Matthew Shepard Foundation
The Matthew Shepard Foundation is a U.S. non-profit founded in 1998 by Matthew Shepard's parents that funds hate-crime prevention training, LGBTQ+ youth resources, and speaking/theater programs to advance LGBTQ+ equality.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersCasper, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Matthew Shepard Foundation does
The Matthew Shepard Foundation is a U.S. non-profit advocacy organization founded in 1998 by Judy and Dennis Shepard following the anti-gay hate crime murder of their son Matthew. The foundation's mission is to amplify Matthew's story to inspire communities to embrace dignity and equality, and to erase hate through three operating pillars: changing hearts and minds via speaking engagements, theater, and documentary distribution; eliminating hate crimes through law-enforcement training and policy advocacy; and supporting LGBTQ+ youth through Matthew's Place, a digital resource center operated on Medium.
The foundation's product surface spans digital properties (matthewshepard.org, Matthew's Place, and a Z2Systems donation platform), legacy works (The Laramie Project and its epilogue licensed through Dramatists Play Service, the documentary Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine distributed via Netflix, Amazon, and iTunes, and Judy Shepard's New York Times bestseller The Meaning of Matthew), and a hate crime prevention training program delivered directly to law enforcement and prosecutors since May 2017. The foundation holds no proprietary technology platform; its "infrastructure" is a partnership ecosystem — GLSEN, Candlewick Press, Tectonic Theater Project, Ford's Theatre, the U.S. Department of State, and corporate sponsors including Marriott International, Molson Coors, and the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce — that distributes its message across K-12 education, civic theater, federal law enforcement, and international diplomacy.
Revenue is generated entirely from tax-deductible contributions: individual donations, corporate sponsorships anchored by the annual gala (which raised over $568,000 in 2023 from 640 supporters), book royalties, and documentary distribution. Geographic reach is global via State Department-sponsored speaking tours covering at least 13 countries, while domestic programs are concentrated through U.S. schools and law enforcement agencies.
Matthew Shepard Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Matthew Shepard Foundation
- Legal name
- Matthew Shepard Foundation
- Website
- https://matthewshepard.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Matthew Shepard Foundation is a U.S. non-profit founded in 1998 by Matthew Shepard's parents that funds hate-crime prevention training, LGBTQ+ youth resources, and speaking/theater programs to advance LGBTQ+ equality.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Matthew Shepard Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- LGBTQ+ Advocacy and Hate Crime Prevention Services
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)
Keywords
Where Matthew Shepard Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Casper
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Matthew Shepard Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: Individual donors contribute tax-deductible donations to support the foundation's mission of erasing hate and supporting LGBTQ+ communities.
- Annual Gala and Events: The foundation's signature annual gala is its primary fundraising event, raising over $568K in 2023. The event includes silent and live auctions, with corporate partner sponsorships.
- Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners like Marriott International, Molson Coors, and National LGBT Chamber of Commerce sponsor events and programs.
- Book Sales: Sales of The Meaning of Matthew book by Judy Shepard, published by HarperCollins.
- Documentary Distribution: Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine documentary available on Netflix, Amazon, iTunes, with DVD sales.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
Matthew Shepard Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Matthew Shepard Foundation is a non-profit advocacy organization that amplifies the story of Matthew Shepard to inspire individuals, organizations, and communities to embrace the dignity and equality of all people. It delivers hate crime prevention training to law enforcement officers and prosecutors, supports educational productions of The Laramie Project, operates Matthew's Place as an online resource platform for LGBTQ+ youth, publishes educational resources and curricula, and conducts speaking engagements worldwide. Revenue is generated through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, annual gala fundraising events, and grants.
Product overview
The Matthew Shepard Foundation operates as a non-profit advocacy organization rather than a commercial software product company. The Foundation's offerings consist of digital platforms (matthewshepard.org website and matthewsplace.com youth platform), educational theater productions (The Laramie Project and The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later), documentary and literary works (Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine documentary and The Meaning of Matthew book), hate crime prevention training programs, and a comprehensive resource library. These offerings work together to advance the Foundation's mission of erasing hate through advocacy, education, and community engagement rather than through a unified software product or platform architecture.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hate Crime Prevention Training Training programs delivered to law enforcement officers and prosecutors that equip them with skills and tools to improve relations with marginalized communities and enhance understanding of effective and prompt hate crime enforcement under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
- Matthew's Place Youth Resource Platform An online resource platform for LGBTQ+ youth providing resources, blog content, and community connections, operated in partnership with Medium.
- The Laramie Project (Theater Support) Support and facilitation for productions of The Laramie Project, a frequently performed play exploring the reaction and impacts of Matthew Shepard's murder on Laramie, Wyoming. The foundation provides supplementary resources, archival materials, and access to Dennis Shepard for cast discussions.
- The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later A 2009 follow-up epilogue play to The Laramie Project, with characters revisiting the local response to Matthew Shepard's murder and the town's evolving attitudes over a decade. Supported and facilitated by the foundation.
- Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine (Documentary) A documentary feature film directed by Michele Josue that tells Matthew Shepard's story through interviews with friends, family, and those close to him, featuring never-before-seen photos and video footage. Available on Netflix, Amazon Video, iTunes, and VHX with DVD sales.
- The Meaning of Matthew (Book) A New York Times bestselling book by Judy Shepard, published by HarperCollins, that shares memories of Matthew Shepard, their family life, and the impact of his death while documenting the Shepard family's journey through the aftermath of the crime.
- matthewshepard.org Website The foundation's primary digital hub providing information about the mission, programs, resources, events, and news, with access to legacy works resources, hate crime prevention materials, youth resources, and donation capabilities.
- Legacy Works Resources A comprehensive collection of educational materials including resources for The Laramie Project productions, hate crime prevention resources, youth resources, LGBTQ+ terminology glossaries, and publications supporting the Foundation's mission.
- Speaking Engagements Speaking engagements delivered by Judy and Dennis Shepard at schools, universities, corporations, conferences, and international venues, helping audiences understand and appreciate diversity with an emphasis on the LGBTQ+ community and empowering individuals to identify and address hate in their schools, neighborhoods, and homes.
Quantifiable outcome
- Helped pioneer federal hate crimes legislation with the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Matthew Shepard Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Matthew Shepard Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Matthew Shepard Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Marriott InternationalcorePresenting partner for the 2023 annual gala. Marriott International supports the foundation's mission through corporate sponsorship of signature fundraising events.
- Molson Coors Beverage CompanycorePresenting partner for the 2023 annual gala. Molson Coors supports the foundation through corporate sponsorship and event hosting.
- National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)corePresenting partner for the 2023 annual gala. NGLCC collaborates on LGBTQ+ business and advocacy initiatives.
- U.S. Department of StateflagshipMultiple international programs through partnerships with the State Department. Judy and Dennis Shepard traveled to Caribbean nations (Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica) and European countries as part of diplomatic outreach to spread the foundation's message internationally.
- GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network)coreJoint development of educational curriculum 'He Continues to Make a Difference: Commemorating the Life of Matthew Shepard' based on Lesléa Newman's October Mourning book. Partnership creates classroom resources for teaching about Matthew Shepard and diversity.
- Ford's TheatreflagshipPartnership for 2013-2014 production of The Laramie Project as cornerstone of Ford's Theatre Society's Lincoln Legacy Project. Foundation supported the production with resources and participation.
- Candlewick PresscorePublisher partner for the October Mourning book by Lesléa Newman, which led to the educational curriculum developed with GLSEN.
- Ben Cohen Stand Up FoundationminorCollaboration on stand-up against bullying initiatives. Ben Cohen visited Cisco San Jose for joint event supporting the foundation's work.
- Tectonic Theater ProjectflagshipCreators of The Laramie Project. The foundation supports productions of the play and its epilogue, providing resources, archival materials, and access to Dennis Shepard for cast discussions. Play continues to be widely performed 25+ years later.
- Dramatists Play ServicecoreFacilitates rights to The Laramie Project plays. Production companies and schools obtain performance rights through this channel.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Matthew Shepard Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Point Foundation: Provides scholarships and mentorship to LGBTQ+ students; comparable as a donor-funded foundation advancing LGBTQ+ opportunity and as a similar donor/grantmaking model in the same cause area.
- GLSEN: K-12 LGBTQ+ education organization and a documented MSF strategic co-development partner (jointly developed the October Mourning classroom curriculum), sharing the educational and youth-advocacy mission.
- GLAAD: LGBTQ+ media advocacy and narrative-change organization that, like MSF, leverages storytelling (documentaries, books, theatrical works) and high-profile recognition to shift public attitudes.
- Lambda Legal: National LGBTQ+ legal-advocacy organization that litigates and advances the rights of LGBTQ+ people — directly comparable in pursuing equality and hate-crime protections through legal/advocacy channels.
- Human Rights Campaign: The largest US LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy organization, working on equality legislation and hate crimes prevention — directly comparable in mission (erasing anti-LGBTQ+ hate) and stakeholder base (donors, corporate partners, federal policy advocates).
- The Trevor Project: Provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth — the closest peer to MSF's Matthew's Place youth resource mission and hate-crime-prevention-on-youth work.
- PFLAG: Family- and ally-based LGBTQ+ support organization with grassroots chapters and educational programming — directly comparable in mission of supporting LGBTQ+ individuals and changing hearts/minds in communities.
Broad incumbents
- Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC): Monitors hate groups, litigates civil rights cases, and operates hate-crime education programs — a broader incumbent whose hate-prevention and legal-advocacy scope overlaps MSF's mission.
- Anti-Defamation League (ADL): A larger, established hate-tracking and anti-discrimination advocacy organization with broader scope than MSF; highly comparable on hate crime prevention training and law-enforcement engagement.
Emerging players
- The Tyler Clementi Foundation: Anti-bullying and safe-schools nonprofit built around a high-profile bullying tragedy; comparable as a smaller, story-anchored foundation focused on youth safety and anti-hate education.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Matthew Shepard Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceMatthew Shepard Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Matthew Shepard Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Matthew Shepard Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Matthew Shepard Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Matthew Shepard Foundation
What does Matthew Shepard Foundation do?
The Matthew Shepard Foundation is a non-profit advocacy organization that amplifies the story of Matthew Shepard to inspire individuals, organizations, and communities to embrace the dignity and equality of all people. It delivers hate crime prevention training to law enforcement officers and prosecutors, supports educational productions of The Laramie Project, operates Matthew's Place as an online resource platform for LGBTQ+ youth, publishes educational resources and curricula, and conducts speaking engagements worldwide. Revenue is generated through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, annual gala fundraising events, and grants.
Is Matthew Shepard Foundation a public or private company?
Matthew Shepard Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Matthew Shepard Foundation founded?
Matthew Shepard Foundation was founded in 1998. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Matthew Shepard Foundation based?
Matthew Shepard Foundation is headquartered in Casper, United States, in the North America region.
How does Matthew Shepard Foundation make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are annual Gala and Events, corporate Partnerships, book Sales and documentary Distribution.
Who are Matthew Shepard Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Point Foundation, GLSEN, GLAAD, Lambda Legal, Human Rights Campaign, The Trevor Project and PFLAG. Broad incumbents are Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The Tyler Clementi Foundation is listed as an emerging player.
Does Matthew Shepard Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Matthew Shepard Foundation.
What industry is Matthew Shepard Foundation in?
Matthew Shepard Foundation's product category is LGBTQ+ Advocacy and Hate Crime Prevention Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAB, Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAN, Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813311 and its SIC code is 8300.