CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Campus Pride, a locally-based national non-profit serving LGBT college and university students, announced on Monday that it is entering what it calls a “strategic long-term partnership” with the Atlanta-based Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation. The organizations will operate under the name “StandUp Campus Pride” though both organizations will retain separate legal entities and governing boards.

The announcement of the partnership came in Atlanta at the Compete Sports Diversity Awards and StandUp Magazine launch event on Nov. 14, according to a press release distributed on Monday.

The new partnership is expected to focus each organization’s messaging, programming and fundraising.

“Campus Pride and our mission and values align perfectly with the StandUp Foundation. Together we can more powerfully collaborate across communities and campuses to build awareness, raise funds, provide resources and improve lives for young people,” Shane Windmeyer, founder and executive director of Campus Pride, said in the release. “There is no doubt that this long-term partnership will enhance our national footprint among donors, grant-makers and corporations to recognize and fund the life-changing work we do.”

The StandUp Foundation was created by British rugby player Ben Cohen. It works to raise awareness of bullying and raise funds to support anti-bullying efforts through social business models.

“By pairing the grant-making role of StandUp and the operating role of Campus Pride, the two 501c3 non-profits can have greater, more comprehensive impact on those organizations and campuses doing real-world work to eliminate discrimination, bullying and anti-LGBT bias and prejudice from everyday life,” Alison Doerfler, executive director of the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, said in the release. “At the end of the day, our collective work is about how we create a kinder, more inclusive world for all.”

Both organizations already have a history of working together and StandUp has previously supported Campus Pride through operating and programming grants.

A formal agreement between the two groups is expected within 90 days.

[Ed. Note -- This writer was employed briefly with Campus Pride during his hiatus from the newspaper earlier this year.]