The Marsha P Johnson Institute

What The Marsha P Johnson Institute does

The Marsha P. Johnson Institute (MPJI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 33-1340429, founded in 2019 by Elle Moxley and headquartered at 21 East State Street, Suite 216, Columbus, Ohio. The organization exists to protect and defend the human rights of Black transgender people in the United States through a portfolio of direct services, fellowship programs, advocacy, and coalition building. Core programmatic lines include the Marshal of Joy Ambassador Corps (a year-long paid residency providing a $20,000 package for Black trans leaders producing 2-3 signature community events), the Starship Artist Fellowship (a six-month program with mentorship and a virtual gallery for Black trans, gender non-conforming, and non-binary artists), a nationwide Resource Map organized by state, the downloadable Transgender Bill of Rights Toolkit, the Community Needs Assessment Survey, and a COVID-19 Relief Program that distributed $454,000+ to 908 individuals across 42 states in 2021. All services are free to beneficiaries.

MPJI's revenue model is purely donation-driven with no fee-for-service component. Funds are raised from individual donors (via givebutter.com with peer-to-peer fundraising, employer matching, and planned giving), corporate partnerships (H&M, SheaMoisture, Lizzo, Bombas, Steve Madden, Pyer Moss, and the Tupac Shakur Estate), and foundation grants (Gucci North America Changemakers Impact Fund, Google, Getty Foundation). The organization explicitly declines government funding to preserve independence. Direct-to-consumer digital channels include givebutter.com for donations and a Shopify storefront for merchandise. The active PAY IT Campaign represents a $1,000,000 fundraising commitment to Black trans futures through emergency support, housing stability, wellness, transportation, and community care. Lizzo's $50,000 Juneteeth Giveback donation and Gucci's Changemakers grant (part of a $5.5M+ program across 50+ nonprofits since 2019) illustrate the institutional capital tier. Earned media reaches approximately 6.74 billion readers and 120,000+ social media followers.

Operationally, MPJI maintains a lean staff including Executive Director Chastity Bowick (appointed 2026, succeeding founder Elle Moxley, a former Black Lives Matter Global Network co-founder) and the organization's first Director of Operations Gaylon Alcaraz. Coalition memberships include the Equality Act Working Group with Freedom for All Americans, National LGBTQ Task Force, Human Rights Campaign, and Equality Federation, plus anti-violence work with NCAVP and Community Justice Action Fund. There is no proprietary technology platform; the Resource Map, Toolkit, and survey are web-based utilities rather than AI-enabled products.

Name

The Marsha P Johnson Institute

Legal name

The Marsha P. Johnson Institute

Website

https://marshap.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Marsha P. Johnson Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2019 that protects and defends the human rights of Black transgender people through direct relief, fellowships, advocacy, and community organizing across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

LGBTQ+ Nonprofit Advocacy and Direct Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE), Gender Equality, Inclusion & Social Protection Programs (BPADABAK), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

Keywords

• Transgender rights advocacy
• Community direct services
• Black community support
• Lgbtq policy advocacy
• Mutual aid programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals via online platforms (givebutter.com). The PAY IT Campaign aims to raise $1,000,000 for emergency support, housing stability, wellness resources, transportation, and community care for BLACK TRANS people.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Strategic partnerships with corporations (H&M, SheaMoisture, Lizzo) that provide financial support, in-kind donations, and platform amplification without dictating organizational direction.
3. Foundation Grants: Support from foundations including Gucci North America Changemakers Impact Fund, Getty Foundation, and others.
4. Employer Matching Gifts: Corporate employee matching gift programs to amplify individual donations.
5. Planned Giving: Estate and financial planning donations to ensure long-term mission sustainability.
6. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Individual supporters create personal fundraisers around events like birthdays, graduations, or personal goals.
7. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling merchandise (Shopify storefront) with proceeds supporting MPJI programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Marsha P. Johnson Institute protects and defends the human rights of BLACK transgender people through organizing, advocacy, fellowship programs, and direct-relief support. Its core services include emergency financial relief (such as the $500 COVID-19 relief payments), paid leadership residencies (Marshal of Joy Ambassador Corps), artist fellowships (Starship Artist Fellowship), educational toolkits (Transgender Bill of Rights Toolkit), a nationwide resource map, and community-led policy advocacy. All programs are provided free of charge to BLACK transgender beneficiaries and funded by individual donations, foundation grants, and corporate partnerships.

Product overview

The Marsha P. Johnson Institute is a nonprofit organization that protects and defends the human rights of BLACK transgender people. The organization operates several interconnected programs: the Marshal of Joy Ambassador Corps (a year-long paid residency for Black trans leaders), the Starship Artist Fellowship (a six-month program for Black trans artists with a virtual gallery), and provides resources including the Transgender Bill of Rights Toolkit and a nationwide Resource Map. Additional initiatives include a Community Needs Assessment Survey, COVID-19 Relief Program, and an online merchandise shop. The organization was founded in 2019 and is led by Executive Director Chastity Bowick as of 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Marshal of Joy Ambassador Corps A year-long paid residency program for Black trans leaders providing a $20,000 total compensation package and event production budgets to deliver 2-3 signature community events annually. Open to Black trans leaders nationwide.
• Starship Artist Fellowship A six-month fellowship for Black trans, gender non-conforming, and non-binary artists offering mentorship, collaboration opportunities, visibility, and access to resources, complemented by a virtual Starship Art Gallery.
• Transgender Bill of Rights Toolkit A downloadable workbook providing guidance, protection, and advocacy tools for transgender rights, including personal empowerment exercises, step-by-step advocacy guides, and community resources.
• MPJI Resource Map A nationwide resource directory organized by state connecting BLACK TGNC people with culturally competent resources across housing, food security, legal support, financial assistance, COVID-19 relief, health/wellness, employment, and social support.
• Community Needs Assessment Survey A nationwide anonymous survey designed to understand what trans people — especially BLACK and Brown TRANS people — need to live, thrive, and stay safe. Takes about 7 minutes to complete.
• COVID-19 Relief Program Direct relief fund providing $500 one-time payments to BLACK transgender or non-binary identified people impacted by COVID-19. Distributed over $454,000 to 908 individuals across 42 states in 2021 and over $250,000 to 500+ individuals in 2020.
• MPJI Online Shop Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront selling merchandise with proceeds supporting MPJI programs.
• PAY IT Campaign A $1,000,000 fundraising commitment that directly funds emergency support, housing stability, wellness resources, transportation, and community care for Black TRANS people.

Quantifiable outcome

• Distributed $454,000+ in COVID relief to 908 individuals across 42 states in 2021
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• H&M USAcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 June 2023Multi-year partnership celebrating LGBTQ+ students with 'Fresh and Fabulous for Fall' events in Columbus, OH, Dallas, TX, and NYC. Events include hair, makeup, styling, photo shoots, and shopping sprees for approximately 20 LGBTQ+ students at each event. H&M also collaborated with MPJI to break the Guinness World Record for Largest Drag Brunch.
• SheaMoisturecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHistoric beauty brand collaboration during Pride Month, lending social media platforms to amplify MPJI's mission connecting Black beauty with defending and protecting human rights of Black transgender people.
• LizzocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPop music icon donated $50,000 to MPJI as part of her Juneteenth Giveback campaign recognizing Black-led grassroots organizations. Encouraged her 13.5 million Instagram followers to support.
• National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic coalition partner focused on anti-violence advocacy alongside Community Justice Action Fund.
• Community Justice Action FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic coalition partner focused on anti-violence advocacy alongside NCAVP.
• Freedom for All AmericanscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPJI joined Equality Act Working Group with Freedom for All Americans and national organizations working to facilitate passage of the Equality Act through strategic action.
• Human Rights CampaignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating organization in Equality Act Working Group coalition.
• National LGBTQ Task ForceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating organization in Equality Act Working Group coalition.
• Equality FederationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating organization in Equality Act Working Group coalition.
• BombasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated more than 12,000 pairs of socks as part of COVID relief efforts in 2021.
• Steve MaddenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated 200 backpacks and purses as part of COVID relief and 'Fresh and Fabulous for Fall' events.
• The Trevor ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner listed in 2021 impact report.
• Planned ParenthoodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner listed in 2021 impact report.
• Universal Music Group and Sony Music GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic industry partners listed in 2021 impact report.
• Tupac Shakur EstateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFor the first time, the estate celebrated the LGBTQ+ community with introduction of merchandise collection, with 100% of proceeds going to MPJI and Cindi Lauper's True Colors United.
• Pyer MossminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFashion brand partnership supporting MPJI's mission.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Okra Project: Black trans-led mutual aid nonprofit distributing resources, cash transfers, and meals to Black trans people nationally. Closest peer on community organizing, mutual aid, and Black-trans identity framing, with a comparable crowdfunding-first funding model.
• Trans Lifeline: Trans-led peer support hotline and microgrant program serving transgender people directly. Comparable in direct-service orientation, trans-led governance, and donor-supported nonprofit structure, though focused on crisis intervention rather than advocacy.
• Transgender Law Center: The largest U.S. trans-led legal advocacy organization, offering direct services, policy advocacy, and impact litigation for transgender people, including explicit focus on transgender people of color. Mirrors MPJI's combination of legal/policy advocacy and direct community support.
• National Black Justice Coalition: National Black LGBTQ+ civil rights organization focused on policy, advocacy, and movement building. Comparable mission overlap on Black LGBTQ rights, similar policy + community-strategy orientation, but broader racial and gender scope.
• Sylvia Rivera Law Project: Named after another Stonewall icon, SRLP is a trans and gender non-conforming people of color-led legal aid and policy organization focused on low-income NYC communities. Directly comparable niche (named historical figure, race + trans identity intersection) and similar theory of change.
• National Center for Transgender Equality: Produces the U.S. Transgender Survey and runs federal-level advocacy for trans equality. Closest comparable in operating model (national reach, policy advocacy, community-driven research) though with broader gender focus rather than Black-trans-specific.

Broad incumbents

• GLAAD: Leading LGBTQ media advocacy organization generating sustained earned-media coverage of LGBTQ issues. Highly comparable in earned-media reach (MPJI's 6.74B impressions), corporate engagement model, and mission amplification, though broader and more media-only focused.
• Human Rights Campaign: Largest U.S. LGBTQ civil rights advocacy organization, operating at massive scale across lobbying, corporate engagement, and direct programming. Overlaps MPJI's policy advocacy work and corporate partnerships but with substantially broader scope and budget.
• Lambda Legal: Oldest U.S. LGBTQ legal-advocacy organization litigating precedent-setting cases across the country. Overlaps MPJI's advocacy and Equality Act Working Group participation, with comparable policy/legal ambition but at a much larger scale.
• The Trevor Project: Largest LGBTQ youth-focused nonprofit operating crisis lines, peer support, and research. Comparable in research output, donor scale, and direct-program delivery to a vulnerable population, but with substantially broader LGBTQ-youth framing rather than Black-trans-specific.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/MPJInstitute
• Facebookfacebook.com/MPJInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-marsha-p-johnson-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/MPJInstitute
• TikToktiktok.com/@mpjinstitute

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 The Marsha P Johnson Institute