The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), one of the nation’s leading LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, is set to lay off approximately 20% of its workforce as part of a major restructuring initiative aimed at adapting to shifting political and financial realities. According to sources familiar with the decision, the layoffs, which will impact around 50 employees, will take effect on February 12, 2024. Following the layoffs, the organization plans to operate with roughly 180 staff members, a significant reduction from its previous staffing levels.
This restructuring comes amid a challenging political and financial landscape, with the HRC leadership signaling the need to “operate differently” in light of growing threats to LGBTQ+ rights and budgetary constraints.
Financial Realities and Unsustainable Growth
While the HRC has enjoyed considerable fundraising success in recent years, the group’s leadership has acknowledged that the organization’s financial model is unsustainable. In fiscal year 2023, HRC raised $85 million, exceeding its $63 million fundraising target. However, a review of financial records, including IRS Form 990s, revealed that the group’s total revenue decreased to approximately $75 million in fiscal year 2024, down from the previous year’s $85 million.
The organization’s expenses, however, have not decreased. In fiscal year 2024, HRC’s total expenses were close to $89 million, resulting in a net asset decline of more than $12 million. As of March 31, 2024, HRC’s net assets stood at $45.7 million, down from $58 million in 2023. Leadership determined that in order to balance the budget and sustain its operations, restructuring was necessary.
HRC’s president, Kelley Robinson, who has led the organization since 2022, has been tasked by the board to ensure a balanced budget and adapt to the current environment. In an official statement, one senior HRC official explained that the board had instructed Robinson to make the necessary adjustments to ensure HRC remains financially viable and effective in its advocacy efforts.
External Pressures and Internal Restructuring
In addition to the financial challenges, HRC officials noted that the organization is facing increasingly hostile political and legislative attacks on LGBTQ+ rights. Robinson pointed out that the political landscape—particularly the growing efforts to roll back LGBTQ+ protections at the state and federal levels—has forced many progressive organizations to rethink their strategies and structures.
“We are not just responding to threats—we’re transforming them into opportunities for lasting impact,” one senior HRC official explained. “This reset is really about strengthening our ability to win on these critical fights and keep our focus where we have the ability to make the most impact.”
Robinson also emphasized the importance of focusing on key areas where HRC can make a significant difference: schools, workplaces, policies, and politics. “We’re sharpening our focus on where we can make the most impact,” Robinson said. “This is about ensuring that we are agile and strategic in this moment.”
Commitment to LGBTQ+ Rights Despite Challenges
Despite the challenges, Robinson was adamant that HRC’s core mission remains unchanged. “Our success has never been determined by the number of staff we have but by the impact that we make in the world,” she said. She acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but emphasized that this restructuring is necessary to ensure the organization can continue to make a difference in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.
“We need to stay laser-focused on how we can create change,” Robinson added.
One area where HRC remains committed is in its ongoing corporate partnerships. Despite growing opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from conservative forces, HRC continues to engage with companies on its Corporate Equality Index, which ranks businesses on LGBTQ+ workplace policies. Robinson highlighted that over 1,400 companies participated in the index last year, and the organization’s Corporate Equality 100 awards continue to draw support from major corporate allies.
Reorganization Will Focus on Key Areas
Moving forward, HRC plans to place a particular emphasis on defending LGBTQ+ rights in schools and workplaces, ensuring that protections and resources are available for LGBTQ+ people in their daily lives. The organization will also continue its advocacy on policy and politics, defending against harmful legislation and working to advance both state and federal protections for LGBTQ+ people.
In addition, HRC is shifting its approach to countering the wave of anti-LGBTQ+ disinformation that has become prevalent in political discourse. As part of its strategy, HRC will launch new storytelling initiatives to highlight the real-life impact of anti-LGBTQ+ policies. This effort will include media training for advocates and amplifying diverse voices within the community, including individuals like Daniel Trujillo, a Latino transgender advocate, and Emily Shilling, a U.S. Navy commander who has spoken out against anti-trans military bans.
Union Involvement and Staff Support
HRC has been a unionized workplace for more than 25 years, with employees represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The organization has already notified the union about the upcoming layoffs and is in discussions with union representatives to finalize the details. Robinson emphasized that the organization is committed to ensuring that affected employees are treated with dignity and respect.
“We’re in active conversations with our union to make sure that we are honoring those discussions,” she said. The union has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Despite the financial restructuring and workforce reductions, HRC remains committed to its mission of advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. Robinson, who is expecting a child in the spring, expressed confidence in the leadership team’s ability to maintain momentum during her maternity leave.
“A movement is bigger than any single person,” Robinson said. “I am proud to have a great chief of staff, a great chief operating officer, and an incredible team here at the Human Rights Campaign that will continue to move things forward.”
HRC also reaffirmed its commitment to hosting major events like the National Dinner and regional fundraising galas, which are vital for building community and raising funds to support its work.
As the organization faces unprecedented challenges, both financially and politically, its leadership believes that these adjustments will ensure HRC remains a powerful and effective advocate for LGBTQ+ communities in the years to come.
