About
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the 501(c)(3) research and education arm of the Human Rights Campaign, the LGBTQ+ civil rights organization based in Washington, DC. Through independent research, data-driven reports, benchmarking indices, and school and workplace programs, the Foundation works to make equality, equity and liberation a reality for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Donations to the Foundation are tax deductible.
Mission
The Human Rights Campaign fights to "make equality, equity and liberation a reality for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people." The broader HRC movement counts 4 million people as part of its mission to achieve LGBTQ+ equality, with more than 9 million digital followers across platforms.
What they do
- Corporate Equality Index (CEI): a research-based snapshot of LGBTQ+ experiences in U.S. workplaces that benchmarks corporate policies, practices, and benefits pertinent to LGBTQ+ employees. The 2026 edition includes 1,450 respondents, with 108 Fortune 500-ranked businesses achieving a verified score of 100; in the 2025 CEI, 765 employers earned the top Equality 100 Award.
- Healthcare Equality Index (HEI): the national benchmarking tool evaluating healthcare facilities' policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees. Now in its 17th edition, the HEI 2026 survey had 741 actively participating facilities, 323 of which earned perfect scores and LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader status.
- Welcoming Schools: LGBTQ+ and gender-inclusive professional development training, lesson plans, booklists and resources for educators in PreK-12 settings. Since 2011 it reports 10.6+ million students benefiting from more inclusive learning climates, 189,000+ educators and youth-serving professionals reached, and participation from all 50 states and 12 countries.
- Research and polling: independent research and data-driven reports and guides on LGBTQ+ life, health, and equality.
Background
The Human Rights Campaign was established in 1980 by Steve Endean, originally as the Human Rights Campaign Fund, and rebranded in 1995 with its blue-and-yellow equal sign logo. The affiliated Human Rights Campaign Foundation, a separate 501(c)(3) entity, received its federal tax exemption in January 1987 and carries out the movement's research, education, and outreach programs.
Financials
Per Form 990 data on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, for the fiscal year ending March 2025 the Human Rights Campaign Foundation reported revenue of $28,627,289 (93.1 percent from contributions), expenses of $27,843,843, and net assets of $31,026,934. The Foundation's EIN is 52-1481896.
