El Centro

What El Centro does

El Centro Inc. is a Kansas-incorporated not-for-profit corporation founded in 1976 with a $10,000 grant from the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, originally established as El Centro de Servicios para Hispanos. It delivers bilingual/bicultural services across four program verticals — Education (notably the NAEYC-accredited, KDHE-licensed Academy for Children dual-language preschool for ages 2.5-5), Community Health (Health Navigation, Promotoras de Salud volunteer outreach with 130+ trained individuals, and Medicaid/Marketplace enrollment), Economic Empowerment (financial literacy classes, VITA free tax preparation, ITIN assistance, and the 2024-launched Bienvenido a Mi Casa homeownership pilot), and Advocacy (DACA and citizenship clinics, Know Your Rights education, non-partisan voter registration, and the Ni Uno Más cancer-care access campaign).

Three physical locations operate in Kansas City, Kansas and Olathe, Kansas, with a Western Kansas expansion underway through Garden City Promotora Lead staffing. Services are provided free of charge to clients and revenue is generated almost entirely through grants from foundations and institutional funders (including Health Forward Foundation, United Way of Greater Kansas City, UnidosUS, REACH Healthcare Foundation, and Kansas Health Foundation at the $75,000+ "Alma" level), individual donations, and a Head Start contract through The Family Conservancy; the organization states that 90 cents of every dollar goes to programs and services. Erica Andrade, an internal 22-year veteran previously serving as Chief Program Officer, was appointed President and CEO effective July 1, 2023, succeeding Irene Caudillo.

The organization's go-to-market is community-led: outreach runs through trained Promotoras, partner schools and churches, bilingual earned media, and social channels, reaching more than 12,000 individuals and families per year across Johnson and Wyandotte Counties. Notable external validations include the UnidosUS Midwest Regional Affiliate of the Year award (2023) and a visit from First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.

Name

El Centro

Legal name

El Centro Inc.

Website

https://elcentroinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

El Centro Inc. is a Kansas-based not-for-profit founded in 1976 that delivers free bilingual education, community health, economic empowerment, and advocacy services to Latino individuals and families across the Kansas City metro, currently reaching over 12,000 beneficiaries annually through three locations and expanding into western Kansas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Services Nonprofit

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & School System Navigation (Parent Engagement, Youth Services) (EDAAADAH)

Keywords

• Dual-language preschool
• Community health navigation
• Financial literacy education
• Immigration legal assistance
• Civic engagement advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

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. Grant Funding: Nonprofit organization primarily funded through grants from foundations, government agencies, and institutional funders. The organization states 90 cents of every dollar goes directly to school, programs, and services.
2. Individual Donations: Individual giving program including the $45 for 45th campaign and other fundraising initiatives.
3. Head Start Contract: Family Conservancy Head Start Contract as a funding source for early childhood education services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

El Centro is a not-for-profit corporation that delivers educational, health, economic, and civic programs to the Latino community across Wyandotte and Johnson Counties in Kansas. Its core offerings include the Academy for Children dual-language preschool, Health Navigation and Promotoras de Salud health programs, Financial Literacy and VITA tax assistance, and Advocacy services covering DACA, Citizenship, Know Your Rights, and Voter Registration. All services are delivered free of charge through bilingual staff and trained volunteers at three physical locations.

Product overview

El Centro Inc. is a community services non-profit organization offering a portfolio of integrated programs organized around four core areas: Education (Academy for Children dual-language preschool), Community Health (Health Navigation, Promotoras de Salud, Medicaid enrollment), Economic Empowerment (Financial Literacy, VITA tax assistance, ITIN help, Bienvenido a Mi Casa homeownership program), and Advocacy (DACA/Citizenship clinics, Know Your Rights, Voter Registration, Ni Uno Más cancer care campaign). The organization operates three physical locations in Kansas City, KS and Olathe, KS, serving over 12,000 individuals and families annually in Wyandotte and Johnson Counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Academy for Children Full-day, year-round dual-language preschool for children aged 2.5 to 5, providing instruction in Spanish and English using a one teacher, one language approach. NAEYC accredited and KDHE licensed.
• Health Navigation Program helping individuals access affordable healthcare by connecting them to low-cost clinics, assisting with Medicaid/Medicare applications, enrolling in the Health Insurance Marketplace, and providing Kansas City Medicine Cabinet emergency medical assistance.
• Promotoras de Salud Trained volunteer Health Promoters providing outreach, education, and information on healthy lifestyles for Spanish-speaking communities, with over 130 individuals trained in the last six years.
• ¡Inscríbase! (Voces de Medicaid) Medicaid education and enrollment assistance project combining Promotoras outreach with bilingual enrollment specialists, Marketplace education, and the Voces de Medicaid storytelling initiative.
• Financial Literacy Classes Monthly group financial literacy and homeownership classes covering budgeting, savings, taxes, and money management skills for Wyandotte and Johnson County residents.
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Free preparation of federal and state tax returns for low-to-moderate income families in the Kansas City metro area, with bilingual Spanish-English service sites in Wyandotte and Johnson Counties.
• ITIN Assistance Free assistance with Individual Tax Identification Number applications and renewals, plus tax filing support during annual tax season at VITA sites.
• Bienvenido a Mi Casa Pilot homeownership program helping first-time Latino homeowners through education, savings support, and one-on-one coaching with a Casa Coach, with five families achieving homeownership within six months of launch.
• DACA Clinics Monthly clinics assisting Dreamers with DACA renewal applications, providing support to maintain documentation status without lapse or expiration concerns.
• Citizenship Assistance Monthly naturalization assistance clinics with volunteer immigration attorneys helping legal permanent residents complete the naturalization process.
• Know Your Rights Community education program empowering undocumented and mixed-status families with knowledge about their rights and steps to take in various scenarios.
• Voter Registration and Engagement Non-partisan voter engagement program with three components: Integrated Voter Engagement, Voter and Issue Campaign Engagement, and Leadership Building in Johnson, Wyandotte, and Shawnee Counties.
• PODER en SALUD COVID-19 prevention and vaccination education project producing bilingual materials including PSAs, videos, fotonovelas, infographics, and community health fair events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12,000+ individuals and families served annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• Garden City Promotora LeadsecondaryOthers · 1 January 2024Hired a Promotora Lead in Garden City to expand community education in Spanish and advocacy work in western Kansas.
• Genesis Family HealthsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Affiliate partner in PODER en SALUD project, working with Promotoras de Salud on COVID-19 education and vaccination outreach.
• Health Partnership ClinicsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Affiliate partner in PODER en SALUD project providing healthcare services and vaccination support to Latino communities.
• El Centro of TopekasecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Affiliate partner in PODER en SALUD project, collaborating on COVID-19 education and outreach in Kansas.
• Kansas CARES / Thrive Allen CountysecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Collaboration for bilingual Marketplace Navigator to provide education and outreach about the Health Insurance Marketplace.
• PROCEED, Inc. / NCTSTAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020National Center for Training, Support, and Technical Assistance facilitating the PODER en SALUD (Power in Health) COVID-19 capacity building project for Latino communities, funded by CDC. El Centro served as a national core partner for four years.
• Community CatalystcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018El Centro joined Community Catalyst's Community Voices of Medicaid initiative to increase education about Medicaid and elevate voices of those most impacted.
• The Family ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for early childhood mental health training and support for teachers. Also provides Head Start contract services through Family Conservancy Head Start.
• Kansas City Medicine CabinetsecondaryOthersEl Centro is a Kansas City's Medicine Cabinet site providing emergency medical assistance including dental emergencies, diabetic supplies, durable medical equipment, prescriptions, and vision care for eligible individuals.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Guadalupe Centers: Kansas City-based nonprofit serving the Latino community through education, workforce development, and cultural programs. Operates schools and community services in the same metro as El Centro with a comparable multi-program wraparound model.
• Mattie Rhodes Center: Kansas City nonprofit providing bilingual social services, youth education, mental health, and community wellness programs to the Latino community. Overlapping service lines (education, health, economic empowerment) and shared regional client base make it a close peer.
• El Centro of Topeka: Topeka-based community organization serving the Latino community through similar education, health, and advocacy programming. Affiliated with El Centro in prior federal projects (PODER en SALUD) and serves an overlapping demographic in a nearby Kansas market.
• Casa de Salud: Kansas City nonprofit delivering bilingual healthcare access and navigation for uninsured and underserved Latino patients. Overlaps directly with El Centro's Health Navigation and ¡Inscríbase! programs and shares the same Wyandotte County client base.

Broad incumbents

• SER National (SER Jobs for Progress): National Latino-focused workforce development and education organization. Comparable in mission (economic empowerment for Latino communities) but operates at a much larger national scale and emphasizes workforce training over the full social-services portfolio El Centro provides.
• UnidosUS: National Latino civil rights and advocacy organization and El Centro's national affiliate. Comparable in advocacy and education mission but operates as a national umbrella with policy focus rather than direct service delivery at the local level.
• Hispanic Federation: National Latino nonprofit supporting member organizations with grantmaking, advocacy, and capacity-building. Comparable in serving Latino communities through a network model and shares funders/partners with El Centro's regional advocacy work.
• United Way of Greater Kansas City: El Centro's primary institutional funder and a major Kansas City community-services umbrella. Not a direct service peer, but operates in the same funding ecosystem and supports overlapping cause areas (education, economic mobility, health).

Regional players

• Jewish Vocational Service (JVS Kansas City): Kansas City-based social services nonprofit providing workforce training, financial empowerment, and refugee resettlement. Overlaps with El Centro's economic empowerment (financial literacy, ITIN, tax prep) and immigrant-services lines but serves a different demographic.

Emerging players

• NCircle (formerly NLCP) / National Latino Children's Institute: Latino-focused family support and early childhood organization operating in the Midwest. Comparable in dual-language early childhood focus and family navigation, but operates at a smaller scale than El Centro's Academy for Children program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/elcentroinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/ElCentroKC
• Instagraminstagram.com/elcentroinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 El Centro