California YIMBY

What California YIMBY does

California YIMBY is a Sacramento-headquartered 501(c)(4) social welfare nonprofit founded in 2017 by Brian Hanlon, Nat Friedman, and Zack Rosen. The organization advocates for increased housing supply and affordability in California through grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, electoral endorsements, and research. It operates three affiliated entities: the 501(c)(4) parent (EIN 82-3159002), the California YIMBY Education Fund (501(c)(3), EIN 85-1438188) for tax-deductible donations, and the California YIMBY Victory Fund (527 PAC, Committee ID 1401346) for political contributions. Revenue is generated exclusively through voluntary donations across these three entities; the organization does not charge for its advocacy services.

The organization's core "products" are advocacy services rather than traditional software: a digital organizing platform with an Action Hub for member mobilization, a Rapid Response Team for time-sensitive legislative action, legislative tracking tools, and the Metropolitan Abundance Project for housing research and mapping. Content distribution is handled through The Homework newsletter, the Abundance podcast, blog publications, social media channels (Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube), and in-person events including Sacramento lobby days. Distribution of influence is achieved through a network of local YIMBY chapters across the Bay Area, Central Coast, Central Valley, Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego, and through formal co-sponsorship of legislation with partners such as SPUR, Abundant Housing LA, Housing Action Coalition, California Building Industry Association, California Conference of Carpenters, California Housing Consortium, Bay Area Council, Casita Coalition, and the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California.

California YIMBY's go-to-market motion is community-led: it mobilizes California residents who support pro-housing policies via action alerts and chapter organizing, engages homebuilders and developers who benefit from streamlined permitting, and partners with housing, transit, and land-use organizations to build legislative coalitions. Its core customer segments are California residents (members and donors), political candidates receiving endorsements, and homebuilders/developers. The organization claims a track record of "12 Bills in 5 Years to Legalize 2.2M+ Homes," including SB 9 (2021), SB 423 (2023), and the landmark SB 79 signed in October 2025, which enables transit-oriented development near high-capacity transit stops in eight major California cities.

Name

California YIMBY

Legal name

California YIMBY

Website

https://cayimby.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

California YIMBY is a Sacramento-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy organization that campaigns for increased housing supply and affordability in California through legislative advocacy, grassroots organizing, electoral endorsements, and research, supported by a statewide network of local YIMBY chapters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. 501(c)(4) Membership Donations: California YIMBY is a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization. Donations are not tax deductible but may remain anonymous. EIN: 82-3159002.
2. 501(c)(3) Education Fund Donations: California YIMBY Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation. Donations are tax deductible. EIN: 85-1438188.
3. Victory Fund PAC Contributions: California YIMBY Victory Fund is a 527 political action committee. Donations are disclosed per California state law and are not tax deductible. Committee ID: 1401346.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

California YIMBY is a 501(c)(4) housing policy advocacy organization that sponsors, drafts, and campaigns for California legislation to legalize more homebuilding, including transit-oriented development, accessory dwelling unit (ADU) reforms, parking mandate reforms, and streamlined permitting. It mobilizes members through an Action Hub, delivers research and mapping via the Metropolitan Abundance Project, and conducts political endorsements through its 527 Victory Fund PAC. Revenue comes from donations to its 501(c)(3) Education Fund, 501(c)(4) social welfare entity, and PAC, plus merchandise sales.

Product overview

California YIMBY is a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization that operates as a housing advocacy and policy organization rather than a traditional technology product company. The organization offers a portfolio of advocacy services including The Homework Newsletter (legislative updates and analysis), the Abundance Podcast, research and mapping tools, legislation tracking, an Action Hub for member engagement, a Victory Fund PAC for political endorsements, and a merchandise shop. These offerings work together to advance the organization's mission of making California housing more affordable through grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and public education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• California YIMBY Victory Fund: 527 political action committee for political endorsements and campaign contributions; committee ID 1401346.
• California YIMBY Education Fund

Products and services

• Action Hub
• California YIMBY Shop
• Metropolitan Abundance Project
• Legislation Tracking
• California YIMBY Victory Fund

Quantifiable outcome

• 12 bills in 5 years legalizing 2.2M+ homes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SPURcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026SPUR (San Francisco Planning + Urban Research Association) is a key partner in housing coalition advocating for proper implementation of SB 79. California YIMBY and SPUR collaborate on policy positions and legislative advocacy at the state level.
• Abundant Housing LAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Abundant Housing LA is a collaborating partner in housing coalitions advocating for SB 79 implementation and sponsor of bills like AB 1294. They serve as a key Los Angeles-area partner organization.
• Streets For AllminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of SB 79 transit-oriented development legislation, working alongside California YIMBY on urban mobility and housing integration policies.
• Greenbelt AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of SB 79 legislation, focusing on the intersection of housing development and environmental protection in California's urban areas.
• Inner City Law CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of SB 79, bringing expertise on affordable housing and tenant protections to the coalition supporting transit-oriented development.
• California Housing ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of SB 423 extending SB 35 provisions. California Housing Consortium represents affordable housing developers and is a key ally in housing policy advocacy.
• California Conference of CarpenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of SB 423, representing labor interests in housing construction. Partnership bridges affordable housing production with workforce development.
• LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of SB 423, bringing community development finance expertise and network of community-based organizations to housing policy coalition.
• SPURcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of AB 1406 (condo deposit reform), collaborating on legislation to expand pathways to homeownership through reduced financial barriers for condo purchases.
• Abundant Housing LAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal sponsor of AB 1294 (universal applications for home building), with California YIMBY as a supporting partner in streamlining housing entitlement processes.
• Bay Area CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of AB 609 (CEQA exemption for housing) and partner in Fast Track Housing Package coalition, representing major Bay Area employers supporting housing production.
• Student HOMES CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of AB 357 to exempt student housing from Coastal Commission review, representing college students and university housing needs.
• Housing Action CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of SB 328 (hazardous waste fees cap) and co-sponsor of SB 607 (CEQA reform), representing Bay Area housing developers and advocates.
• Abundant Housing Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of SB 1116 (Starter Home Revitalization Act improvements), working to expand for-sale housing opportunities in California.
• UnidosUSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of SB 1116, bringing Latino advocacy organization perspective to housing policy that impacts Hispanic communities.
• California Building Industry AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of AB 1903 (construction defect reform), representing homebuilders who benefit from litigation reforms for new construction.
• Bay Area CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of AB 1903, representing major Bay Area employers and developers in support of construction defect reform.
• Habitat for Humanity CaliforniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of AB 1903, bringing nonprofit homebuilder perspective to construction defect reform legislation.
• Housing Action CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of AB 1903, continuing partnership from Fast Track Housing Package coalition.
• State Building and Construction Trades Council of CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of AB 2074 (Downtown Revitalization Act), representing construction workers who would build high-rise housing near transit under the bill.
• California Council for Affordable HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of SB 677 (ending delays for more homes), representing affordable housing developers who face subdivision map appeals and TEFRA hearing delays.
• Mission HousingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of SB 677, representing Mission District affordable housing developer in San Francisco.
• Casita CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of AB 1070 (building codes for missing middle), advocating for smaller multi-family housing through building code reforms.
• Council of Infill BuildersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of AB 1070, representing builders who construct infill housing and would benefit from reduced building code requirements for 3-10 unit buildings.
• San Francisco YIMBYcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal YIMBY chapter in San Francisco, part of California YIMBY's distributed organizing network.
• East Bay for EveryonecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal YIMBY chapter covering the East Bay region (Oakland, Berkeley, etc.), part of distributed organizing network.
• South Bay YIMBYcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal YIMBY chapter in the South Bay (San Jose area), part of distributed organizing network.
• People for Housing OCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal YIMBY organization in Orange County, part of distributed organizing network.
• YIMBY Democrats of San Diego CountyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal YIMBY Democratic organization in San Diego County, part of distributed organizing network with political focus.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Abundant Housing LA: Regional Los Angeles YIMBY advocacy organization that co-sponsors pro-housing legislation with California YIMBY (e.g., AB 1294, SB 1116) and runs grassroots organizing across LA County. Directly comparable in mission, model, and target policy outcomes.
• YIMBY Action: National YIMBY advocacy organization supporting state and local housing policy reform, with affiliated chapters across multiple states. Directly comparable as a pro-housing advocacy peer with similar legislative and grassroots organizing model.
• SPUR (San Francisco Planning + Urban Research Association): Bay Area urban planning and policy research organization that partners with California YIMBY on SB 79 implementation and broader housing policy. Comparable as a California-focused housing-policy research and advocacy peer, though with a planning-research orientation rather than grassroots organizing.
• Sightline Institute: Pacific Northwest think tank doing research and advocacy on housing supply, zoning reform, and urban density. Comparable as a regional research-and-advocacy YIMBY peer with similar evidence-based approach to housing policy reform.
• Terner Center for Housing Innovation: UC Berkeley research center producing data and policy analysis on California housing affordability and supply. Comparable as a California-focused housing-research peer that complements California YIMBY's legislative work with rigorous analysis and evidence base.
• East Bay for Everyone: East Bay-based YIMBY advocacy organization operating as a local chapter in California YIMBY's distributed network. Directly comparable in mission and grassroots organizing approach at the regional level.
• San Francisco YIMBY: Local YIMBY chapter covering San Francisco within California YIMBY's distributed organizing network. Directly comparable in mission and grassroots organizing approach focused on city-level housing policy.
• People for Housing OC: Orange County YIMBY organization affiliated with California YIMBY's distributed network. Comparable in mission and advocacy approach with regional Orange County focus on housing supply and zoning reform.

Broad incumbents

• National Low Income Housing Coalition: National advocacy organization focused on federal housing policy and affordable housing funding. Comparable as a housing advocacy peer with broader national scope and federal-level policy focus, distinct from California YIMBY's state-level grassroots model.
• Habitat for Humanity California: State affiliate of national housing nonprofit that builds affordable homes and partners with California YIMBY on construction defect reform (AB 1903). Comparable as a California housing nonprofit with overlapping policy and supply-side interests, though focused on direct homebuilding rather than policy advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/cayimby
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOTemRubNPlYxrQkQl2jPMA
• Facebookfacebook.com/cayimby
• Instagraminstagram.com/cayimby
• TikToktiktok.com/@cayimby

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 California YIMBY