HAVERHILL — The paperwork has been filed, and the movement has been followed.
While the parade floats have come down since the group’s inaugural event, Haverhill Pride is now working to become a permanent fixture in the city, filing with the state to be an official nonprofit organization.
President Nathan Phillips has said the group has filed its articles of organization, or the legal documents to officially create a corporation or company at the Office of the Secretary of State in Boston.
“We submitted our articles of organization in the same year we planned our first-ever parade, which is a direct reflection of the energy this city has for queer visibility,” he said. “Haverhill has always been home to strong queer people.
“Our mission is to build the permanent, year-round infrastructure that builds community and keeps those people connected. Formalizing our status as a nonprofit ensures we have the longevity to do that.”
Filing the articles of organization is the first step toward securing 501©(3) nonprofit status — a federal tax-exempt status — and deepening its support for the local LGBTQ+ community. Organizers have said the formal nonprofit status will allow Haverhill Pride to be a permanent, year-round resource for its community and allies.
The city is uniquely positioned as the Merrimack Valley’s only community with a Pride organization of this magnitude.
This is a milestone in the group’s growth, with Pride’s parade to become a yearly tradition through the downtown corridor.
Haverhill Pride was founded just one year ago, and in June, it held the city’s first-ever Pride Parade, drawing a crowd of more than 1,200 people. With just four months of planning, organizers described the event as a historic moment for Haverhill and a clear indication of community demand for more.
The event helped Pride build momentum along with a series of social and fundraising events like a recent Speed Friending event held at Barrio, where more than $1,400 was raised in a low-pressure environment where residents could meet.
Then, on Giving Tuesday, the organization raised more than $2,000 in a single day through a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign. Haverhill Pride has also reported that the group’s social media following and volunteer sign-ups continue to grow steadily month-over-month since its inception.
Next up, “Dungeons in Drag” is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14, at Creatorpul Games, 38 Emerson St. As an alternative to traditional Valentine’s Day plans, folks can stop and play tabletop games alongside drag artists.
“We aren’t just a once-a-year celebration,” Phillips said. “Whether it’s a parade down Main Street or a board game tournament at a local shop, we are focused on making sure everyone in Haverhill has a seat at the table.”
Information about upcoming events and 2026 sponsorship opportunities is available at haverhillpride.org.