Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber

What Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber does

The Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber is a non-profit membership-based chamber of commerce founded in 1983 (originally as the Tampa Bay Diversity Chamber of Commerce, rebranded January 17, 2020) that serves the LGBTQ and allied business community across seven Florida counties: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee, Sarasota, Polk, and Hernando. The organization represents over 600 member businesses, community groups, and individuals, providing business networking, education, advocacy, and development programs. It serves as the official regional affiliate of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), granting it authority to issue LGBT Business Enterprise (LGBTBE) certifications that connect LGBTQ-owned businesses to corporate and government supplier diversity programs. Strategic partners include Grow Financial Credit Union, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, CAN Community Health, Tampa Bay Lightning, Regions Bank, Suncoast Credit Union, and Tampa Bay Sun Football Club.

The chamber operates a suite of services built on the GrowthZone membership management platform, including an online member directory, events calendar, job board, member-to-member deals portal (Hot Deals), Chamber Magazine, ribbon-cutting inquiry services, and a separate 501(c)(3) Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber Foundation. Its core offerings center on LGBTBE certification, recurring signature events (State of the Chamber Luncheon, Pride in Business Luncheon, Coffee Connections, OUT for Business Tampa Bay), public policy advocacy through committees (Public Policy & Legislative, Diversity & Inclusion, Ambassador, Signature Event, Finance), and member engagement programs. Leadership transitioned in October 2024, with Rene Cantu assuming the President and CEO role succeeding Justice Gennari, and Chris Rollins named Board Chair.

The chamber's revenue model is diversified across four streams: annual membership dues from LGBTQ-owned businesses, allied corporations, and professional members (nonrefundable per terms of use); tiered corporate sponsorships at Gold, Silver, and Trustee levels; event revenue from tickets, table sponsorships, and signature event partnerships; and fees for LGBTBE certification processed through NGLCC. The organization has 1–10 employees, is governed by a Board of Directors, and operates across both a St. Petersburg headquarters (3251 3rd Ave North) and an additional Tampa office (107 N 11th St. Unit 512).

Name

Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber

Legal name

Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber

Website

https://tampabaylgbtchamber.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber is a non-profit chamber of commerce serving over 600 LGBTQ and allied member businesses across seven Florida counties, providing networking events, LGBTBE certification through NGLCC affiliation, public policy advocacy, and tiered corporate sponsorship programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chamber of Commerce Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

Keywords

• LGBTQ business networking
• Chamber of commerce
• Business certification services
• Diversity advocacy
• Professional networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from LGBTQ-owned businesses, allied corporations, and professional members. Payments for membership are nonrefundable per the terms of use.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Gold, Silver, and Trustee level corporate partnerships providing sponsorship revenue and member benefits. Includes sponsorship of signature events like State of the Chamber Luncheon and Pride in Business events.
3. Event Revenue: Revenue from signature events including the annual State of the Chamber Luncheon, Pride in Business Luncheon, Coffee Connections networking events, and various committee events. Tickets, table sponsorships, and event partnerships.
4. LGBTBE Certification: Fees for LGBT Business Enterprise certification through partnership with NGLCC, providing official recognition for LGBTQ-owned businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber is a non-profit chamber of commerce organization founded in 1983 that provides business networking, education, advocacy, and development programs to LGBTQ-owned businesses, allied corporations, and individual professionals in the Tampa Bay area. The Chamber also offers LGBTBE (LGBT Business Enterprise) certification through its partnership with the NGLCC, operates a member directory, and runs events programming for its community.

Product overview

The Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber operates as a membership-based business organization providing a suite of services including LGBTBE certification, member directory, events programming, advocacy, and business development resources. The chamber serves over 600 member businesses across seven counties through networking events, educational programs, and community engagement initiatives. Core offerings include the LGBTBE certification program affiliated with NGLCC, an online member directory, events calendar with various networking and signature events, advocacy services, job board, member deals program, and chamber magazine. The chamber uses GrowthZone membership management software to power member services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chamber Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• 830% membership growth in 2019
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 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

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and major.

• Tampa Bay Sun Football ClubflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2025Through Suncoast Credit Union partnership: transformative sponsorship including naming rights for Suncoast Credit Union Field, charitable giving to Blake High School Boosters ($200 per shot on goal), and exclusive ticket benefits for Suncoast members. Tampa Bay's first women's professional soccer team.
• National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial affiliate of NGLCC, providing LGBT Business Enterprise (LGBTBE) certification, access to national conferences including the International Business & Leadership Conference, and representation in national business advocacy efforts.
• Grow Financial Credit UnionflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Level Corporate Partner with naming/sponsorship support for chamber events. Corporation of the Year 2022 recipient.
• Tampa Bay BuccaneersmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Level Corporate Partner supporting chamber events and Pride initiatives. Team has received Sport Inclusion Award for gender equality leadership.
• Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino TampaflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTrustee Level Partner and presenting sponsor for the 40th Anniversary State of the Chamber Luncheon. Major supporter of chamber signature events.
• CAN Community HealthmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Level Corporate Partner. Nonprofit of the Year 2022 recipient. Healthcare non-profit focused on HIV/AIDS care.
• Tampa Bay LightningmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Level Corporate Partner and 2021 President's Award recipient. NHL team hosting annual Pride Night events.
• Regions BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrustee Level Partner and 2020 President's Award recipient. Major financial institution supporting chamber initiatives.
• Suncoast Credit UnionflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Level Corporate Partner and major supporter of LGBTQ youth and community initiatives. Has LGBTQ+ & Allies Employee Resource Group.
• Watermark PublishingmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Level Corporate Partner and LGBT Business Enterprise of the Year 2022 recipient.
• BKN CreativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGBTBE-certified creative agency that designed the chamber's 2020 rebrand logo. 2019 President's Award recipient. Partnered on visual identity refresh.
• Visit Tampa BaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial destination marketing organization for Tampa Bay. Co-hosted the 2019 NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference.
• Tampa Downtown PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Pride Month initiatives including the permanent intersection Pride mural in Tampa Heights neighborhood. Collaborated on Unity Mural Day proclamation.
• Florida Affiliate Chambers of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition including Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce, The Pride Chamber of Orlando for statewide advocacy and policy initiatives.
• Tampa Bay RaysmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMLB team with annual Pride celebration adopted in 2006. Has facilitated $300,000+ in donations for Pulse Nightclub Fund. Installed permanent Pride flag display at Tropicana Field.
• ABC Event PlanningcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTrustee Level Partner and Small Business of the Year 2022 recipient. Event planning firm.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Out Leadership: LGBTQ+ business advisory and convening organization that works with Fortune 500 companies on LGBTQ+ inclusion. Comparable in mobilizing enterprise DEI sponsors and convening senior executives, though more consultative and less membership-driven than Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber.
• StartOut: Nonprofit focused on LGBTQ+ entrepreneurship with mentoring, networking events, and corporate partner programs targeted at LGBTQ+ founders. Overlaps with Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber's entrepreneur-serving mission and corporate-sponsor pool, but operates nationally and with a tech-startup orientation.

Others

• CenterLink: National network of LGBTQ+ community centers. While not a chamber, it operates the same kind of community-based nonprofit model with members, sponsors, advocacy, and program delivery across multiple U.S. geographies.
• Chamberlain & Steele (LGBT Chamber affinity consultancy): Adjacent ecosystem participant providing consulting and capacity-building for LGBT chambers and their corporate partners. Closely connected to the same NGLCC network and supplier-diversity pipeline that Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber participates in.

Broad incumbents

• National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC): National umbrella organization of which Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber is an official affiliate. Operates the global LGBTBE certification program, the International Business & Leadership Conference, and corporate partner programs that localize through Tampa Bay.

Regional players

• Tampa Bay Chamber (formerly Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce): Mainstream regional chamber of commerce serving the same Tampa Bay geography. Operates an analogous membership, event, and advocacy model but without the LGBTQ+ specialization, illustrating the broader chamber-of-commerce category into which Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber fits.

Direct peers

• The Pride Chamber of Orlando: Central Florida LGBT chamber affiliate in the same Florida coalition. Offers comparable membership tiers, LGBTBE certification access via NGLCC, networking events, and advocacy programming for Orlando-area LGBTQ+ businesses.
• Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce: Regional Florida LGBT chamber affiliate within the same Florida chamber coalition. Competes for overlapping corporate DEI budgets and runs an analogous membership, certification, and event model in the Fort Lauderdale market.
• Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce: Florida-based LGBT chamber of commerce and active member of the Florida Affiliate Chambers of Commerce coalition alongside Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber. Operates the same NGLCC-affiliated model with LGBTQ-owned business certification, networking, advocacy, and corporate sponsorship tiers in a different Florida metro.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/diversitytb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tampabaylgbtchamber

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber