://rainbowrose.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rainbow Rose is the official LGBTIQ+ organisation of the Party of European Socialists, representing social-democratic LGBTIQ+ networks across 16+ European countries and campaigning for LGBTIQ+ rights at European, national, and local levels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

LGBTIQ+ Political Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331)

akta.pro primary industry

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Human Rights, Social Inclusion & Disability Inclusion (BPAGABAN), Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD), Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights (BPADAGAH)

Keywords

• Lgbtiq political advocacy
• Social democratic network
• Civil rights organization
• Political representation services
• Progressive movement association

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership fee of €10, with a €5 reduced rate for students or unemployed. Payment is made after application is approved by the Board. Also accepts individual members who are members of PES sister parties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rainbow Rose is the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) organisation associated with the Party of European Socialists (PES). It represents the LGBTIQ+ organisations established within PES sister parties and campaigns for LGBTIQ+ rights at local, national, and European levels through advocacy, policy influence, pride events, and political representation. The organization is funded primarily through individual membership fees (€10 standard annual, €5 reduced for students or unemployed).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Membership

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Party of European Socialists (PES)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRainbow Rose is the official LGBTIQ+ organisation associated with the PES. The organisations work closely together on advocacy, campaigns, and political activities. PES provides institutional support and political platform; Rainbow Rose provides expertise on LGBTQ+ rights.
• PES WomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint campaigns and activities including the #ReclaimYourSpace campaign promoting feminist and LGBTQ+ equality. Close collaboration on women's rights and LGBTQ+ rights intersection.
• Young European Socialists (YES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on youth-focused initiatives and joint discussions on fighting anti-feminist and anti-queer movements.
• S&D Group in European ParliamentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose cooperation on LGBTQ+ rights policy at EU level. S&D Group hosts panel discussions and supports Rainbow Rose initiatives.
• ILGA EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRainbow Rose is a member of ILGA Europe, participating in their conferences and activities to advance LGBTQ+ rights across Europe.
• ERA (European Rights Academy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in ERA conferences as part of Rainbow Rose's educational and advocacy work.
• Foundation Max van der Stoel (FMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on the Western Balkans LGBTIQ+ programme supporting activists in the region. FMS provides funding and programme support.
• Friedrich Ebert Stiftung BiHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Western Balkans programme and political education initiatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Sarajevo Open CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal NGO partner in Bosnia and Herzegovina for pride events and LGBTQ+ advocacy work. Hosts Kvirhana Festival and BiH Pride.
• EuroPridecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in annual EuroPride programme of activities as part of the PES family delegation.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Young European Socialists (YES): Youth organization of the PES political family and a close Rainbow Rose partner. Comparable because it operates within the same PES political ecosystem and engages in LGBTIQ+ progressive advocacy from a youth-led angle rather than from a specialized LGBTIQ+ network structure.

Broad incumbents

• Outright International: Global LGBTI human rights organization with UN-focused advocacy and country programs. Comparable because it works on LGBTI rights through multilateral institutions, but with a global rather than European-specific remit.
• Amnesty International (LGBTI rights work): Global human rights organization with a dedicated LGBTI rights program engaging EU institutions. Comparable because it pursues LGBTI advocacy at EU level but as part of a broader human rights portfolio rather than a specialized network.
• Human Rights Watch (LGBTI Rights Division): International human rights organization conducting research and advocacy on LGBTI rights in Europe. Comparable because it influences EU policy on LGBTI issues through research and reporting, but as a broad human-rights actor rather than a LGBTI-specific network.

Direct peers

• OII Europe (Organisation Intersex International Europe): European intersex advocacy organization focused on human rights and bodily integrity for intersex people. Peer because it engages EU institutions and Council of Europe on LGBTI-specific legal reform alongside a broader coalition of European LGBTI NGOs.
• NELFA (Network of European LGBTIQ+ Families Associations): European network of LGBTIQ+ family associations. Peer because it operates a federated member-network model focused on recognition of LGBTIQ+ families at EU and national level.
• TGEU (Transgender Europe): European transgender advocacy network coordinating trans-led organizations across Europe and Central Asia. Peer because it operates a similar network-based advocacy model focused on legal gender recognition and trans rights at EU level.
• ILGA-Europe: The European region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association; an umbrella LGBTIQ+ advocacy organization covering 50+ European countries. Direct peer because both operate as pan-European LGBTIQ+ policy advocacy networks engaging EU institutions and member states.
• IGLYO (International LGBTQI+ Youth & Student Organisation): European LGBTQI+ youth and student network funded by the European Youth Foundation and EU institutions. Peer because it uses an affiliated-member model across European countries for LGBTQI+ policy advocacy, education, and capacity building.
• European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA): Association of European pride organizers coordinating EuroPride and supporting local pride events. Peer because it operates at the European level supporting LGBTIQ+ visibility, with which Rainbow Rose co-participates in pride delegations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/rainbow_rose_pes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rainbowrose-pes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Rainbow Rose