La Plaza

What La Plaza does

La Plaza Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, founded in 1971 as El Centro Hispano and consolidated in its current form through a 2004 three-way merger of El Centro Hispano, the Hispanic Education Center, and FIESTA Indianapolis. It is the longest-standing Latino-serving nonprofit in Central Indiana, operating for over 50 years with a mission to empower Latinos by providing access to social, education, and workforce development services.

The organization delivers a multi-program service portfolio structured around three pillars: youth education (Tu Futuro high school readiness, the Leadership Institute for Latino Youth/LILY, Summer Discovery K-8 summer academic program, and a scholarship fund awarding up to eight $8,000 four-year scholarships annually), workforce development (the Latino Opportunity Center providing financial coaching, job training, and employment assistance in partnership with LISC Indianapolis and EmployIndy), and access to health and social services (culturally competent case management and the VOCA domestic violence support program for Latina women and children). Signature community events include FIESTA Indianapolis (a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration since 1981) and Night of the Americas (an annual spring fundraiser drawing 500+ civic and business leaders). All services are delivered free of charge by fully bilingual and bicultural staff across two Indianapolis locations and partner sites throughout Central Indiana.

The business model is donation-and-grant-funded: La Plaza does not charge for any program and derives revenue from individual donations (via the Give Lively platform), corporate sponsorships (Eli Lilly, Cummins, KeyBank, BMO, Huntington, Honda Manufacturing, Old National Bank, AES Indiana), foundation grants (notably a $5 million Lilly Endowment grant in 2016 and ongoing support from CICF, Lumina Foundation, United Way of Central Indiana, and The Mind Trust), and fundraising events. The organization is governed by a board of directors drawn from corporate, civic, and nonprofit partners, and reports serving 6,000+ Latino children and families in Central Indiana annually.

Name

La Plaza

Legal name

La Plaza Inc.

Website

https://laplazaindy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

La Plaza is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Indianapolis, founded in 1971, delivering free bilingual youth education, workforce development, health, and social services to Latino children and families across Central Indiana, funded by donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural, Multilingual & Immigrant Family Engagement Programs (EDACALAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC), Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

Keywords

• Community nonprofit services
• Youth education programs
• Workforce development services
• Social services nonprofit
• Community health programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: La Plaza relies on individual donations from community members, corporate sponsors, and fundraising events to support operations. Donations can be made through their website via Give Lively platform and are referenced prominently across the site as essential to organizational success.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

La Plaza delivers free, bilingual, and bicultural community programs for Latino children and families in Central Indiana across three integrated pillars: (1) Youth Education Programs including Tu Futuro high school college readiness, LILY summer leadership institute, Summer Discovery K-8 academic enrichment, and the La Plaza Scholarship Fund awarding up to eight $8,000 four-year scholarships; (2) Workforce Development via the Latino Opportunity Center providing financial coaching, job placement, and construction/career training; and (3) Access to Health and Social Services including Case Management and the VOCA domestic violence program. All services are delivered at no cost to participants and supported through donations, grants, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events.

Product overview

La Plaza is a nonprofit organization providing a comprehensive suite of community programs for Latino children and families in Central Indiana. The organization operates as a multi-program service provider consisting of three core service pillars: (1) Access to Health and Social Services, including case management and the VOCA domestic violence support program; (2) Youth Education Programs including Tu Futuro high school readiness, LILY summer leadership institute, Summer Discovery academic camp, and the Scholarship Fund awarding $8,000 four-year scholarships; and (3) Workforce Development through the Latino Opportunity Center (LOC). Additionally, the organization hosts signature community events including FIESTA Indianapolis and Night of the Americas. All services are delivered bilingually and tailored for Latinos by bilingual, bicultural staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Access to Health and Social Services Provides culturally sensitive services, resources, referrals, and networking ensuring all Latinos in Central Indiana have access to food, shelter, clothing, health care and promised opportunity. The program serves as an umbrella for case management, VOCA services, and broader social service navigation for the Latino community.
• Case Management Provides resources, referrals, and social services to ensure all Latinos in Central Indiana have access to food, shelter, clothing, and health care through culturally and linguistically appropriate services. Delivered at no cost to participants.
• Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Program Provides confidential case management, advocacy, emergency financial assistance, and counseling services to Latina women and children who are victims of domestic violence. The program partners with Reach for Youth for individual, family, and group mental health services.
• Tu Futuro A program for Latino high school students that teaches academic, social, college and career readiness skills to encourage graduation and postsecondary education pursuit. Particularly serves first-generation college students (44% of Hispanic students) with bilingual support and college preparation resources.
• Leadership Institute for Latino Youth (LILY) A five-week summer academic and leadership program designed to help high school students build academic skills, explore college and career opportunities, and develop leadership skills. Outcomes include 85% of students improving English Language Arts and math scores and 100% identifying a career path and visiting at least one college campus.
• Summer Discovery A five-week summer academic program for students entering 1st-8th grades focusing on building academic skills in English, reading, and math while engaging in art, music, technology, leadership, and community service activities. Outcomes include 88% of students improving English language arts and math scores and 100% parent re-enrollment intent.
• La Plaza Scholarship Fund Awards up to eight $8,000 four-year college scholarships to hardworking Latino students from across Indiana, selected based on academic record, community involvement, and financial need. Scholarships support postsecondary education completion.
• Latino Opportunity Center (LOC) An empowerment-based workforce development program providing bilingual support to Latino adults seeking to transition from jobs to promising careers through financial coaching, employment assistance, and educational opportunities. Includes residential construction training in partnership with LISC Indianapolis and Garmong Construction.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% of students improved their English language arts and math scores during Summer Discovery program
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• United Way of Central IndianacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way of Central Indiana is listed as a partner organization, providing collaborative support for community programs and services for Latino families in Central Indiana.
• LISC IndianapolismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) Indianapolis partners with La Plaza on workforce development initiatives, including the Latino Opportunity Center program supporting residential construction training.
• Butler UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerButler University is a higher education partner providing college visit opportunities for La Plaza's youth programs including Tu Futuro and LILY.
• IU HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIU Health (Indiana University Health) is a health services partner with employees serving on the board, supporting health and wellness programs.
• Lumina FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLumina Foundation supports educational initiatives and is a partner in advancing Latino educational attainment through La Plaza programs.
• EmployIndycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployIndy is a workforce development partner supporting employment and job training programs through the Latino Opportunity Center.
• The Mind TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Mind Trust supports educational initiatives and programs for youth in Indianapolis.
• Reach for YouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReach for Youth is La Plaza's community mental health partner providing individual, family, and group mental health services for VOCA program clients.
• Children's BureaumajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChildren's Bureau is a community partner providing services to families served by La Plaza.
• Marion Public Health PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarion Public Health Partnership supports health and wellness programs for La Plaza community members.
• Garmong ConstructionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGarmong Construction provides workforce development opportunities through construction training programs with employee Nicholas Schellinger serving on the board.
• MSD of Lawrence TownshipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetropolitan School District of Lawrence Township is an educational partner supporting youth programs.
• Indiana Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndiana Historical Society supports cultural programming and heritage celebrations including FIESTA Indianapolis.
• Taft LawminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTaft Law provides legal support and services for La Plaza programs and community members.
• Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINHP is a housing partner supporting housing assistance programs for Latino families through case management services.
• Fairbanks School of Public Health (IUPUI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIUPUI Fairbanks School of Public Health supports health initiatives and programming for La Plaza.
• Indy Health NetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndy Health Net provides health resources and networking for La Plaza community health programs.
• INHP (Indiana Network of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINHP supports youth programming and services for the LGBTQ+ community.
• NCD PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCD Partners is a community development partner supporting La Plaza's community initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Indiana University Health:
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis: Youth-development nonprofit delivering academic support, enrichment, leadership, and mentoring to Indianapolis children. It is a broad incumbent relevant to La Plaza's Summer Discovery and LILY programs, but does not specialize exclusively in Latino families.
• Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana: Regional nonprofit providing workforce training, employment services, education, and support for people facing barriers to opportunity. It is a broad incumbent comparable to La Plaza's workforce-development and adult economic-mobility programming.

Direct peers

• CASA: CASA is a major immigrant-services organization with workforce development, youth and family programs, legal assistance, and social services. It is a relevant direct peer because it serves many of the same linguistically isolated and economically underserved populations.
• El Centro Hispano: El Centro Hispano advances opportunities for Latino and other immigrant families through education, workforce development, health access, and advocacy. Its integrated, culturally responsive services closely overlap with La Plaza's offering.
• Immigrant Welcome Center: Indianapolis immigrant-services organization helping newcomers and families navigate employment, education, health access, and community resources. It is directly comparable to La Plaza's bilingual family-support and social-service mission.
• Spanish Community Center: Chicago-based nonprofit providing bilingual education, workforce, health, and social services to Hispanic families and immigrants. It is a direct category peer, although it operates in a different metropolitan market.
• Conexión Américas: Latino immigrant-services nonprofit providing family support, youth education, leadership development, and economic opportunity. Its culturally specific, wraparound model closely parallels La Plaza's education, workforce, and family programming.
• La Casa de Amistad: Indiana-based Latino nonprofit serving families through bilingual education, youth development, and community-support programs. It is one of La Plaza's closest regional peers by target population and integrated service model.

Emerging players

• La Maestra Community Health Centers: La Maestra combines community healthcare with education and social assistance for culturally underserved populations. It is an emerging peer because its integrated delivery model is comparable to La Plaza's health-access and family-support pillars.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCYZ9pxnTLt_A5Mnvhefrg0A
• Facebookfacebook.com/laplazaindy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laplaza-indy
• Instagraminstagram.com/laplaza_indy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 La Plaza