Woodhull Freedom Foundation

What Woodhull Freedom Foundation does

Woodhull Freedom Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in February 2003 and headquartered in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, that advocates, educates, and builds coalitions to protect sexual freedom as a fundamental human right. Its programmatic portfolio includes Fact Checked by Woodhull (a fact-checking initiative), the Fact Checked Virtual Series, Spokes Hub (a free virtual academy for people with lived experience in the sex trade), Human Rights Commissions (investigative forums with published reports), the annual Sexual Freedom Summit, and the Vicki Sexual Freedom Awards. The foundation is also a legal advocacy actor: it serves as lead plaintiff in Woodhull Freedom Foundation v. United States, a constitutional challenge to SESTA/FOSTA, with co-counsel from FIRE, EFF, Stanford, and Walters Law Group, and has filed amicus briefs at the U.S. Supreme Court on Texas HB 1181 age verification.

The organization operates on standard web platforms, email, social media, and virtual event technologies, with no proprietary technology stack or software products. Revenue is derived from charitable donations and foundation grants; all programs are offered free of charge, including ASL interpretation, and the Spokes Hub includes a participant Awards Pool (nearly $40,000 distributed to date). The go-to-market motion is community-led coalition building across LGBTQ, sex worker, free speech, privacy, and reproductive freedom movements, supported by an ambassador program, partnered sex-worker rights organizations, and academic collaborations such as the Deplatforming Sex Workers research project with John Jay College.

The foundation is led by President & CEO Ricci Joy Levy, a Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, and a small staff of approximately ten including consultants. Its board includes co-founder Mandy Carter (Nobel Peace Prize nominee) and recently added members J.J. Gertler and Savannah Sly. Strategic allies include ACLU, Amnesty International, EFF, FIRE, Human Rights Watch, the Internet Archive, Free Speech Coalition, NCAC, and CDT, with corporate sponsors such as Chaturbate, Njoy, and Walters Law Group supporting specific programs. Woodhull holds a Candid/GuideStar Platinum Transparency 2025 seal and an ADA Compliance Certificate from the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind.

Name

Woodhull Freedom Foundation

Legal name

Woodhull Freedom Foundation

Website

https://woodhullfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Woodhull Freedom Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2003 that advocates, educates, and builds coalitions to protect sexual freedom as a fundamental human right, serving sex worker, LGBTQ, free speech, and reproductive freedom communities through free programs, legal advocacy, and research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Digital Rights, Privacy & Free Expression Advocacy (BPAGAFAL)

Keywords

• Human rights advocacy
• Sexual freedom education
• Constitutional legal advocacy
• Nonprofit coalition building
• Civil liberties programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Jenkintown

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. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Woodhull Freedom Foundation relies on charitable donations from individuals and grants from foundations to fund operations, advocacy, and programs. No fee-for-service revenue model is described.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Woodhull Freedom Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advocates, educates, and builds coalitions to protect sexual freedom as a fundamental human right. It delivers free public programs including the annual Sexual Freedom Summit, Spokes Hub virtual academy, Human Rights Commissions, and Fact Checked virtual series. It conducts legal advocacy through amicus briefs and constitutional challenges to laws such as SESTA/FOSTA and Texas age verification statutes.

Product overview

Woodhull Freedom Foundation operates as a human rights advocacy organization rather than a software product company. Its portfolio consists of advocacy programs and educational initiatives centered on affirming sexual freedom as a fundamental human right. Core offerings include Fact Checked by Woodhull (fact-checking initiative), Fighting FOSTA (constitutional legal challenge), Fighting Age Verification (legislative advocacy), Human Rights Commissions (panel discussions with published reports), Spokes Hub (virtual educational academy), Sexual Freedom Summit (annual conference), Vicki Sexual Freedom Awards (recognition program), and the Deplatforming Sex Workers research initiative. These programs work together to advance the organization's mission through education, legal advocacy, and coalition building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fact Checked by Woodhull A fact-checking initiative that provides verified information to counter misinformation about sexual freedom, censorship, and human rights issues, with categories covering sex work, free speech, age verification, transgender rights, and pornography.
• Fighting FOSTA A federal constitutional challenge against SESTA/FOSTA legislation, representing the most comprehensive legal effort to overturn internet censorship laws affecting sex workers and free speech online.
• Fighting Age Verification Constitutional challenge to Texas HB 1181 and similar age verification laws, filing amicus briefs with the Supreme Court to protect privacy and free speech rights online.
• Human Rights Commissions Virtual and in-person panel discussions investigating human rights violations affecting marginalized communities, with published reports and testimony from affected populations.
• Spokes Hub A free virtual peer learning academy supporting people with lived experience in the sex trade to develop advocacy skills, public speaking, and research capabilities, with an Awards Pool providing financial support to participants.
• Sexual Freedom Summit Annual gathering bringing together educators, activists, advocates, and lawyers to strategize, learn, and celebrate sexual freedom, with virtual and in-person programming since 2012.
• Vicki Sexual Freedom Awards Annual awards established in 2010 recognizing individuals who have made landmark contributions to the sexual freedom movement through education, advocacy, research, and activism.
• Fact Checked Virtual Series Monthly virtual programming featuring conversations with advocates, attorneys, and people directly impacted by myths used to justify censorship and discrimination, with ASL interpretation and free admission.
• Deplatforming Sex Workers Research Project Research project funded by Woodhull examining the de-platforming and censorship of sex workers online, resulting in three peer-reviewed articles published in academic journals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 39 myths debunked through Fact Checked by Woodhull in a recent reporting period
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• ChaturbateminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Chaturbate is a generous sponsor of the Fact Checked Virtual Series programs, enabling free access to all participants with ASL interpretation.
• Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) - Age Verification CasecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Woodhull and EFF jointly filed amicus briefs urging the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on Texas' unconstitutional age verification law (HB 1181), arguing it burdens free speech rights of adults.
• TechFreedomminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Woodhull and TechFreedom joined EFF in filing a friend-of-the-court brief with the Supreme Court urging it to strike down Texas' HB 1181 age verification mandate.
• ACLU Human Rights ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023ACLU is listed as an ally in Woodhull's free speech advocacy coalition, working together on human rights and civil liberties issues at the intersection of sexual freedom and constitutional rights.
• Amnesty InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Amnesty International is listed as an ally in Woodhull's free speech advocacy, providing international human rights credibility and shared commitment to sexual freedom as a human right.
• Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023EFF is listed as a key ally alongside FIRE, Free Speech Coalition, NCAC, CDT, and others in Woodhull's free speech advocacy coalition. EFF is also co-counsel in the FOSTA litigation.
• National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023NCAC is listed as an ally in Woodhull's free speech advocacy coalition, contributing expertise in First Amendment and censorship issues affecting sexual expression.
• Free Speech CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Free Speech Coalition is listed as an ally in Woodhull's free speech advocacy coalition, focusing on adult industry free speech rights.
• Foundation for Individual Rights & Expression (FIRE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023FIRE is listed as a key ally in Woodhull's free speech advocacy coalition and serves as co-counsel in the FOSTA litigation.
• Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023CDT is listed as an ally in Woodhull's free speech advocacy coalition, focusing on digital rights and internet freedom issues.
• Red Canary SongmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Red Canary Song is listed as an ally in Woodhull's free speech and advocacy coalition, representing a sex worker and massage parlor worker rights organization.
• New Moon NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022New Moon Network sponsors and co-hosts the Spokes Hub virtual academy in partnership with Woodhull. New Moon Network is dedicated to advancing the rights and welfare of people in the sex trade. The program logo is co-branded.
• Sex Work Rights / le ShawminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Sex Work Rights and le Shaw are financial contributors to the Spokes Hub program. le Shaw also provides pro-bono technical assistance to the program.
• Njoy, Chaturbate, Walters Law Group, Wicked Sensual Care, A Great Idea (Sexual Freedom Summit Sponsors)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Sexual Freedom Summit 2022 sponsors included Njoy, Chaturbate, Walters Law Group, Wicked Sensual Care, and A Great Idea, providing financial and organizational support for the annual conference.
• Make Love Not PornminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Make Love Not Porn sponsored Woodhull's Mental Health Month virtual program 'We Can Do Better: Consensual Non-Monogamy and Mental Health' addressing challenges faced by non-monogamous folks accessing mental health care.
• Oregon Sex Workers Committee (OSWC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022OSWC co-hosted a panel with Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health and Human Rights alongside Woodhull to explore sex work decriminalization impact in Oregon and beyond.
• John Jay College (CUNY) - Dr. Samantha Majic and Dr. Melissa DitmoremajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Woodhull funded a research project led by Dr. Samantha Majic and Dr. Melissa Ditmore at John Jay College investigating the de-platforming of sex workers. Research resulted in three peer-reviewed articles published in Social Sciences, Qualitative Research, and New Political Science journals.
• Sex Worker Rights Organizations (COSWO, Red Canary Song, Community United for Safety and Protection, St. James Infirmary, The Heaux History Project)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Five sex worker rights organizations partnered with John Jay researchers to provide input on survey design and implementation for the deplatforming research project. These organizations represent sex workers in Ohio, nationally, New York, Alaska, and San Francisco.
• Foundation for Individual Rights & Expression (FIRE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018FIRE serves as co-counsel alongside Bob Corn-Revere and Ronald London in the Woodhull Freedom Foundation vs. United States lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of SESTA/FOSTA. FIRE is a constitutional rights organization focused on protecting free speech rights.
• Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018EFF serves as co-counsel in the Woodhull Freedom Foundation vs. United States lawsuit challenging SESTA/FOSTA. EFF focuses on digital civil liberties including free speech online.
• Daphne Keller (Stanford)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Daphne Keller from Stanford Law School's Center for Internet and Society serves as co-counsel representing Woodhull in the FOSTA constitutional challenge.
• Lawrence G. Walters / Walters Law GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Lawrence G. Walters of Walters Law Group serves as co-counsel representing Woodhull in the FOSTA constitutional challenge. Walters Law Group specializes in First Amendment and adult entertainment law.
• Human Rights WatchmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Human Rights Watch joins Woodhull as co-plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging SESTA/FOSTA, bringing international human rights expertise and credibility to the case.
• The Internet ArchivemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018The Internet Archive (Brewster Kahle) joins Woodhull as co-plaintiff in the FOSTA lawsuit, representing interests of digital preservation and open internet access.
• Alex AndrewsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Alex Andrews, a sex worker advocate, joins as co-plaintiff in the FOSTA lawsuit, representing individuals directly impacted by the legislation.
• Eric KoszykminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Eric Koszyk, an individual plaintiff, joins Woodhull in the FOSTA lawsuit, representing those directly harmed by internet censorship provisions.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF): EFF is Woodhull's co-counsel in the FOSTA constitutional challenge and an ally in its free speech coalition. Both organizations focus on digital civil liberties, online free speech, and opposition to internet censorship, and frequently file joint amicus briefs to the Supreme Court.
• Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT): CDT is an ally in Woodhull's free speech coalition. Both engage in digital rights policy and litigation, with CDT focusing broadly on internet governance and privacy while Woodhull anchors the sexual freedom and age verification subdomains.
• Human Rights Watch: Human Rights Watch is a co-plaintiff with Woodhull in the FOSTA challenge. Both invoke international human rights frameworks (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) and publish research to advance rights; HRW operates at greater scale and broader geographic scope.
• Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE): FIRE is Woodhull's co-counsel in the FOSTA lawsuit and a key ally in its free speech coalition. Both engage in First Amendment litigation and advocacy, with FIRE handling a broader portfolio of speech issues (campus, tech, professional) while Woodhull anchors the sexual freedom intersection.
• National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC): NCAC is listed as an ally in Woodhull's free speech coalition. Both organizations focus on First Amendment and censorship issues, with NCAC bringing expertise in artistic, educational, and literary expression while Woodhull concentrates on sexual freedom and online speech.
• SisterSong: SisterSong is a reproductive justice organization whose leadership has received Woodhull's Vicki Sexual Freedom Award. Both work at the intersection of bodily autonomy, human rights, and coalition-based movement building across race, gender, and sexuality.
• Free Speech Coalition: Free Speech Coalition is an ally in Woodhull's free speech coalition and represents the adult industry's free speech interests. Both organizations file amicus briefs and lobby against age verification, FOSTA-style liability, and content-based restrictions on sexual expression.

Broad incumbents

• Lambda Legal: Lambda Legal is a major LGBTQ rights legal organization with overlapping concerns around sexual freedom, privacy, and constitutional rights. It is a natural adjacent peer given Woodhull's coverage of LGBTQ and sexual identity issues, though Lambda Legal's focus is broader and more litigation-heavy.
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): The largest U.S. civil liberties organization. Woodhull is listed as an ACLU ally in its free speech advocacy coalition, and both organizations engage in constitutional litigation, legislative advocacy, and public education on overlapping speech, privacy, and LGBTQ rights issues.
• Amnesty International: Amnesty International is listed as an ally in Woodhull's free speech advocacy coalition. Both are human rights organizations aligned on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights framework, with Amnesty operating at global scale and Woodhull specializing in sexual freedom.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/WoodhullSFA
• Facebookfacebook.com/WoodhullFreedom
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/woodhullsfa
• Instagraminstagram.com/WoodhullFreedom
• TikToktiktok.com/@woodhullfreedom

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Woodhull Freedom Foundation