Asian Counseling and Referral Service

What Asian Counseling and Referral Service does

Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization founded in 1973 in Seattle, Washington, and is the largest multiservice provider serving Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (A&NH/PI) communities in the Pacific Northwest. ACRS operates 14 major programs across behavioral health and wellness, aging services, employment and training, child and youth development, citizenship and immigration assistance, civic engagement, recovery services (including problem gambling), and a culturally specific food bank, serving approximately 30,000-35,000 individuals annually across King County sites in Seattle, Bellevue, and Kent. The service model is delivered by approximately 280 bilingual and bicultural staff who collectively speak more than 40 languages and dialects, with services provided free, on a sliding scale, or reimbursed through Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance.

The underlying technology stack is intentionally modest and oriented around service delivery rather than platform scale: AMN language services for interpretation, SSL encryption for web communications, Google Analytics for site traffic, and the Classy platform for donation processing. The organization is designated as a HIPAA hybrid entity and maintains a formal compliance office and civil rights coordinator, reflecting the regulatory complexity of operating healthcare-adjacent behavioral health services alongside non-covered social services.

ACRS is funded through a diversified but government-anchored mix: primary government contracts for social and behavioral health services, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships (Amazon, Microsoft, Gates Foundation, HAVI, TMS, Comcast, among others), individual contributions, insurance reimbursement, and ancillary room-rental income from its Rainier Valley facility. Distribution is entirely direct-to-client through appointment-based intake at five physical sites, supplemented by phone and email intake and off-site delivery in schools and community centers. The organization's strategic posture is community-led, with marketing and fundraising executed through signature events (Walk for Rice, Annual Benefit Gala), social media, earned media, and a 1,000+ volunteer base.

Name

Asian Counseling and Referral Service

Legal name

Asian Counseling and Referral Service

Website

https://acrs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

ACRS is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1973 and the largest multiservice organization serving Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander communities in the Pacific Northwest, delivering behavioral health, food security, workforce, immigration, and youth services in 40+ languages to roughly 30,000 individuals annually across King County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts: Primary funding source from government contracts to provide social services, behavioral health programs, and human services.
2. Foundation Grants: Grant funding from foundations to support specific programs and services.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from companies including Amazon, Microsoft, TMS, HAVI, Gates Foundation, and others for events and programs.
4. Individual Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, including recurring donations and major gifts.
5. Room Rentals: Conference rooms, activity center/gym, and commercial kitchen available for rent to qualifying nonprofit organizations.
6. Insurance Reimbursement: ACRS accepts Medicaid, Medicare and most private insurance plans for mental health care.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ACRS delivers community-based social services and behavioral health programs to Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (A&NH/PI) and other communities across the Pacific Northwest. Its core offerings include behavioral health counseling, aging services, an ethnic food bank, child and youth development, employment training, citizenship and immigration assistance, civic engagement, recovery services (including problem gambling treatment), and a pro bono legal clinic, all delivered in over 40 languages by a bilingual, bicultural staff.

Product overview

Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) is a social services organization, not a technology company. It offers a broad array of community-based programs organized as distinct service departments rather than a unified product platform. Core services include Behavioral Health & Wellness (mental health counseling in 40+ languages), Aging Services, Employment & Training, Child & Youth Development, Citizenship & Immigration Assistance, Civic Engagement programs, Recovery Services, and the ACRS Food Bank. Additional offerings include the Rainier Valley Legal Clinic (pro bono legal services), Walk for Rice and Benefit Gala fundraising events, and Room Rentals at their Seattle facility. Services are delivered by approximately 280 staff members who collectively speak 40+ languages, serving approximately 30,000 individuals annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aging Services for Older Adults Support services for older adults enabling them to remain in their own homes, including ethnic lunch programs, food bank access, and assistance for elders and adults with disabilities.
• Behavioral Health & Wellness Bilingual, bicultural counseling and therapy for children and adults delivered in over 40 languages, including mental health services, problem gambling treatment, substance abuse treatment and recovery services, and domestic violence batterers intervention.
• Employment & Training Services Workforce development programs helping job seekers explore career pathways, build job-readiness skills, and connect to industry opportunities, including aviation and construction sector pathways offered with Literacy Source and the Port of Seattle.
• Child & Youth Development Youth leadership development, violence prevention, academic support, and the Get R.E.A.L. Summer Youth Program serving children and youth from A&NH/PI communities.
• Citizenship & Immigration Assistance Assistance with citizenship applications, immigration matters, and naturalization support, including participation in the Naturalize 2 Million campaign to encourage eligible legal permanent residents to apply.
• Civic Engagement Community education, mobilization, advocacy, voter registration, and the AAPI Democracy Initiative advancing civic participation for A&NH/PI communities.
• Recovery Services Substance abuse treatment and recovery services, including the dedicated Problem Gambling Treatment program serving A&NH/PI clients.
• ACRS Food Bank Food bank specializing in Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander staples, providing emergency feeding for homeless and low-income community members and distributing more than 1 million pounds of nutritious, culturally familiar food annually to 5,200+ individuals and families.
• Rainier Valley Legal Clinic Pro bono legal clinic providing free limited legal advice and referrals to King County residents on housing, family, and consumer issues, operated in partnership with the Asian Bar Association of Washington and the King County Bar Association.
• ACRS Room Rentals Facility rental service offering conference rooms, an activity center/gym, and a commercial kitchen to qualifying nonprofit organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 1 million pounds of nutritious and culturally familiar foods provided annually to 5,200+ individuals and families
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• AARPcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 June 2026Awarded ACRS a $15,000 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant to expand digital literacy training for older adults in King County.
• QFCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 May 2026Donated $5,000 to support the ACRS Food Bank in Seattle's Chinatown-International District.
• Literacy SourcecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026Partnership with Literacy Source and Port of Seattle to offer Ready to Work program pathways in aviation and construction.
• Port of SeattlecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026Partnership with Literacy Source and Port of Seattle to offer Ready to Work program pathways in aviation and construction.
• Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2026Formalized Thrive360 partnership to connect community insight with national health advocacy, advancing health equity for A&NH/PI communities.
• Asian Bar Association of Washington (ABAW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 2025Partnership to relaunch the Rainier Valley Legal Clinic at ACRS, providing free legal consultations to low-income, immigrant, and refugee community members. ABAW coordinates volunteer attorneys for monthly clinic sessions.
• King County Bar Association (KCBA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 2025Partnership operating the Rainier Valley Legal Clinic as part of KCBA's Neighborhood Legal Clinics (NLC) program, providing free limited legal advice and referrals to King County residents.
• HAVIflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 October 2025Presenting sponsor of Walk for Rice and partner in mental health dialogue events. HAVI is a longtime community partner supporting ACRS programs and services.
• TMSflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 October 2025Presenting sponsor of the 2025 Annual Benefit Gala, including former company PMI, for enduring partnership and commitment to ACRS's mission.
• AmazoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 October 2025Premier sponsor of ACRS Gala. Also partner through Asians at Amazon employee resource group.
• MicrosoftcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 October 2025Premier sponsor of ACRS Gala, continuing support for immigrant and refugee communities across the region.
• Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 October 2025Advocate sponsor of ACRS Gala supporting ACRS's work and mission.
• UPSminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 October 2025Advocate sponsor of ACRS Gala.
• Muckleshoot CasinominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 October 2025Partner sponsor of ACRS Gala.
• Swire Coca-ColaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 October 2025Partner sponsor of ACRS Gala.
• UwajimayaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 October 2025Partner sponsor of ACRS Gala.
• East West BankminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 October 2025Community partner sponsor of ACRS Gala.
• Keller Rohrback L.L.P.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 October 2025Community partner sponsor of ACRS Gala.
• Banyan Legal CounselminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 October 2025Community partner sponsor of ACRS Gala.
• ComcastcoreTechnology or Integration · 19 September 2018Partnership to tackle the digital divide through Comcast Lift Zone, providing internet access and digital literacy resources at ACRS facilities.
• Comcast NBCUniversalflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Presenting sponsor of 45th Anniversary celebration videos and long-term community partner.
• United WaycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit partner of ACRS, listed as partner on website.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Community Health Services: Seattle-based federally qualified health center serving Asian Pacific Islander communities with medical, dental, and behavioral health services in multiple languages. Directly comparable as a fellow AAPI-focused multiservice nonprofit operating in the same King County market.
• Asian Health Services: Oakland, CA-based community health center serving low-income Asian and Pacific Islander populations with primary care, behavioral health, and youth programs in 14+ languages. Directly comparable mission, demographic focus, and multiservice delivery model.
• Chinatown Service Center: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing health, social, and educational services to Asian American communities in multiple Southern California locations. Comparable as a large multiservice AAPI nonprofit with multiple programs and language capacity.
• Center for Pan Asian Community Services: Atlanta-based nonprofit serving Asian American, Pacific Islander, and other underserved communities with health, education, and social services. Comparable as a pan-Asian multiservice nonprofit in a different regional market.
• Asian Americans for Community Involvement: San Jose, CA-based nonprofit providing health, mental health, and social services to Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in Santa Clara County. Comparable scale, mission, and integrated service model.
• Chinese Information and Service Center: Seattle-based nonprofit serving immigrants and refugees, particularly Asian communities, with social services, ESL, citizenship, and youth programs. Direct regional peer in King County serving overlapping populations.

Broad incumbents

• Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations: National membership organization representing community health organizations serving Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations. Comparable as a larger AAPI health advocacy infrastructure player, though operating as a network rather than direct service provider.
• Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum: National health policy advocacy organization focused on AAPI communities, with which ACRS formalized the Thrive360 partnership. Functions as a national advocacy counterpart rather than direct service competitor.

Regional players

• Pacific Islander Community Association: Washington-state based community organization serving Pacific Islander communities through cultural, educational, and advocacy programs. Comparable mission overlap, particularly for the Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander component of ACRS's constituency.

Others

• United Way of King County: Regional funder and partner of ACRS focused on housing, education, and financial stability across King County. Acts as both funder and ecosystem convener rather than a direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/acrsnews
• Facebookfacebook.com/clubbamboo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asian-counseling-and-referral-service

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Asian Counseling and Referral Service