Go For Broke National Education Center

What Go For Broke National Education Center does

Go For Broke National Education Center (GFBNEC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1989 by WWII veterans including Colonel (Ret.) Young Oak Kim and Yoshio "Buddy" Mamiya, headquartered at 355 E. First Street, Suite 200, in the Little Tokyo historic district of Los Angeles. Its mission is to educate and inspire character and equality through the virtue and valor of Japanese American soldiers who served in World War II — including the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service. The organization operates with 11–50 staff under President and CEO Dr. Mitchell T. Maki, who has held the role since December 2016.

GFBNEC's core offerings are non-technological and content-driven. Its flagship physical assets are the granite Go For Broke Monument in Little Tokyo (engraved with the names of more than 16,000 Japanese American WWII servicemembers and drawing tens of thousands of free visitors annually), the permanent Defining Courage Exhibition ($9 adults / $5 students), and the national Courage and Compassion traveling exhibition (hosted at 10+ U.S. venues including Morikami Museum, JCCH, and Historic Fort Snelling). Its signature knowledge asset is the Hanashi Oral History Collection, the nation's largest audiovisual archive of Nisei veteran life histories with over 1,180 interviews. Supporting programs include the National Torchbearer Program, Go For Broke Journalism Institute (piloted 2022 with AAJA–LA and LAUSD), scholarships, an annual student essay/poetry/video contest, and digital resources (Monument Name Locator, historical timeline, curriculum materials). There is no proprietary technology, API, or AI/ML capability.

Revenue is generated entirely through nonprofit channels: individual and corporate donations (general, tribute, vehicle, planned giving/legacy society), annual membership dues, exhibition admission fees, online merchandise sales through goforbroke.com, and the annual Evening of Aloha gala dinner — the largest fundraiser. Capital and program funding come from a diversified public- and private-grant pipeline, including National Park Service Japanese American Confinement Sites grants (e.g., $91,266 in 2017), California Civil Liberties Public Education Program grants ($50,000 in 2017), Aratani Foundation, Keiro ($16,900 in 2018), and the National Cemetery Administration ($67,072 in 2024). The customer base spans K-12 and higher-education students, educators, general museum visitors, traveling-exhibition attendees across at least nine U.S. states (CA, HI, OR, OH, MN, IL, TX, NM, FL), Nisei veteran families, and partner museums and cultural organizations. Distribution is both physical (permanent and traveling exhibitions, school programs) and digital (website, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Constant Contact newsletter).

Name

Go For Broke National Education Center

Legal name

Go For Broke National Education Center

Website

https://goforbroke.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Go For Broke National Education Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 that preserves and educates on the legacy of Japanese American WWII veterans through the Little Tokyo monument, permanent and traveling exhibitions, oral history archives, and K-12 programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage and Historical Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Title I & Compensatory Education Programs (EDAJAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Open Lesson Plans & Teaching Units (K–12) (EDAGAJAI)

Keywords

• Historical education programs
• Museum exhibitions
• Oral history archives
• Veteran legacy preservation
• Nonprofit cultural education

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization relies heavily on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. Various donation options include general donations, tribute gifts, vehicle donations, and legacy society planned giving.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership program offering various tiers with benefits including free admission, event discounts, and exclusive access.
3. Event Revenue: Annual Evening of Aloha gala dinner serves as the largest fundraising activity. Ticket sales and event sponsorship generate significant revenue.
4. Exhibition Admission: General admission fees for the Defining Courage Exhibition: $9 adults, $5 students and seniors, free for members and children under five. Free admission on select Thursday evenings.
5. Grants: Government and private foundation grants including National Park Services Japanese American Confinement Sites grants, California Civil Liberties Public Education Program grants, Aratani Foundation grants, and Keiro grants.
6. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling merchandise including books, apparel, and commemorative items through goforbroke.com.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Go For Broke National Education Center operates a portfolio of educational programs, exhibitions, and historical preservation services centered on the legacy of Japanese American WWII soldiers. Its core offerings include the permanent Defining Courage Exhibition in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo, the nationwide traveling Courage and Compassion Exhibition, the Go For Broke Monument engraved with more than 16,000 soldier names, the Hanashi Oral History Collection of over 1,180 veteran interviews, and K-12/college educational programs including the National Torchbearer Program and Journalism Institute.

Product overview

Go For Broke National Education Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates a portfolio of educational programs and physical attractions centered on preserving and sharing the legacy of Japanese American WWII veterans. The core offerings include the Go For Broke Monument (a granite memorial with over 16,000 names), the permanent Defining Courage Exhibition in Little Tokyo, and the traveling Courage and Compassion Exhibition. Supporting programs include the National Torchbearer Program for legacy preservation, the Journalism Institute for student education, scholarship opportunities, and the Hanashi Oral History Collection with over 1,180 veteran interviews. The organization hosts the annual Evening of Aloha gala and is developing the Go For Broke Plaza mixed-use development. Educational resources span unit histories, historical timelines, and curriculum materials for schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Defining Courage Exhibition

Quantifiable outcome

• Trained over 3,000 teachers to deliver Japanese American WWII educational content
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Asian American Journalist Association – LA ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership for Journalism Institute program, sharing Japanese American WWII soldiers' story with LAUSD high school students and providing journalistic instruction.
• Jidai ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2018Curated Nikkei Samurai exhibition featuring Japanese swords and the Military Intelligence Service. Curated by Darin S. Furukawa and Michael Yamasaki of Jidai Arts.
• Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i (JCCH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2017Partnership to host the Courage and Compassion traveling exhibition at the JCCH in Honolulu from November-December 2017. JCCH provided venue and local programming while GFBNEC provided exhibition content and support.
• Museum of Tolerance (Los Angeles)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles on educational programs and cross-promotion of Japanese American WWII veteran educational content.
• Japanese American National MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on exhibitions, educational programs, and preservation efforts. Joint exhibitions have included H.R. 442: Nisei Veterans and the Fight for Civil Liberties.
• National Veterans NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with veteran organizations to promote Japanese American WWII veteran legacy and educational programs.
• Little Tokyo Service CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Go For Broke Plaza development - a mixed-use, multi-story development featuring First Street Residences, legacy businesses, and GFBNEC space.
• KizunaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity youth organization providing cultural values discussions and history challenge activities for student groups visiting GFBNEC programs.
• Little Tokyo Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides walking tours of Little Tokyo for student groups, connecting historical context to GFBNEC educational programming.
• Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for student programming including documentary screenings and facilitated discussions.
• Willamette Heritage Center (Salem, Oregon)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for Courage and Compassion traveling exhibition debut in July 2017.
• Saint Marys School of Nursing Alumni AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner hosting Courage and Compassion exhibition at History Center of Olmsted County, Rochester, Minnesota.
• Twin Cities Japanese American Citizens LeagueminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-host of Courage and Compassion exhibition at Historic Fort Snelling in St. Paul, Minnesota.
• Bradley University (History Department)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAcademic partner hosting Courage and Compassion exhibition at Peoria Public Library in partnership with the library.
• Japanese American Citizens League (Monterey Peninsula)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal host for Courage and Compassion exhibition at historic Casa Gutierrez in Monterey, California.
• Chicago Japanese American Historical SocietyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-host of Courage and Compassion exhibition in Chicago alongside Japanese American Service Committee.
• Japanese American Service Committee (Chicago)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-host of Courage and Compassion exhibition in Chicago alongside Chicago Japanese American Historical Society.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Japanese American National Museum: Direct peer — Los Angeles-based Japanese American cultural institution operating exhibitions, educational programs, and historical preservation with overlapping mission on Japanese American WWII incarceration and veteran history (including co-produced joint exhibitions with GFBNEC).
• Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience: Direct peer — Seattle-based AAPI museum with comparable exhibitions, K-12 educational programming, and oral history collection serving a similar community history preservation mission.
• Densho: Direct peer — nonprofit digital archive preserving Japanese American incarceration and WWII stories through oral histories, video testimonies, and K-12 educational resources; competes for the same donor and educator audience.
• Museum of Tolerance: Direct peer — Los Angeles museum focused on civil rights education including Japanese American WWII history; collaborator with GFBNEC on educational programs and cross-promotion.
• Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i: Direct peer — Hawaii-based Japanese American heritage center operating exhibitions, historical archives, and educational programs; partnered with GFBNEC to host the Courage and Compassion traveling exhibition.
• Japanese American Citizens League: Direct peer — national civil rights organization with educational programming, civil liberties advocacy, and historical preservation work overlapping GFBNEC's mission on Japanese American WWII legacy.
• National Veterans Network: Direct peer — coalition promoting Japanese American WWII veteran legacy and education; established GFBNEC collaborator with shared mission on Nisei veteran recognition.

Emerging players

• International Coalition of Sites of Conscience: Emerging player — global network of historic sites that use memory and historic places to promote civic engagement; provides peer benchmarking and grant pipeline for sites like the Go For Broke Monument.

Regional players

• Japanese American National Heritage Coalition: Regional player — Washington DC-area organization focused on preserving Japanese American heritage and building the National Japanese American Memorial; partially comparable mission on veteran and incarceration recognition.

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center: Broad incumbent — national-level Smithsonian institution covering AAPI history including incarceration and WWII veteran stories at broader scale; competes for institutional donor attention and curatorial credibility.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@gfbnec
• Facebookfacebook.com/goforbrokenationaleducationcenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/go-for-broke-national-education-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/gfbnec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 Go For Broke National Education Center