Queer Youth Assemble

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.

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

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

• Youth advocacy services
• Community organizing programs
• Lgbtq youth support
• Nonprofit youth services
• Creative activism events

Headquarters

HQ city

East Boston

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Tax-deductible donations accepted through the organization's 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Donations support local events, community programming, and operational costs.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including shirts, stickers, and buttons through Bonfire storefront. Proceeds directly support programs empowering LGBTQ+ youth.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ryan CassataminorOthers · 7 November 2024Performed at QYA benefit concert in Portland, OR on November 7, 2024 alongside Girl Fiend and Jory Hill to raise funds for the organization.
• Girl FiendminorOthers · 7 November 2024Performed at QYA benefit concert in Portland, OR alongside Ryan Cassata and Jory Hill to support LGBTQ+ youth programming.
• Jory HillminorOthers · 7 November 2024Hosted and performed at QYA benefit concert in Portland, OR featuring Ryan Cassata and Girl Fiend to raise funds for queer youth programs.
• Rise Up ConferenceminorOthers · 19 July 2023QYA 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 ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2023Collaborated 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.
• GLAADcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2023Partnered with GLAAD in rapid response coalition to cancel AMC showings of anti-trans film. GLAAD provided media expertise and amplification for the campaign.
• 360 HealthXminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2022Collaborated 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

Broad 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

• Instagraminstagram.com/queeryouthassemble/?hl=en
• TikToktiktok.com/@queeryouthassemble
• Xx.com/qyouthassemble
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/queer-youth-assemble

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Queer Youth Assemble