Queer Youth Assemble
Queer Youth Assemble is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2021 that supports LGBTQ+ youth under 25 through free programs including Pen Pals, Birthday Cards, a GSA Leadership Council, and nationwide activism events across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersEast Boston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Queer Youth Assemble does
Queer Youth Assemble (QYA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in August 2021 in Boston, MA, by Esmee Silverman, Cas Ford Martin, and Alia, with a mission to support LGBTQ+ youth under 25 across the United States through programs, events, and resources. Its core offerings include the Pen Pals matching program, free affirming Birthday Cards, the National GSA Leadership Council for high school student leaders, the QY Voices youth-led newspaper, a Resource Library, and a Zine Library, alongside recurring event series such as Let Trans Athletes Play, the March for Queer & Trans Youth Autonomy, the Queer Youth Walkout, and seasonal gatherings including Beach Day, Monster Mingle, and Queer Youth on Ice/Skates. The organization explicitly positions itself as youth-led and youth-designed, with programs conceived and operated by queer and trans youth for queer and trans youth.
QYA does not operate any proprietary technology platform. Its infrastructure is built on widely available web tools: Discord for the "Queer Youth Space" virtual community, Google Forms for program signups, Eventbrite for event registration, Bonfire for merchandise sales, and Substack for newsletter distribution. Community engagement and acquisition are primarily organic and grassroots-driven through TikTok, Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook, Tumblr, and word-of-mouth, with earned media coverage in outlets including the Boston Globe and NBC Boston. Geographic reach is nationwide, with active volunteer presence in Massachusetts, Portland (OR), the DMV area, Orlando (FL), and Greenbelt (MD), and first nationwide pride tabling executed in Pride Month 2024.
The organization's revenue model is built on three streams: tax-deductible donations under its 501(c)(3) status, merchandise sales through its Bonfire storefront, and benefit events such as the November 2024 benefit concert in Portland, OR featuring Ryan Cassata, Girl Fiend, and Jory Hill. All core youth-serving programs are free to participants, and pricing is not commercially disclosed; volunteer labor and donated time form the operational backbone. Strategic partnerships have included joint rapid-response work with GLAAD and QT Project (June 2023), virtual game nights with 360 HealthX (2022), and participation in the Rise Up conference (July 2023), with no institutional investors, parent company, or acquisitions identified.
Queer Youth Assemble firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Queer Youth Assemble
- Legal name
- Queer Youth Assemble
- Website
- https://queeryouthassemble.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Queer Youth Assemble is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2021 that supports LGBTQ+ youth under 25 through free programs including Pen Pals, Birthday Cards, a GSA Leadership Council, and nationwide activism events across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Queer Youth Assemble industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Advocacy and Community Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Cultural, Identity & Inclusion Programs (EDALAHAF)
Keywords
Where Queer Youth Assemble is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- East Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Queer Youth Assemble business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations: Tax-deductible donations accepted through the organization's 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Donations support local events, community programming, and operational costs.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including shirts, stickers, and buttons through Bonfire storefront. Proceeds directly support programs empowering LGBTQ+ youth.
- Benefit Events: Revenue from benefit concerts and events featuring artists and performers, such as the November 2024 benefit concert with Ryan Cassata, Girl Fiend, and Jory Hill in Portland, OR.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Programs - Pen Pals, Birthday Cards, Resources |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Donation-based Support |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Queer Youth Assemble product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Queer Youth Assemble (QYA) is a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free programs, community-building services, and activism events for queer and trans youth under 25 across the United States. Its core offerings include the Pen Pals matching program, the Birthday Cards program, the National GSA Leadership Council, the Queer Youth Voices newspaper, a Resource Library, a Zine Library, and the Queer Youth Space Discord community, alongside recurring events such as Let Trans Athletes Play, the National March for Queer & Trans Youth Autonomy, and seasonal gatherings.
Product overview
Queer Youth Assemble (QYA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a community platform and program hub rather than a traditional product company. The organization provides a suite of programs including the National GSA Leadership Council for student organizers, Pen Pals and Birthday Cards programs for youth connection, and Queer Youth Voices newspaper for journalism. QYA also maintains Queer Youth Space, a Discord-based virtual community, while offering a Resource Library and Zine Library as free educational content. The organization coordinates activism through events like the March for Queer & Trans Youth Autonomy, Let Trans Athletes Play, and seasonal gatherings. Merchandise is sold through a Bonfire shop to support operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- National GSA Leadership Council: A student-led, adult-supported program for LGBTQ+ high school students committed to creating safer, more inclusive environments in their schools and communities.
- Pen Pals Project
- Birthday Cards
- QY Voices
Products and services
- Pen Pals Program A program that connects queer and trans youth nationwide through a pen pal matching service based on location, age, interests, and other preferences. Matches are introduced via email with no physical addresses shared for safety. For LGBTQ+ youth under 25 in the United States.
- Birthday Cards Program Provides free, affirming birthday cards made by volunteers for queer and trans youth. Cards are customizable from colors and messages to drawings and can be sent to preferred names and addresses. For LGBTQ+ youth under 25 in the United States.
- National GSA Leadership Council A student-led, adult-supported program for LGBTQ+ high school students committed to creating safer, more inclusive environments in their schools and communities. Council members participate in leadership trainings, host virtual GSA gatherings, and attend an in-person summit.
- Queer Youth Voices (Newspaper) A youth-led newspaper featuring articles on current events, opinion pieces, and photography, amplifying queer youth voices. For LGBTQ+ youth and the broader community.
- Let Trans Athletes Play (LTAP) Annual Event Annual event series (since 2021) that educates communities on anti-trans sports laws while creating safe spaces for queer youth to play sports through kickball games and other activities. For LGBTQ+ youth and their allies.
- March for Queer & Trans Youth Autonomy Nationwide march calling for legislative and societal changes to ensure the safety and autonomy of queer and trans youth. For LGBTQ+ youth, allies, and the broader public across the United States.
- Seasonal Events (Beach Day, Monster Mingle, Queer Youth on Ice/Skates, Prom) Recurring seasonal community gatherings including Beach Day (summer), Monster Mingle (annual Halloween party), Queer Youth on Ice/Skates (winter/spring skating events), and Prom (summer), held in cities where QYA volunteers are active. For LGBTQ+ youth and allies.
- Queer Youth Assemble Shop (Merchandise) Online merchandise store on Bonfire selling shirts, stickers, and buttons. Every purchase directly supports programs empowering LGBTQ+ youth. For supporters, allies, and the broader community.
Companies that use Queer Youth Assemble
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Queer Youth Assemble technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Queer Youth Assemble partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Ryan CassataminorPerformed at QYA benefit concert in Portland, OR on November 7, 2024 alongside Girl Fiend and Jory Hill to raise funds for the organization.
- Girl FiendminorPerformed at QYA benefit concert in Portland, OR alongside Ryan Cassata and Jory Hill to support LGBTQ+ youth programming.
- Jory HillminorHosted and performed at QYA benefit concert in Portland, OR featuring Ryan Cassata and Girl Fiend to raise funds for queer youth programs.
- Rise Up ConferenceminorQYA joined dozens of organizations for Rise Up, a national conference for queer and trans youth organizers held July 2023. Participated as member of broader youth organizer community.
- QT ProjectcoreCollaborated with QT Project and GLAAD on rapid response efforts to cancel AMC Theaters' scheduled nationwide premiere of an anti-trans film. QYA joined efforts to pressure AMC to pull the screening of content featuring misinformation about gender-affirming care.
- GLAADcorePartnered with GLAAD in rapid response coalition to cancel AMC showings of anti-trans film. GLAAD provided media expertise and amplification for the campaign.
- 360 HealthXminorCollaborated with 360 HealthX in March and April 2022 to host virtual game nights and raise donations for QYA programming.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Queer Youth Assemble competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- GLAAD: GLAAD is a much larger LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization. It is comparable as a peer/partner with overlapping advocacy mission, but operates at significantly greater scale and broader portfolio beyond youth-only services.
- PFLAG National: PFLAG is the largest family- and ally-based LGBTQ+ support organization in the U.S. It is comparable as a major LGBTQ+ advocacy nonprofit serving youth through families, but operates at much larger scale and broader scope.
Direct peers
- The Trevor Project: The Trevor Project is the leading U.S. nonprofit providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ+ youth under 25. It is the most direct peer given the overlapping target demographic, free service model, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit structure focused on queer youth wellbeing.
- It Gets Better Project: It Gets Better Project is a nonprofit uplifting LGBTQ+ youth through storytelling, media, and global activism. It overlaps with QYA on youth empowerment, content creation (QYA's QY Voices, zines), and mission-driven creative activism.
- Genders & Sexualities Alliance Network (GSA Network): GSA Network supports student-led Gay-Straight Alliances in schools nationwide, with a youth-led organizing model. It is directly comparable to QYA's National GSA Leadership Council and broader school-based queer youth advocacy focus.
- Point Foundation: Point Foundation provides scholarships, mentorship, and leadership development for LGBTQ+ students. It overlaps with QYA in the youth leadership development mission and nonprofit structure serving queer students.
- Trans Youth Equality Foundation: Trans Youth Equality Foundation provides advocacy, education, and support specifically for transgender and gender non-conforming youth. Direct peer given shared demographic focus and grassroots nonprofit advocacy model.
- Campus Pride: Campus Pride advocates for LGBTQ+ student leaders and safe college environments through training and programs. It is comparable in serving LGBTQ+ youth in educational settings and developing student leadership pipelines.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Queer Youth Assemble social profiles
Digital presenceQueer Youth Assemble financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Queer Youth Assemble leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Queer Youth Assemble funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Queer Youth Assemble M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Queer Youth Assemble
What does Queer Youth Assemble do?
Queer Youth Assemble (QYA) is a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free programs, community-building services, and activism events for queer and trans youth under 25 across the United States. Its core offerings include the Pen Pals matching program, the Birthday Cards program, the National GSA Leadership Council, the Queer Youth Voices newspaper, a Resource Library, a Zine Library, and the Queer Youth Space Discord community, alongside recurring events such as Let Trans Athletes Play, the National March for Queer & Trans Youth Autonomy, and seasonal gatherings.
Is Queer Youth Assemble a public or private company?
Queer Youth Assemble is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Queer Youth Assemble founded?
Queer Youth Assemble was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Queer Youth Assemble based?
Queer Youth Assemble is headquartered in East Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Queer Youth Assemble make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales and benefit Events.
Who are Queer Youth Assemble's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are GLAAD and PFLAG National. Direct peers are The Trevor Project, It Gets Better Project, Genders & Sexualities Alliance Network (GSA Network), Point Foundation, Trans Youth Equality Foundation and Campus Pride.
Does Queer Youth Assemble have an API?
No public API is recorded for Queer Youth Assemble.
What industry is Queer Youth Assemble in?
Queer Youth Assemble's product category is Youth Advocacy and Community Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAE, LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations, with a secondary code of EDALAHAF, Cultural, Identity & Inclusion Programs. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.