Safe Passages

What Safe Passages does

Safe Passages is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization headquartered at 1017 Clay Street in Oakland, California, that operates a multi-program continuum of services for vulnerable children, youth, and families in Alameda County. The organization delivers programs across four pillars—Early Childhood (Baby Learning Communities, Mental Health Collaborative), School-Linked Services (Elev8 Full Service Community Schools Initiative, Afterschool Programs, Family Resource Centers, Summer Learning, Super Stars Literacy Program), Economic and Social Justice (Law and Social Justice Coaching, Get Active Urban Arts, Life & Career Road Map Pathway), and Career Pathways & Community Development (Workforce and Economic Development, AmeriCorps/VISTA, Social Welfare Internship Programs)—serving more than 4,200 children, youth, and families annually through 21 school sites in the Oakland, San Lorenzo, and New Haven (Union City) Unified School Districts.

The organization's underlying "operating system" is its network of school-embedded service delivery combined with government, foundation, and nonprofit partnerships: it operates as a fiscal intermediary and on-the-ground implementer of programs funded by AmeriCorps, USDA, Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services, the Alameda County Social Services Agency, Kaiser Permanente Foundation, The Atlantic Philanthropies, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, the Echoing Green Foundation, and others. The technology stack is intentionally minimal (Google Classroom, Zoom, Seesaw, YouTube), reflecting a service model that is human-delivery-intensive rather than technology-product-centric. The organization added a fee-for-service Consultation Services line (fiscal sponsorship, executive coaching, strategic planning, grant writing, community outreach) that monetizes internal operating expertise to external nonprofits.

Safe Passages generates revenue through four streams: philanthropic and foundation grants, federal/state/local government contracts, individual and corporate charitable donations, and a smaller fee-for-service consultation practice. The organization does not charge fees to program beneficiaries. Headcount stands at approximately 125 employees, led since 1999 by CEO Josefina Alvarado-Mena, J.D., under whom the organization has expanded from 5 to 125 staff. In July 2020, Safe Passages acquired the Super Stars Literacy Program from a separate nonprofit of the same name, extending literacy service to roughly 200 additional children and families at six schools.

Name

Safe Passages

Legal name

Safe Passages

Website

https://safepassages.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Safe Passages is a 501(c)(3) Oakland-based nonprofit that operates a continuum of early-childhood, school-linked, social-justice, and career-pathway programs serving more than 4,200 vulnerable children, youth, and families annually across 21 school sites in three Alameda County school districts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth and Family Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Safeguarding, Child Protection & Reporting Services (EDAJAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family-School Collaboration & Inclusion Planning Support (EDAKABAK), Attendance, Engagement & Truancy Intervention Services (EDAJAIAI)

Keywords

• Youth development services
• Community schools
• Family resource centers
• Nonprofit social services
• Workforce development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic/Foundation Funding: Funding from private foundations including Echoing Green Foundation, Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, Kaiser Permanente Foundation, and others supporting youth development and poverty intervention programs
2. Government Grants and Contracts: Federal, state, and local government funding including AmeriCorps grants, USDA funding, California state agency partnerships, and Alameda County behavioral health contracts
3. Individual and Corporate Donations: Charitable donations from individuals and corporate partners through PayPal, check, wire transfer, stock gifts, and planned giving programs
4. Consultation Services Revenue: Fee-for-service consultation including fiscal sponsorship, executive coaching, strategic planning, grant writing, and community outreach design provided to partner organizations

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Safe Passages is a multi-service nonprofit that delivers a continuum of programs for children, youth, and families in Alameda County, from early childhood (Baby Learning Communities, Mental Health Collaborative) through school-linked services (Elev8 Full Service Community Schools, Afterschool Programs, Family Resource Centers, Summer Learning, Super Stars Literacy Program), social and economic justice programs (Law and Social Justice Coaching, Get Active Urban Arts, Life & Career Road Map Pathway), and career pathways/community development (Workforce and Economic Development, AmeriCorps and VISTA, Social Welfare Internship Programs). It also offers fee-based consultation services to other nonprofit organizations covering fiscal sponsorship, executive coaching, strategic planning, grant writing, and community outreach design.

Product overview

Safe Passages operates as a multi-service nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive continuum of programs and services for children, youth, and families in Alameda County. The organization functions as a unified platform of interconnected initiatives rather than a single product, comprising Early Childhood programs (Baby Learning Communities, Mental Health Collaborative), School Linked Services (Elev8 Full Service Community Schools, Afterschool Programs, Family Resource Centers, Summer Learning, Super Stars Literacy Program), Social and Economic Justice initiatives (Law and Social Justice Coaching, Get Active Urban Arts, Life & Career Road Map Pathway), Career Pathways and Community Development (Workforce and Economic Development, AmeriCorps and VISTA, Social Welfare Internship Programs), and Consultation Services. Together, these programs serve over 4,200 individuals annually through direct services, advocacy, system change, innovative program development, and human capital investment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Safe Passages Super Stars Literacy Program: Literacy program serving approximately 200 children and their families, recruiting 18 AmeriCorps Members as academic tutors

Products and services

• Baby Learning Communities Early childhood development program serving over 800 families annually across Oakland communities through school-based family resource centers and public housing facilities.
• Elev8 Full Service Community Schools Initiative Full service community schools model providing school-based health services, academic supports through extended day learning, family supports, and advocacy at five middle schools serving 2,500 students and families annually.
• Afterschool Programs Afterschool academic tutoring, enrichment services, sports, and activities for students in grades K-12, serving over 1,000 students and families annually across eight school communities.
• Summer Learning Summer academic intervention and enrichment programs for K-12 students, serving 1,000 students annually.
• Safe Passages Super Stars Literacy Program Literacy program providing academic tutoring, food distributions, computer training, language support, and virtual learning support to approximately 200 children and families at six schools with 18 AmeriCorps members.
• Law and Social Justice Career Program Career pathway program providing diversion/expungement services, case management, mentoring, education, credentialing, workforce activities, and post-program support for high school students at alternative education schools, serving 125 students.
• Get Active Urban Arts Youth arts program for ages 14-19 promoting social justice, cultural awareness, leadership development, and community engagement through training in aerosol arts, graphic design, illustration, airbrushing, and mural production.
• Life & Career Road Map Pathway Job readiness and life skills program for foster youth ages 16-17 involved in Alameda County's Child Welfare System, providing resume development, interview workshops, paid job experience, life skills curriculum, and college transition support, serving 30 youth over 3 years.
• AmeriCorps and VISTA National service program recruiting over 50 AmeriCorps members annually to provide academic tutoring and mentoring across Oakland Unified and New Haven Unified school districts, serving 2,500 students annually.
• Consultation Services Comprehensive consulting services for nonprofit organizations covering operations support (payroll, health services, bookkeeping, HR, accounting), fiscal sponsorship, executive coaching, strategic planning, grant writing and development, and community outreach design and implementation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of students in afterschool academic programs experienced academic success
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• AmeriCorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for AmeriCorps Elev8 Youth Program recruiting over 50 AmeriCorps members annually to serve at local school sites providing academic tutoring and mentoring
• Oakland Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary school district partner implementing community schools initiative at multiple school sites including Bridges at Melrose, Coliseum College Prep, Greenleaf Elementary, and others
• Alameda County Behavioral Health Care ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty partner providing mental health services and school-based health center support
• Alameda County Food BankmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership for food distributions serving families during pandemic and ongoing
• UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital OaklandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partnership supporting school-based health services and pediatric care access
• UC BerkeleymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for social work internships and workforce development programs
• City of OaklandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner through Office of the Mayor, City Council, Department of Human Services, Oakland Fund for Children and Youth, and Oakland Unite
• Alameda County Social Services AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty partner supporting child welfare programs and family services
• La Clinica de La RazamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing clinical services at school-based health centers
• New Haven Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool district partner serving Union City with programs at Emanuele Elementary, Searles Elementary, and Cesar Chavez Middle School
• San Francisco State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner for social work internship placements and workforce development
• Advance PeacemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for violence prevention and youth development programs

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1168879

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Safe Passages