Urban League of Louisiana

What Urban League of Louisiana does

Urban League of Louisiana (ULLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit civil rights organization headquartered at 4640 S. Carrollton Avenue in New Orleans, operating continuously since approximately 1940 as the Louisiana affiliate of the National Urban League network. The organization delivers direct services across four "Centers of Excellence": Education and Youth Development (Headstart, Parent Information Center, Project Ready, ULEAD, Education Equity), Workforce Development (Career Pathways, STRIVE core training, multi-industry apprenticeships in clean energy, automotive, cybersecurity, and construction, plus Adult and Youth Reentry Programs), Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Minority Business Database, SEE CHANGE Collective), and Policy and Social Justice (SEE CHANGE Collective, Redistricting Louisiana, Wake Up Geaux Vote, By The People Debate Series). Primary beneficiaries are Black and other people of the global majority in Louisiana across nine cities including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, LaPlace, Mandeville, Covington, Slidell, Port Allen, and Houma, with segments spanning unemployed and underemployed adults, justice-involved individuals ages 18-24, opportunity youth, families, and minority entrepreneurs.

ULLA operates a community-led go-to-market model with no proprietary technology products. Program delivery runs through its own headquarters plus partner community colleges (Delgado, Baton Rouge Community College, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System), employer partner sites (NADA/LADA dealerships for the auto apprenticeship), state workforce agencies (Louisiana Works), and digital channels including a virtual job fair platform and standard social media presence. Annual convenings, including the Empowerment & Policy Conference and Gala and the Big Health Event with Ochsner Health as presenting sponsor, double as program delivery mechanisms and fundraising vehicles.

The revenue model is non-commercial: all programs and services are provided free to participants, and the organization is funded through a mix of federal grants (a $1,124,332 US Department of Labor grant for the Urban Youth Reentry Program and a $1.2 million congressional appropriation secured by Rep. Troy Carter in 2022), corporate sponsorships (Ochsner Health, Entergy, JPMorgan Chase), individual donations via the eTapestry donate portal, membership fees (Young Professionals and Guild), and event/gala ticket sales. Programs are organized as branded units (Career Pathways, STRIVE, YARP, SEE CHANGE Collective) rather than discrete priced products, and pricing is not publicly disclosed. The organization is governed by an independent board, with leadership including VP of Workforce Development Cherie LaCour-Duckworth, VP of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Klassi Duncan, and Sr. Director of Policy and Legal Affairs Charles Phipps.

Name

Urban League of Louisiana

Legal name

Urban League of Louisiana

Website

https://urbanleaguela.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community and Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Educational Services (611), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space (BPADAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI), NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC), Civic, Citizenship & Community Engagement Education (EDAAAEAI)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Education and youth programs
• Entrepreneurship and small business
• Community advocacy and policy
• Apprenticeship and reentry training

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

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 Contributions: Individual and corporate donations to support mission-driven programs and services.
2. Government Grants and Contracts: Federal and state funding including Department of Labor grants ($1,124,332 for Urban Youth Reentry Program) and congressional appropriations ($1.2M from Congressman Troy Carter).
3. Membership Fees: Organizational membership programs including Young Professionals, Guild, and general membership.
4. Event Revenue: Conference and gala ticket sales, sponsorship revenue from annual Empowerment & Policy Conference and Gala.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Urban League of Louisiana is a nonprofit civil rights organization that delivers workforce development, education and youth development, entrepreneurship support, and policy/social justice services to Louisiana communities. Its core offerings include career pathways training, multi-industry apprenticeships, reentry programs for justice-involved individuals, parent and early childhood education programs, small business development resources, and voter empowerment initiatives. Programs are delivered free of charge to participants and funded through donations, government grants, membership fees, and event sponsorships.

Product overview

The Urban League of Louisiana is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of social impact programs rather than a traditional tech product. The organization's offerings are organized into four main centers of excellence: Education & Youth Development (including Headstart, Education Equity, Project Ready, ULEAD, and Parent Information Center), Workforce Development (Career Pathways Program, Career & Workforce Fundamentals Core Training, Apprenticeships across Clean Energy/Construction/Automotive/Cybersecurity, and Adult/Youth Reentry Programs), Entrepreneurship & Innovation (Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Minority Business Database, SEE CHANGE Collective), and Policy & Social Justice (SEE CHANGE Collective, Redistricting Louisiana, Wake Up Geaux Vote). Major annual events include the Empowerment & Policy Conference & Gala, Big Health Event, and By The People Debate Series. The organization also operates virtual job fair infrastructure and apprenticeship program registration systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Center for Workforce Development: Provides career pathways, apprenticeships, job fairs, and workforce training programs
• Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
• SEE CHANGE Collective
• Parent Information Center
• Big Health Event
• By The People Debate Series

Products and services

• Career Pathways Program Workforce development program assisting unemployed and underemployed youth and adults in attaining social skills, education, and job skills for in-demand industries including construction, technology, healthcare, manufacturing, clean energy, and renewable energy.
• STRIVE Career and Workforce Fundamentals Core Training Four-week attitudinal and workplace readiness course conducted Monday through Friday to prepare individuals for further skills training, education programs, and the workplace.
• Virtual Job Fair and Career and Resource Expo Virtual job fairs connecting job seekers to opportunities in essential industry jobs including energy, technology, automotive, transportation, healthcare, and construction, with employer and job seeker registration capabilities.
• Multi-Industry Apprenticeship Programs Apprenticeship programs spanning Clean Energy Lineworker, Construction Laborer Pre-Apprenticeship, Automobile Technician, and Cybersecurity disciplines, providing practical skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience.
• Adult and Youth Reentry Programs Workforce development and training services for previously incarcerated individuals offering skills-based training, industry-recognized credentials, high school equivalency diploma, and pursuit of higher education, with support services up to 12 months post-program.
• Young Adult Reentry Program (YARP) Program for opportunity youth aged 18-24 who are currently or previously incarcerated, high school dropouts, or low income, offering apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, work readiness, skills building, employment placement, and HiSET prep. Funded 100% by US Department of Labor at $1,124,332.
• Parent Information Center (Family Information and Resource Initiatives / ULPIC) Empowers parents to become successful agents and advocates for excellent schools, providing the P.R.I.D.E. Leadership Academy, Parent Charter Board member training, the New Orleans Guide to High Schools and Beyond, and the New Orleans Guide to Early Childhood Education Resource.
• Head Start Early childhood education program providing comprehensive services for children and families.
• Project Ready Youth development program focused on education and youth development outcomes for high school students.
• ULEAD Education and youth development program supporting young people through college preparation, leadership development, and career guidance.
• Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program supporting entrepreneurship and business development, including the Start Up! Louisiana training series and Minority Business Database.
• SEE CHANGE Collective Initiative focused on closing the wealth gap for Blacks, Hispanics, and Latinos in the Greater New Orleans Region through pathways including homeownership, business ownership and entrepreneurship, and income and wages.
• Wake Up Geaux Vote Voter empowerment and civic engagement initiative promoting participation in elections and policy advocacy.
• Redistricting Louisiana Policy initiative focused on achieving fair redistricting in Louisiana to protect Black political representation.
• Big Health Event Annual health and wellness event offering free health screenings (blood pressure, cholesterol, dental, diabetes, mammogram, HIV/STI testing, vision, prostate cancer), movement zone, kids zone, workforce fair, and healthy lifestyle resources.
• By The People Debate Series Community-powered platform uplifting voices, needs, and priorities of Black and Brown New Orleanians through political debates and civic engagement.
• Empowerment and Policy Conference and Gala Annual conference featuring tracks in Authors and Advocacy, Civil Rights, Health Equity, and Wealth Generation, concluding with an Annual Gala celebration.
• Membership Programs Organizational membership including Young Professionals and Guild membership options for community engagement and support of Urban League mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• 120 previously incarcerated individuals served through Adult and Youth Reentry Programs
• +1 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership with NADA and Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association (LADA) to deliver the Automobile Technician Apprenticeship Program, providing real-world training at local dealerships.
• National Urban LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022National affiliate relationship providing access to national resources, best practices, program models, and network collaboration across 90+ Urban League affiliates nationwide.
• Ochsner HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for the Big Health Event, a major annual health and wellness initiative bringing together healthcare providers, community organizations, and residents.
• Delgado Community CollegecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining partner providing technical instruction for apprenticeship programs including automotive technician training and other workforce development courses.
• Baton Rouge Community CollegecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining partner providing technical instruction and education for workforce development and apprenticeship programs.
• National Urban League Young ProfessionalsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated young professional network providing leadership development and engagement opportunities for young adults.
• Louisiana Community and Technical College SystemcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSystem-wide partnership providing access to multiple community and technical colleges for workforce training programs.
• Greater New Orleans, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development partnership for workforce initiatives and career expo collaboration.
• Louisiana WorkscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerState workforce agency partnership for career fairs, job seeker services, and National Apprenticeship Week celebrations.
• H2theFuture ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for clean energy and hydrogen workforce development initiatives and career pathways.
• Ernest N. Morial Convention CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partnership for major annual events including Empowerment & Policy Conference and Annual Gala.
• Ashé Cultural Arts CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in civic engagement initiatives including the By The People debate series.
• NAACP New OrleansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil rights partnership for voter empowerment and civic engagement initiatives.
• Xavier University of LouisianaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in civic engagement initiatives including the By The People debate series.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Urban League: The parent national network of 90+ Urban League affiliates, including Urban League of Louisiana. Direct comparable as the umbrella civil rights and workforce development organization operating at national scale with shared mission, program models, and federal advocacy agenda.
• NAACP: America's largest and most established civil rights organization. Directly comparable as a Black-led advocacy and community empowerment organization with overlapping program areas (education, economic development, civic engagement) and active partnership with ULLA on voter empowerment and civic initiatives.
• Goodwill Industries International: Large nonprofit workforce development and job training operator. Comparable in delivering employment services, reentry programming, and career pathway training to underserved populations, though operating at much greater national scale through a franchise model.
• Southern Poverty Law Center: Major civil rights nonprofit based in the South focused on justice, equity, and advocacy. Comparable as a Southern-rooted civil rights organization with overlapping policy advocacy work on voting rights and racial equity in Louisiana and adjacent states.
• UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza): National Hispanic-focused civil rights and advocacy organization. Comparable as a mission-aligned community empowerment nonprofit delivering education, workforce, and entrepreneurship programming to underserved communities of color, with an affiliate network structure similar to Urban League.

Direct peers

• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): National nonprofit providing immediate, effective employment services to people with criminal convictions. Direct comparable to ULLA's Adult and Youth Reentry Programs in mission, beneficiary population, and workforce reentry outcomes model.
• YouthBuild USA: National nonprofit operating alternative education and workforce pathways for opportunity youth. Comparable to ULLA's ULEAD, Project Ready, and YARP programs serving young adults disconnected from school and work with construction trades and credential attainment.
• National Urban League of Greater New Orleans (Urban League of GNO predecessor): Independent local Urban League affiliate serving the Greater New Orleans area with workforce development, education, and civil rights programming. The most direct geographic peer sharing program models, donor base overlap, and beneficiary populations within ULLA's footprint.

Regional players

• Louisiana Community and Technical College System: Statewide public system of community and technical colleges that is both a ULLA implementation partner and a peer provider of workforce training and credentialing in Louisiana. Comparable in technical instruction delivery and apprenticeship preparatory training.
• Louisiana Workforce Commission: State government agency administering workforce development programs, apprenticeship support, and labor market data. Comparable to ULLA's workforce development programs in delivering job seeker services and apprenticeship resources within Louisiana, though operating as a public funder/partner rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/urbanleaguela
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmXwJ32uhdyVfuvX5DrHvYg/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/urbanleaguela
• Instagraminstagram.com/urbanleaguela

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Urban League of Louisiana