What Out Professionals does

Out Professionals is a 501(c)(7) nonprofit social organization founded in 1983 (originally as the New York Advertising and Communications Network, rebranded in 1999) that operates the largest U.S. networking and career-development community for LGBTQ professionals and their allies. It delivers value through a national network of 10 in-person city chapters (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Metro DC, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, SoFlo, and Connecticut), a Virtual National Chapter distributed via Eventbrite, and recurring event series such as the Out Pro Lounge monthly mixer and industry-specific programming for Real Estate and Healthcare professionals. Core products include the Career Accelerator workshops, a Webinar Library, the Life Preserver webinar series, a Job Board, a Community Notices and Offers classifieds board, and the proprietary BestConnect® Industry Group Badge System — a 21-category color-coded badge taxonomy that enables attendees to identify peers by industry at events.

The organization is volunteer-driven, governed by a Board of Directors (President Charlie Conard; VP Jen Merola; Treasurer Virginia West; Secretary Jeff Covington) and operates with 1-10 staff/contractors supplemented by volunteer chapter ambassadors. It monetizes primarily through individual Supporting Memberships ($65/year autorenewal or $85/year single year), Lifetime Memberships ($1,500 single payment or $125/month for 12 months), Corporate Membership packages ($250/year for up to 3 seats, scaling to 10 seats), and Corporate Partnerships/Sponsorships that include FlexMemberships for LGBTQ employees at companies such as PwC, VML, Lendlease, Medly, and Proximo Spirits. A separate 501(c)(3) sister entity, the Out Professionals Educational Foundation (OutProEd, EIN 87-3853989, founded August 2021), houses tax-deductible educational programming and a planned mentorship initiative. Marketing and acquisition channels are primarily organic: LinkedIn (Group and Company Page), Instagram (@outprousa), an SMS keyword campaign (text OUTPRO to 66866), email newsletters, and word-of-mouth; the strategic NGLCC partnership provides additional referral flow from the broader LGBTQ business ecosystem.

The most recent reporting year saw 9,180 attendees at award-winning networking events. Corporate/community/media partnerships number over 20 and span strategic partners (NGLCC, THE LOFT), corporate sponsors (PwC, VML, Lendlease, Medly, Proximo Spirits, Emerge 212), GTM/marketing partners (Circle Care Center, Oscar Wilde Tours, Audeliss, Self Recruiter, Circle Surrogacy, Amplify Matching), and community/media partners (LGBT Bar of New York, Out in Finance, IGLTA, PrideLife, L.A. Pride, Gay City News, Uncloseted Media, Gay and Lesbian Review, We Were There, SPI Marketing). Technology infrastructure is deliberately lightweight: Eventbrite for ticketing, a WordPress-based membership platform with self-service signup and profile/directory functionality, and standard webinar tooling. There is no app, no API, and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

Name

Out Professionals

Legal name

Out Professionals

Website

https://outprofessionals.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Out Professionals is a 501(c)(7) nonprofit, founded in 1983, operating a national LGBTQ professional networking and career-development community across 10 U.S. city chapters via events, webinars, a job board, and membership tiers (individual, lifetime, corporate).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Networking Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

Keywords

• LGBTQ professional networking
• Career development events
• Membership organization
• Community networking services
• Nonprofit social club

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. Corporate Memberships: Group membership packages for companies: admission for 3 people at $250/year, with options for 5 and 10 people including promo codes for team registration and chapter recognition.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Revenue from corporate partners and sponsors who receive brand visibility, FlexMemberships for LGBTQ employees, and networking opportunities with the LGBTQ professional community.
3. Lifetime Membership: One-time $1,500 lifetime membership donation with benefits including free perpetual event admission, personalized badge, embroidered polo shirt, and special event invitations.
4. Supporting Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing free event attendance, webinar access, and member discounts. Individual memberships range from $65/year (autorenewal) to $85/year (single year).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Out Professionals operates a volunteer-run, member-supported nonprofit social organization that convenes LGBTQ professionals and supportive allies through in-person networking events, career development programming, and educational resources. It runs the Out Pro Lounge networking series, Career Accelerator career programming, a Job Board, a Webinar Library, and an affiliated 501(c)(3) educational foundation (OutProEd) producing research and learning content for the LGBTQ professional community.

Product overview

Out Professionals operates as a nonprofit networking organization for LGBTQ professionals, offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services centered around its national chapter network. The core offering consists of in-person networking events through the Out Pro Lounge monthly mixer series and city-based chapters in 10 locations, supplemented by Career Accelerator programming for career development. The organization provides educational content via its Webinar Library and the Out Professionals Educational Foundation (OutProEd), a 501(c)(3) subsidiary. Additional services include a Job Board, Community Notices Board, and industry-specific networking events (Real Estate, Healthcare). The BestConnect Industry Group Badge System is a proprietary feature helping members connect by professional sector. Membership tiers include Supporting, Lifetime, and Corporate Memberships with FlexMemberships as a corporate partnership benefit. The organization experienced significant growth through virtual events during COVID-19, including the Life Preserver webinar series, which expanded its reach beyond geographic chapters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Supporting Membership Annual individual membership providing access to Out Professionals' networking events, community resources, and core member benefits across all ten U.S. city chapters, targeted at LGBTQ professionals and supportive allies.
• Lifetime Membership One-time paid lifetime individual membership at $1,500, granting permanent access to Out Professionals' events, programs, and community resources for individual LGBTQ professionals and allies.
• Corporate Membership Annual corporate membership at $250 providing partner companies with access to the Out Professionals community, employee FlexMemberships, and opportunities for LGBTQ-inclusive engagement and recruiting outreach.
• Out Pro Lounge networking events Recurring in-person LGBTQ professional networking events held across the organization's ten city chapters, providing the flagship social and professional gathering experience for members and guests.
• Career Accelerator Career development programming offering members structured support for professional growth, advancement, and career-related networking.
• Webinar Library Online library of webinar content providing members with on-demand professional development and community programming content.
• Job Board Online job board providing employment opportunity listings for LGBTQ professionals and member job seekers.
• OutProEd Educational Foundation programs Educational and research programs produced by the affiliated 501(c)(3) OutProEd foundation, providing learning content and research output for the LGBTQ professional community.
• Industry-Specific Networking Events Specialized networking events tailored for members in specific industries such as real estate and healthcare, providing industry-focused peer connection alongside general networking programming.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Gay City NewsminorMedia PartnerNYC LGBTQ newspaper. Media partner providing coverage and visibility.
• NGLCC (National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary strategic partnership with the business voice of the LGBTQ community. Out Professionals recommends NGLCC to business owners and entrepreneurs. Chapters feature NGLCC branding and cross-promotion of LGBTQ business resources.
• Circle Care CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare partner serving the LGBTQ community in Connecticut. Listed as a corporate partner/sponsor on the Out Professionals website.
• PwCminorCorporate Partner/ SponsorGlobal professional services firm. Listed as a corporate partner/sponsor providing diversity and inclusion support.
• VMLminorCorporate Partner/ SponsorMarketing and communications agency. Listed as a corporate partner/sponsor with equity, inclusion, and belonging focus.
• LendleaseminorCorporate Partner/ SponsorInternational property and infrastructure company. Listed as corporate sponsor with diversity and inclusion commitment.
• Medly PharmacyminorCorporate Partner/ SponsorHealthcare/pharmacy partner. Listed as corporate sponsor supporting LGBTQ professionals.
• Oscar Wilde ToursminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLGBTQ travel and tour company. Cross-promotional partner for cultural tours and events.
• Proximo SpiritsminorCorporate Partner/ SponsorSpirits company. Listed as corporate sponsor supporting LGBTQ community events.
• Emerge 212minorCorporate Partner/ SponsorTechnology/consulting firm. Listed as corporate sponsor.
• Circle SurrogacyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLGBTQ family-building agency. Featured as chapter champion and partner supporting LGBTQ parents.
• Amplify MatchingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLGBTQ family-building advisor. Listed as corporate partner and community contributor.
• Audeliss Executive SearchminorCorporate Partner/ SponsorExecutive search firm dedicated to diverse talent at executive level. Partnered on job board and talent resources.
• Self RecruiterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCareer coaching and job search services. Community Investor supporting LGBTQ professionals.
• LGBT Bar of New YorkminorCommunity PartnerLegal organization for LGBTQ community. Listed as community and media partner.
• Out in FinanceminorCommunity PartnerLGBTQ finance professional network. Co-hosts networking events with Out Professionals.
• IGLTAminorCommunity PartnerInternational Gay and Lesbian Travel Association. Listed as community partner for travel/tourism networking.
• PrideLifeminorCommunity PartnerLGBTQ lifestyle organization. Listed as community partner.
• We Were ThereminorCommunity PartnerLGBTQ historical documentation organization. Community partner with shared mission.
• Uncloseted MediaminorMedia PartnerLGBTQ media company. Uncloseted News featured on Out Professionals website.
• Gay and Lesbian ReviewminorMedia PartnerLGBTQ literary and cultural publication. Community partner.
• L.A. PrideminorCommunity PartnerLos Angeles Pride organization. Community partner for LA chapter events.
• SPI MarketingminorCommunity PartnerMarketing firm. Community partner supporting LGBTQ business community.
• THE LOFT (Westchester LGBTQ Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGBTQ center serving Westchester and surrounding areas. Pilot partnership program in 2019 where Out Professionals shared networking expertise to help expand community footprint.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Reaching Out MBA: Nonprofit supporting LGBTQ MBA students and business school community. Comparable as a professional-stage LGBTQ networking and career development organization serving a narrower demographic segment.

Broad incumbents

• Human Rights Campaign (HRC): Largest US LGBTQ civil rights advocacy organization. Comparable in scale and donor base but operates in policy advocacy rather than professional networking—competes for LGBTQ mindshare and corporate dollars at a much larger scale.
• GLAAD: Major LGBTQ media advocacy organization. Adjacent peer that competes for corporate sponsorship and cultural mindshare but focuses on media representation rather than professional networking.

Direct peers

• Lesbians Who Tech: LGBTQ professional networking community with strong tech-industry focus, running summits and virtual programming. Directly comparable as a community-led professional networking organization for LGBTQ talent with similar event-driven and virtual programming models.
• NGLCC (National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce): National LGBTQ business chamber connecting LGBTQ-owned businesses, corporations, and entrepreneurs. Out Professionals maintains a strategic mutual partnership with NGLCC and cross-promotes its resources, making it the closest directly comparable organization serving LGBTQ professionals and business owners.
• Out & Equal: LGBTQ workplace equality nonprofit running the annual Workplace Summit and corporate consulting programs. Directly comparable as a national LGBTQ professional/workplace organization that competes for corporate sponsorship dollars and member engagement.
• StartOut: Nonprofit supporting LGBTQ entrepreneurs through mentorship, investor networks, and programming. Comparable in that it serves a professional LGBTQ audience with networking, mentorship, and educational programming, although focused on founders rather than cross-industry professionals.

Regional players

• Workplace Pride: Netherlands-based LGBTQ workplace inclusion nonprofit serving European corporates. Highly comparable in mission (LGBTQ professional inclusion and corporate partnerships) but operates primarily outside the US market.

Others

• PinkNews: Leading LGBTQ digital media outlet. Thematically adjacent as an LGBTQ community-serving media property, but operates in publishing rather than professional networking.
• The Trevor Project: Large LGBTQ youth-focused nonprofit providing crisis intervention and mental health support. Adjacent in the broader LGBTQ nonprofit ecosystem but a different mission (youth welfare rather than professional networking).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1631692
• Instagraminstagram.com/outprousa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Out Professionals