CHIRLA

What CHIRLA does

CHIRLA (The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights), founded in 1986 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California, is the largest immigrant rights organization in California, operating a dual-entity structure comprising CHIRLA (501(c)(3)) for service delivery and CHIRLA Action Fund (501(c)(4)) for policy advocacy. The organization provides comprehensive immigration legal services including deportation defense, family unity representation, DACA and citizenship application assistance, workers' rights and labor legal services, and detention support, alongside Know Your Rights community education delivered through presentations, a film program (including the 2007 Know Your Rights video and the feature film America's Family), and digital channels. CHIRLA also runs civic engagement programs, voter registration, leadership development (including the California Dream Network coalition of undocumented students), and advocacy campaigns in partnership with over 60 organizations and major labor unions.

The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue mix: membership dues at three tiers ($25 individual, $60 family, $100 community/supporter), individual donations across multiple channels (online, mail, stock gifts, workplace giving with employer matching, AmazonSmile, Facebook fundraisers), specialized fundraising campaigns (Unstoppable Dreams Fund, DACA Trust Fund, Bond Fund, Memorial/Honorary gifts), government contracts and grants at federal/state/local levels (including a reported approximately $110M California state funding allocation under Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Justice Fund grants), and event revenue from an annual Immigrant Champion Awards gala, benefit fundraisers, and the Immi'Art art celebration. The go-to-market motion is community-led, acquiring constituents through grassroots organizing, volunteer programs, and internships, then mobilizing members for policy advocacy through marches, lawmaker meetings, and civic engagement campaigns.

CHIRLA holds a GuideStar Platinum rating and Charity Navigator 4-star rating, reflecting high nonprofit governance and accountability standards. Its technology stack is light: standard donation processing (Funraise, AmazonSmile), virtual legal clinic scheduling, event management (Mobilize.us), and film distribution partnerships (Kanopy, New Day Films). Leadership is anchored by Executive Director Angelica Salas, with a board of directors and a staff of 101-250 multilingual immigration and labor law experts. The organization has a national reputation for advocacy leadership while concentrating operational delivery in California, with emerging signals of expansion into adjacent verticals (climate justice, public health partnerships such as with the Mexican Consulate) and cross-border programming (CHIRLA En Mexico).

Name

CHIRLA

Legal name

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights

Website

https://chirla.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CHIRLA is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit founded in 1986 that provides immigration legal services, Know Your Rights education, workers' rights protection, and policy advocacy for immigrant individuals, families, students, and workers across California, operating a dual 501(c)(3)/501(c)(4) structure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immigration Legal Services & Immigrant Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Individual and Family Services (6241), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Immigrant & Refugee Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Immigration Law (BPAHAAAL), Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI), Family & School System Navigation (Parent Engagement, Youth Services) (EDAAADAH)

Keywords

• Immigrant legal services
• Immigration advocacy
• Community organizing
• Know your rights education
• DACA legal assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership contributions at three tiers: Individual $25, Family $60, and Community $100. Membership fees are divided equally between CHIRLA (501 c3) and CHIRLA Action Fund (501 c4) to support programs and policy advocacy.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations through multiple channels including online giving, mail-in checks, stock gifts, workplace giving with employer matching, AmazonSmile, and Facebook fundraisers. EIN: 95-4421521.
3. Specialized Funds and Campaigns: Targeted fundraising for specific purposes: Unstoppable Dreams Fund, DACA Trust Fund, Bond Fund, America's Family film distribution, Memorial/Honorary gifts, and June Giving Month campaigns.
4. Government Contracts and Grants: Funding from federal, state, and local government sources including California state funding (approximately $110 million mentioned), Los Angeles Justice Fund grants, and Congressional appropriations for immigration services.
5. Event Revenue: Revenue from events including Annual Gala sponsorships, Benefit Fundraisers, and Immi'Art art celebration events.
6. Workplace Giving Programs: Payroll deduction donations through workplace giving programs with employer matching gift programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CHIRLA is a California-based nonprofit that delivers direct immigration legal services (deportation defense, DACA renewals, family unity cases, citizenship applications), labor rights representation for immigrant workers, and Know Your Rights community education. The organization also runs policy advocacy, civic engagement, and membership-based community organizing programs through a dual 501(c)(3)/501(c)(4) structure. It operates as California's largest immigrant rights organization with on-campus, in-person, virtual, and hotline-based service delivery channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CHIRLA Action Fund: CHIRLA's 501(c)(4) affiliated organization for policy advocacy, operating alongside CHIRLA's 501(c)(3) entity.

Products and services

• Immigration Legal Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Legal representation for deportation defense, family unity, and removal proceedings
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• La Plaza de Cultura y ArtesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2024CHIRLA partners with La Plaza de Cultura y Artes to present the 7th annual Immi'Art Event celebrating immigrant art. The partnership hosts exhibiting artists on June 13-14, 2024 at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes, 501 N Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, with the 2024 theme focusing on Immigrant Workers.
• St. John's Well Child and Family ClinicsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2022St. John's Well Child and Family Clinics partnered with CHIRLA during May Day celebrations to provide COVID-19 booster information and answer questions about Medi-Cal expansion for seniors regardless of immigration status.
• Mexican Consulate in Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2021CHIRLA partners with the Mexican Consulate to provide COVID-19 vaccination clinics at 2401 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90057, offering vaccines Tuesday through Friday from 9 am to 2 pm without appointment.
• FIRM Action NetworkflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2021CHIRLA and FIRM Action Network launched Relay Across America as part of their long fight to win citizenship and status for all 11 million undocumented immigrants. The relay travels across key regions in California including Visalia, Bakersfield, Antelope Valley, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino.
• Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrant Rights (GCIR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020CHIRLA works with GCIR president Daranee Petsod, who was honored at CHIRLA's Virtual Gala. GCIR represents grantmakers concerned about immigrant rights and is a key partner in advocacy funding.
• Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 2015coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020SEIU Local 2015 received CHIRLA's Im'Migrant Award at the 2020 Virtual Gala for their work alongside immigrants. SEIU represents care workers and is a key ally in the campaign for universal representation and immigrant rights.
• United Farm Workers (UFW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020UFW received CHIRLA's Im'Migrant Award at the 2020 Virtual Gala recognizing their decades-long work organizing farmworkers and advocating for immigrant labor rights.
• United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 770coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020UFCW Local 770 received CHIRLA's Im'Migrant Award at the 2020 Virtual Gala recognizing their advocacy for immigrant workers in the food and commercial sector.
• National Domestic Workers AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHIRLA partnered with California's Domestic Workers Coalition and the National Domestic Workers Alliance to pass SB 1257, the Health and Safety for All Workers Act, which would expand Cal/OSHA protections to domestic workers.
• CARECENcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHIRLA and CARECEN co-host press conferences and meetings with elected officials including Councilmember Monica Rodriguez regarding the Los Angeles Justice Fund and immigration legal services in Council District 9.
• Immigrant DefenderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHIRLA, CARECEN, and Immigrant Defenders jointly provide attorneys to the Los Angeles Justice Fund and co-host press conferences advocating for expansion of immigration legal representation.
• BAJI (Black Alliance for Just Immigration)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBAJI Director Nana Gyamfi joined CHIRLA Director Angelica Salas and Councilmember Curren Price Jr. for allocation ceremony celebrating $1.25 million for immigration legal services in Council District 9.
• Common CauseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHIRLA joined Common Cause, Advance Project California, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice in support of a City Charter amendment for the November ballot creating an independent redistricting commission in Los Angeles.
• Advance Project CaliforniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Advance Project California and other organizations supporting an independent redistricting commission for Los Angeles to expand electoral power of immigrants and Latinos.
• Asian Americans Advancing JusticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHIRLA partnered with Asian Americans Advancing Justice along with Common Cause and Advance Project California to support independent redistricting commission in Los Angeles.
• Alliance for Community Transit Los Angeles (ACT-LA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHIRLA joined ACT-LA to urge the Metro Board of Directors to reject the Reimagining Public Safety predictive policing program that would discriminate against low-income riders of color.
• Veral Institute for JusticeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHIRLA joined the Veral Institute for Justice and National Partnership for New Americans to launch the Fairness to Freedom/Universal Representation Campaign, pushing for federally funded legal representation for anyone facing deportation.
• National Partnership for New AmericansflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHIRLA partnered with the National Partnership for New Americans and Veral Institute for Justice to launch the Fairness to Freedom campaign for universal right to federally funded legal representation in deportation proceedings.
• Future of California ElectionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHIRLA participates as steering committee member for the Voter Choice Act LA County working group and Future of California Elections to make voting accessible to every eligible voter.
• California Dream Network (CDN)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia Dream Network is a CHIRLA-led statewide coalition of undocumented students, workers, allies, and organizers working to share resources and take direct steps to advocate for immigrant and social justice. Hosts annual statewide virtual summits.
• California COVID-19 Stimulus ProgramsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for community education and outreach regarding California COVID-19 stimulus programs for immigrant communities.
• Los Angeles May Day CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHIRLA has marched on May 1 for over 20 years as part of the Los Angeles May Day Coalition, commemorating International Workers' Day and demanding immigrant and worker rights.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CARECEN (Central American Resource Center): Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing immigration legal services, citizenship education, and advocacy for Central American and other immigrant communities. Direct peer as co-host of Los Angeles Justice Fund events and May Day Coalition partner alongside CHIRLA.
• Immigrant Defenders Law Center: LA-based immigration legal services nonprofit providing deportation defense and universal representation. Direct peer as co-host of LA Justice Fund press conferences and joint Universal Representation campaign partner with CHIRLA.
• National Partnership for New Americans: National coalition of 40+ immigrant rights organizations advancing integration and citizenship pathways. Co-leads the Fairness to Freedom/Universal Representation Campaign with CHIRLA, making it a direct strategic partner and comparable national-scope advocacy organization.
• Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC): National nonprofit providing immigration legal services, capacity building, and advocacy through affiliated Catholic charities programs. Comparable as a large-scale immigration legal services and advocacy organization with similar dual service/advocacy model.
• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND): National nonprofit providing immigration legal representation to unaccompanied immigrant children. Comparable focus area with CHIRLA's student/immigrant youth services and on-campus legal clinics.
• National Immigration Law Center (NILC): National advocacy organization dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of low-income immigrants. Comparable advocacy focus and California base, with overlapping policy campaigns on immigrant rights and access to benefits.
• United Farm Workers (UFW): Historic labor union representing immigrant farm workers and advocating for immigration reform. CHIRLA Im'Migrant Award recipient and coalition partner; comparable mission around worker protections and immigrant rights.
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice: National Asian American civil rights organization with LA presence providing immigration legal services, civic engagement, and policy advocacy. Coalition partner with CHIRLA on redistricting and immigrant rights campaigns.

Broad incumbents

• ACLU of Southern California: Regional affiliate of the national ACLU focused on civil liberties including immigrant rights. Broader mandate than CHIRLA but overlapping litigation and advocacy on immigration enforcement and constitutional rights.

Regional players

• La Plaza de Cultura y Artes: LA-based Mexican American cultural institution and CHIRLA's flagship Immi'Art partner. Comparable community-facing mission for Latino/immigrant audiences in Los Angeles, though focused on culture rather than direct services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CHIRLA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkpuw8C5tb4RL8IwI-liMsA
• Facebookfacebook.com/chirlausa
• Instagraminstagram.com/chirla_org

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CHIRLA