Korean American Senior Association of Howard County

What Korean American Senior Association of Howard County does

Korean American Senior Association of Howard County (KASA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in March 2002 and headquartered in Columbia, Maryland. It is the largest Korean-American non-profit in Howard County and operates as a community services hub for seniors, primarily serving first-generation Korean-American seniors aged 55–96 (average age 74) — a population estimated at over 30,000 in and around Howard County — while explicitly extending services to seniors of all nationalities and income statuses. Its offerings span active wellness programs (Line Dance, Zumba, Yoga, Korean traditional Dance and Music, and a 2026-launched Interactive Music Class), health lectures and Alzheimer's education, government-programs assistance (Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, utilities), technology classes (iPhone, computers, online banking), transportation services, and cultural-preservation programs including Korean Language Classes and the Chuseok Festival.

KASA's core technology stack is effectively non-existent; it is a community-based service organization rather than a technology product company, with its 'technology' offerings being consumer-skills classes for seniors. Operations are delivered through a Columbia community center at 5470 Ruth Keeton Way and a main office at 5457 Twin Knolls Road, with an Anne Arundel County location in Hanover announced as coming soon. The business model is a donation- and grant-funded nonprofit: 100% of donations flow to member benefits, with documented funding including $10,000 from Maryland Humanities and $1,000 from the Community Foundation of Howard County in January 2024, plus event-based revenue from thrift-and-food sales such as the 2025 event that raised $2,060 for the Vivien Reid Fund of Howard County.

The organization is led by President Yong Kim, appointed in January 2024, and operates under a board-governed structure with no parent company or venture capital backing. Its partnerships — Horizon Foundation, George Washington School of Nursing / NIH, Howard County Health Department, Maryland Humanities, Community Foundation of Howard County, Chinese American Parents Association, Howard County OAI, New York Life Insurance, Emmanuel Adult Day Care, Avara Law, and the Roving Radish Mobile Market — indicate active ecosystem construction across health, nutrition, financial literacy, and cross-cultural community ties. KASA does not disclose financials, has no enterprise customers, and serves individual seniors free of charge.

Name

Korean American Senior Association of Howard County

Legal name

Korean-American Senior Association of Howard County

Website

https://kasacenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

KASA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 in Columbia, Maryland, serving Korean-American seniors (ages 55–96) in Howard County through wellness programs, health education, government-programs assistance, technology classes, and Korean cultural-preservation activities, with all services offered free of charge.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, KASA relies primarily on donations from supporters and community members. 100% of donations go directly to member benefits and programs.
2. Government Grants: KASA receives grant funding from government and public institutions including Maryland Humanities ($10,000 grant) and Community Foundation of Howard County ($1,000 grant) to expand senior programs.
3. Thrift Store and Food Sale Revenue: KASA organizes thrift store events and food sales to raise funds for community benefit, such as the $2,060 raised for the Vivien Reid Fund in 2025.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KASA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community center that provides free in-person programs and services for seniors in Howard County, Maryland. Core offerings include weekly activity programs (Line Dance, Zumba, Yoga, Korean traditional Dance and Music), health and wellness lectures, technology classes, assistance navigating government programs (Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, utilities), transportation to the center, Korean language and cultural preservation classes, and community fundraising events.

Product overview

Korean-American Senior Association of Howard County (KASA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a community services hub for seniors, offering a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on senior wellness, education, cultural engagement, and community support. The core offerings include Senior Activities Programs (Line Dance, Zumba, Yoga, Korean traditional Dance and Music Classes), Senior Health Services (health lectures and Alzheimer's education), Government Programs Assistance (Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP enrollment help), and Technology Classes (iPhone, computers, apps, online banking). Supporting programs include a Care Line for government program navigation, Transportation Services, KASA Thrift Sale for community fundraising, and Cultural Preservation Programs including Korean Language Classes. The organization serves over 200 active senior members aged 55-96 in Howard County, Maryland, and is the largest Korean American non-profit in the area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Senior Activities Programs
• Senior Health Services
• Technology Classes

Quantifiable outcome

• Membership more than doubled in 2024, with expectation to double again in upcoming years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Horizon FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHorizon Foundation is a key community partner supporting KASA's mission. KASA is a member of the Horizon Foundation Healthier Choice Coalition, participating in initiatives to improve community health including school meals and senior wellness programs.
• George Washington School of Nursing (GW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKASA partnered with GW School of Nursing and National Institute of Nursing Research (NIH) on a 10-week project to reduce disparities in chronic pain for seniors, involving 2 groups of 10 KASA seniors who met specific criteria. The project was successfully completed.
• Howard County Health DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKASA and other Korean-American organizations meet with the Health Department to discuss future collaborations with the Korean community. Topics include new laws and regulations affecting Korean restaurants.
• Vivien Reid Fund of Howard CountyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKASA assists non-profits like the Vivien Reid Fund to help seniors in need. Raised $2,060 through a thrift and food sale to benefit the fund.
• Chinese American Parents Association (CAPA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKASA celebrated Lunar New Year with CAPA and American Senior friends. Over 150 guests enjoyed cultural presentations from both Korean and Chinese cultures, strengthening cross-cultural community ties.
• Howard County OAIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoward County OAI participated in a financial seminar supporting KASA seniors.
• New York Life InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNew York Life Insurance supported KASA's financial seminar for seniors.
• Emmanuel Adult Day CareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmmanuel Adult Day Care supported KASA's financial seminar for seniors.
• Avara LawminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAvara Law supported KASA's financial seminar for seniors.
• Roving Radish Mobile MarketminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKASA is a proud member of the Horizon Foundation Healthier Choice Coalition and assisted in the kick-off of the Roving Radish Mobile Market, which provides fresh food access to the community.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• AARP Foundation: A large national nonprofit focused on seniors 50+ offering programs, advocacy, and direct services including benefits access and social engagement. Operates at vastly larger scale but addresses overlapping issues such as senior isolation, benefits navigation, and health education that KASA serves at a local level.
• Korean American Coalition: A larger Korean-American advocacy and community organization operating across multiple states with broader civic, educational, and senior-support programming. Comparable in mission to serve Korean-American communities, but at a much larger regional and advocacy-driven scale than KASA.
• National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA): A national nonprofit providing advocacy, resources, and direct services for Asian-American and Pacific Islander seniors, including benefits enrollment and language access support. Comparable in addressing language barriers to government programs and senior isolation, though operating at a national scale versus KASA's local community-center model.

Emerging players

• Korean American Family Services (KFAM): A Korean-American community services nonprofit providing mental health, senior, and family support services with culturally competent programming. Comparable in culturally specific service delivery and senior-focus, though with a broader mental-health emphasis relative to KASA's wellness and cultural programming.

Regional players

• Howard County Office on Aging: The county-government senior services agency serving Howard County residents aged 60+ with programs, information and assistance, and caregiver support. Operates in the same geography as KASA with overlapping senior-services objectives, but as a public-sector provider rather than a culturally-specific nonprofit.

Direct peers

• Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington: A Korean-American nonprofit serving the greater Washington, D.C. area with senior services, immigration assistance, health education, and cultural programs. Highly comparable geographic and demographic focus, with overlapping mission areas including senior wellness and government program navigation.
• Asian American Senior Citizens Service Center: A nonprofit serving Asian-American seniors with culturally and linguistically appropriate programs including social activities, health education, and benefits enrollment. Directly comparable in mission to serve immigrant seniors facing language and cultural barriers to mainstream services.
• Korean American Community Services (various regional chapters): Regional Korean-American community service organizations offering senior programs, cultural classes, and social services to Korean-American populations. Directly comparable mission and target demographic to KASA, serving as a model for community-based Korean senior support.
• Korean Senior Center of Los Angeles: Community-based nonprofit dedicated to serving Korean-American seniors with social, educational, and health programs in Southern California. Operates a similar membership-driven model with cultural programming, language assistance, and senior wellness activities tailored to first-generation Korean-American seniors.

Others

• Chinese American Parents Association (CAPA): A partner organization of KASA that supports Chinese-American families in Howard County with educational and cultural programming. Comparable as a regional Asian-American community organization, though focused on families/parents rather than seniors directly.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Korean American Senior Association of Howard County