Forum for Equality

What Forum for Equality does

Forum for Equality is a 501(c) nonprofit advocacy organization headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, founded in 1989 to advance LGBTQ+ civil rights at the local, state, and federal level. The organization serves LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies throughout Louisiana via three program pillars: policy advocacy before legislative and executive bodies, grassroots organizing that mobilizes equality advocates for political engagement, and public education about LGBTQ+ experiences and rights.

Its core programmatic offerings include the Know Your Rights educational series (covering family law and domestic LGBTQ+ legal topics), signature fundraising and community events such as Cocktails for Equality and Dine for Equality, and ongoing grassroots mobilization initiatives that train and activate supporters to engage with elected officials. The organization also operates an affiliated Political Action Committee (Forum for Equality PAC) that conducts voter education and endorses equality-friendly candidates. Forum for Equality is a member of the Equality Federation, the national umbrella organization for state-based LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, which positions it within the broader U.S. state-level advocacy infrastructure.

The organization's revenue model is donation- and membership-driven. Income is generated through individual contributions, membership dues, ticketed and sponsored events, and grassroots fundraising campaigns. There are no commercial products, software platforms, or technology offerings. The organization operates with a small team (1-10 employees) and is geographically limited to Louisiana, with no documented expansion beyond the state. The website footer indicates active operations through at least 2022, and 2026 communications reflect continued programming, including a new 2026 Focus Areas strategic framework and the 2026 Acclaim Awards recognition program.

Name

Forum for Equality

Legal name

Forum for Equality

Website

https://forumforequality.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Forum for Equality is a Louisiana-based 501(c) nonprofit founded in 1989 that advocates for LGBTQ+ civil rights through policy advocacy, grassroots organizing, and public education, serving LGBTQ individuals and allies throughout Louisiana from its New Orleans headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space (BPADAGAD)

Keywords

• LGBTQ civil rights
• Policy advocacy
• Grassroots organizing
• Public education
• Community advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization accepts donations from individuals and supporters to fund advocacy operations and programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Forum for Equality is a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocacy organization that works to build a state of equality for LGBTQ people. The organization advocates for policy change at the local, state, and federal levels, organizes grassroots equality advocates to engage in the political process, and educates the public about the experiences, values, and needs of LGBTQ people. It delivers programs such as Know Your Rights education, signature fundraising events, and a Self Service Portal serving LGBTQ individuals and allies across Louisiana.

Product overview

Forum for Equality is a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocacy organization rather than a technology company with a software product. The organization offers programs and services focused on LGBTQ advocacy, including policy advocacy at local, state, and federal levels, grassroots organizing to engage equality advocates in the political process, and public education about LGBTQ experiences, values, and needs. The organization runs events such as Cocktails for Equality and Dine for Equality, provides Know Your Rights resources covering family law and domestic LGBTQ+ issues, and operates a Self Service Portal for community members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Policy Advocacy Program Advocacy service that drives policy change for LGBTQ rights at local, state, and federal levels, targeting lawmakers and public officials in Louisiana.
• Grassroots Organizing Program Organizing service that recruits, trains, and mobilizes grassroots equality advocates across Louisiana to engage in the political process and amplify constituent voices.
• Know Your Rights Education Program Public education program informing LGBTQ individuals and families about legal rights on family law and domestic LGBTQ+ issues through scheduled educational sessions.
• Public Education Program Public-facing education service that communicates the experiences, values, and needs of LGBTQ people to broader Louisiana audiences to shift public opinion and build support for equality.
• Self Service Portal Self-serve online portal that provides community members with access to resources, an allied organizations directory, and listings of welcoming faith groups.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Forum for Equality PACcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe organization's affiliated political action committee that engages in voter education and support for equality-friendly political candidates. It operates as a separate entity at forumforequalitypac.com.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Freedom for All Americans: Freedom for All Americans is a bipartisan campaign to secure full nondiscrimination protections nationwide through state-level policy advocacy. It is a direct peer in targeted state-level LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination advocacy, sharing donor pools and policy methodology with Forum for Equality's mission.
• GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD): GLAD is a New England-based legal advocacy organization pursuing LGBTQ+ rights through litigation and policy work. It is a direct peer in LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy, particularly in the legal/policy domain, and is part of the same Equality Federation-aligned state-based advocacy network.
• Equality Federation: Equality Federation is the national federation of state-based LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations of which Forum for Equality is a member. It is a direct peer in mission (advancing LGBTQ+ equality through coordinated state-level organizing) and provides the institutional infrastructure against which Forum for Equality's value-add as a state affiliate is measured.
• Equality Louisiana: Equality Louisiana is a statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy organization operating in the same geography as Forum for Equality. It is the most direct comparable given overlapping mission (LGBTQ+ policy advocacy, grassroots organizing) and identical service area, creating head-to-head competition for the same donor base and volunteer network in Louisiana.
• GLAAD: GLAAD is a leading LGBTQ+ media and communications advocacy organization focused on accelerating acceptance through narrative change. It is a direct peer in the public-education and advocacy pillar of Forum for Equality's mission, and overlaps in mobilizing donor support for culture-change work.
• PFLAG National: PFLAG is a national organization with local chapters providing support, education, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ people and their families. It is a direct peer in community-based education and advocacy and competes for the same grassroots volunteer base and individual donor pool.
• Lambda Legal: Lambda Legal is a national LGBTQ+ civil rights litigation organization pursuing precedent-setting cases. It is a direct peer in policy advocacy orientation, often complements state-level organizing through impact litigation, and competes for donor support earmarked for legal advocacy in the same equality ecosystem.
• National LGBTQ Task Force: The National LGBTQ Task Force is a longstanding national advocacy organization focused on federal policy, movement building, and intersectional organizing. It is a direct peer in LGBTQ+ policy advocacy and grassroots organizing, and a fellow member of Equality Federation's network.

Broad incumbents

• ACLU (LGBTQ Rights Project): The ACLU's LGBTQ Rights Project is a major national initiative pursuing litigation, policy advocacy, and public education. It is a broad-incumbent peer because it operates a wide portfolio of civil liberties work while deeply overlapping with Forum for Equality's LGBTQ+ advocacy mission and competing for institutional and major-donor funding.
• Human Rights Campaign: Human Rights Campaign is the largest U.S. LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy organization, operating a broad portfolio including federal lobbying, state-level work, and major donor mobilization. It is a broad incumbent peer because it overlaps with Forum for Equality's policy advocacy mission at scale and competes for the same major-donor dollars and policy narrative space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Forum4Equality
• Facebookfacebook.com/forumforequality
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forum-for-equality

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 Forum for Equality