Little Lights

What Little Lights does

Little Lights is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit urban ministry founded in 1995 and headquartered at 760 7th Street SE in Washington, DC. The organization provides long-term, year-round support services to under-resourced children, youth, and families living in DC public housing communities, with a focus on southeast Washington neighborhoods including Wards 7 and 8. Its core service lines include youth development (Homework Club afterschool tutoring, mentoring), the Next Step College and Career Program, family and economic empowerment, the Clean Green Team employment program, Summer Lights 5-week summer camp, and the Race Literacy 101 anti-racism training course.

The organization operates a portfolio of community programs rather than a technology product, delivering services in-person across multiple program sites: Hilltop Center, Potomac Gardens Center, Hopkins Center, and the newly opened 6,000 sq ft Jubilee Center in Ward 7. The Jubilee Center opened in January 2026 and is part of a multi-year Space to Shine capital campaign with a $4M goal (over 75% raised as of latest disclosure). Little Lights does not rely on proprietary technology platforms; service delivery is grounded in-person through staff and trained volunteers drawn from a network of recurring church, campus ministry (UVA, Virginia Tech), and community partners.

Little Lights' revenue model is entirely donation-based. The organization is funded through individual giving (monthly program, annual Giving Day), corporate sponsorships (SuprTEK, First Citizens Bank), church partnerships, and annual fundraising events including the Little Lights Benefit gala (raising $180-216K in recent years), Giving Day 24-hour campaigns ($140-166K+), and the Summer Classic and The Hundred golf tournaments ($25K+). All services are delivered free of charge. The organization is led by founder and Executive Director Steve Park, with Mary Park as Deputy Director, and operates with 11-50 staff. Accountability is supported by a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency and a 4-star Charity Navigator rating.

Name

Little Lights

Legal name

Little Lights

Website

https://littlelights.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Little Lights is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1995 that provides youth development, college and career readiness, family support, and anti-racism training to under-resourced children, youth, and families in Washington, DC public housing communities, operating from multiple program sites funded entirely by donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Youth and Family Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN), Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Community nonprofit services
• College and career readiness
• Anti-racism education
• Family economic empowerment

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through one-time gifts, monthly giving programs, and annual Giving Day campaigns. The organization conducts targeted fundraising campaigns including Giving Day events with matching fund incentives.
2. Annual Benefit Events: Annual benefit gala events with table hosting, corporate sponsorships, and live auctions. The 2024 benefit raised $180,000 with $50,000 in matching funds; 2023 benefit raised over $216,000.
3. Charity Golf Tournaments: Annual Summer Classic charity golf tournaments and The Hundred fundraising event. The inaugural 2022 tournament raised $15,000; subsequent events have raised over $25,000 per year.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor benefit events and programs. Noted corporate sponsors include SuprTEK and First Citizens Bank.
5. Church Partnerships: Partnerships with churches that provide volunteers, donors, and organizational support. Churches serve as table hosts and sponsors at benefit events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Little Lights is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit urban ministry that delivers free, year-round youth development, college and career readiness, family and economic empowerment, and anti-racism training programs to under-resourced children, youth, and families in Washington, DC. Services are delivered in person across multiple community program sites (Hilltop, Potomac Gardens, Hopkins, and Jubilee Centers) and supplemented by seasonal initiatives such as Summer Lights camp and the Christmas Store.

Product overview

Little Lights is a non-profit organization providing long-term, year-round holistic support and services for under-resourced communities in Washington, DC. Rather than a unified software product, Little Lights operates a portfolio of community programs including Youth Development (with Homework Club afterschool tutoring and the Next Step College and Career Program), Family and Economic Empowerment, Race Literacy 101 anti-racism training, the Clean Green Team employment program, Summer Lights summer camp, and the Christian Mentoring Program. The organization expanded in 2026 with the launch of the Jubilee Center, a new 6,000 square foot program facility in Ward 7. Additional offerings include seasonal programs like the Christmas Store and fundraising events such as The Hundred golf tournament.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Development Programs Year-round programs that equip young people in DC's under-resourced communities to excel in school and life through one-on-one academic tutoring, homework support, mentoring, and enrichment activities. Includes the Homework Club afterschool program offered at multiple program sites.
• College and Career Program Comprehensive support for high school students pursuing higher education and young adults, including tutoring, college tours, application assistance, paid internships (e.g., Art and Design Internship), and the Next Step College and Career Program that continues support through college.
• Family and Economic Empowerment Programs that promote economic mobility for parents and caregivers in focus communities, including job search assistance, computer lab access, family support services, and the Christmas Store, combined with a model of hiring from within focus communities.
• Race Literacy 101 Anti-Racism Training Anti-racism education course that teaches participants about the history of systemic racial injustice, offered as 12-session virtual cohorts and an annual in-person Race Literacy Immersion Workshop for community members and external adults.
• Clean Green Team
• Summer Lights Camp A 5-week summer camp providing meals, academic enrichment, recreational activities, and exploration of DC for approximately 121 students each year, staffed by student interns and volunteers in partnership with Capital Area Food Bank.
• Christian Mentoring Program One-on-one mentoring matching adult volunteer mentors with students for relational, spiritual, and emotional support, requiring a minimum 1-year commitment of 6 hours monthly.
• Jubilee Center Programs Programs operated from the newly renovated 6,000 square foot Jubilee Center facility in Ward 7, including Homework Club afterschool tutoring, expanding Little Lights' service footprint east of the Anacostia River.
• Christmas Store Annual holiday program allowing parents and caretakers of students to select gifts for their children, supported by community donations via Amazon Wish List and direct contributions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 82% of students who regularly attend Little Lights see improved reading and math scores
• +3 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

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Capital Area Food BankcoreOthersMulti-year partnership to provide healthy, well-balanced meals for students in Little Lights programs. During summer months when students don't receive school meals, Capital Area Food Bank provides nutritional meals for every student attending Summer Lights 5-week summer camp. Partnership addresses food insecurity in under-resourced communities.
• Asian American Christian Collaborative (AACC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAACC was founded by Raymond Chang to provide a network helping Asian American Christians engage in social issues and amplify voices. Steve Park participates in AACC delegations and attended White House listening session with AACC leaders to advocate for racial solidarity and healing programs.
• Hook HallminorOthersVenue partner for annual Little Lights Benefit events. 2024 benefit held at Hook Hall (3400 Georgia Avenue NW) with 230 guests. Venue provides event space for major annual fundraising gala.
• SuprTEKminorOthersCorporate partner and sponsor of Little Lights Benefit events, contributing to annual fundraising success.
• Langston Golf CourseminorOthersHistoric DC golf course (opened 1939) hosting Little Lights Summer Classic charity golf tournaments. Course has significance in Black golf history during segregation era.
• Rosebrook Presbyterian Church and Grace Meridian HillminorOthersChurch sponsors of Race Literacy Connections workshops and anti-racism educational events. Churches provide support for programming and participant engagement.
• Grace Covenant Church Capitol HillcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor church partner providing volunteers, donors, and community connections. Church members regularly volunteer and attend events; Steve Park attends this church; church has partnered for over 20 years with UVA/VT campus ministries sending mission trip volunteers.
• Grace Community ChurchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChurch partner providing volunteer groups for Summer Lights camp and other programs. Multiple volunteer groups from this church participate annually.
• All Saints Episcopal ChurchminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChurch volunteer group partner for Summer Lights summer camp programs.
• National Student LeadershipminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVolunteer group partner providing student leaders for Summer Lights programming.
• Grace Covenant Church Capitol HillcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChurch volunteer group partner for Summer Lights programming.
• Saint Albans High SchoolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool volunteer group partner for Summer Lights programs.
• DC Unity and Justice FellowshipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of Faith & Justice Focus Series workshops including Racial Healing and Beloved Community webinar. Joint programming for anti-racism education.
• University of Virginia (UVA) - Grace Christian FellowshipcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCampus ministry partnership through Servants Ministry network sending annual mission trip teams for 20+ years. Students volunteer for one-week service periods at Little Lights programs.
• Virginia Tech - Cornerstone Christian FellowshipcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCampus ministry partnership through Servants Ministry network sending annual mission trip teams for 20+ years. Students volunteer for one-week service periods at Little Lights programs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sasha Bruce Youthwork: DC-based nonprofit focused on youth and young adults facing housing instability and family disruption. Directly comparable target population (at-risk DC youth) and community-embedded service model.
• CentroNía: DC-area nonprofit offering early childhood education, youth development, and family support services. Comparable integrated education + family empowerment model serving immigrant and under-resourced families in the DC region.
• Martha's Table: DC-based nonprofit serving under-resourced children, families, and communities with a similar mix of youth development, healthy food access, and family support programming. Directly comparable mission, geography, and beneficiary profile.
• Higher Achievement: DC-area (and now multi-city) youth development nonprofit providing academic enrichment, mentoring, and college access for middle schoolers from under-resourced communities. Highly comparable academic-outcomes and mentoring model.
• Bread for the City: DC-based social services nonprofit providing food, clothing, medical care, and social services to low-income residents. Comparable wraparound-services model serving DC public housing communities.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington: DC-area affiliate of the national Boys & Girls Club network providing afterschool academic support, mentoring, and youth development programming. Direct afterschool/Homework Club comparable operating in the same geography.

Regional players

• City Year Washington DC: DC site of national AmeriCorps youth service program placing young adults as tutors and mentors in under-resourced schools. Comparable near-peer youth mentoring and academic support model in the same DC market.
• KIPP DC: DC public charter school network serving predominantly low-income students with extended-day programming and college-prep focus. Comparable in serving DC under-resourced communities through extended academic programming; KIPP DC is a destination employer for Little Lights alumni (e.g., Dominique Scruggs).

Broad incumbents

• Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit serving young adults from under-resourced communities with technical training and corporate internships. Comparable in serving the Next Step College and Career program demographic at national scale.
• Aspire Public Schools: Network of charter and afterschool programs focused on college and career readiness for low-income youth, with direct service operations in multiple regions. Comparable college/career readiness mission and youth-development focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LittleLightsVideos
• Facebookfacebook.com/littlelightsurbanministries
• Instagraminstagram.com/littlelightsdc
• Xx.com/LittleLightsDC

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Little Lights