Self Enhancement

What Self Enhancement does

Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1981 by Tony Hopson Sr. in Portland, Oregon, originally as a basketball camp for Black youth and now operating as Oregon's largest Black-led nonprofit. SEI delivers a cradle-to-career continuum of programs across youth development (In-School, After School, Summer, Empowerment, Parent Engagement), community services (Housing Assistance, Energy Assistance, ADSV, Child Welfare Advocacy), and 17 SUN Community School sites embedded across four Portland-area school districts (Portland Public, Centennial, Parkrose, Reynolds). The organization's underlying technology stack is modest — a CaseWorthy case management and client portal system used for tracking participation, referrals, and outcomes — supplemented by standard website, social, and email channels. SEI's business model is grant- and donation-funded: revenue streams include foundation and government grants (Multnomah County, Portland Children's Levy, State of Oregon), individual and corporate donations, signature fundraising events (Soul of the City gala, Culture & Commerce Market, Harvest Fest, Summer Rally), and re-granting through the Education Co-Op, which distributes an annual recurring $2.5 million from the 1803 Fund to 12 peer Black-led organizations. In 2026, SEI launched SEI Living as a dedicated affordable housing development arm, extending the model into real estate and resident services. All participant-facing services are provided at no cost to eligible youth and families.

Name

Self Enhancement

Legal name

Self Enhancement, Inc.

Website

https://selfenhancement.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Self Enhancement, Inc. is a 45-year-old Portland-based nonprofit delivering a cradle-to-career continuum of youth development, family services, and affordable housing for the Black community across 22 locations and 17 SUN school sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Government Grants: SEI receives significant grant funding from foundations and government entities including Multnomah County, Portland Children's Levy, State of Oregon, and others to fund specific programs such as housing, child welfare, energy assistance, and youth programming.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: SEI raises funds through individual donations (one-time and recurring), corporate sponsorships, and estate giving/planned gifts to support its programs and operations.
3. Fundraising Events: Signature events including Soul of the City (annual gala), Culture & Commerce Market, Harvest Fest, and Summer Rally generate revenue through sponsorships and donations.
4. 1803 Fund Education Co-Op: Through a partnership with the 1803 Fund, SEI administers an Education Co-Op distributing an annual recurring $2.5 million to peer community-based organizations. This represents a grantmaking/re-granting function.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization that delivers youth development programs, family support services, housing assistance, energy assistance, anti-domestic and sexual violence services, child welfare advocacy, and housing development primarily for Portland's Black community. Its wraparound model integrates in-school, after-school, summer, and empowerment programming for youth with parent engagement, housing, education co-op, and community-school services for families.

Product overview

Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI) is a non-profit social services organization offering a comprehensive continuum of programs and services for youth and families in Portland, Oregon. The organization operates multiple interconnected programs including youth development services (In School Program, After School Enhancement, Summer Program), empowerment initiatives (scholarships, workforce development, apprenticeships), community and family services (housing assistance, energy assistance, anti-violence advocacy, child welfare support), and housing development through SEI Living. SEI also manages the Education Co-Op, a grantmaking initiative distributing $2.5 million annually to peer organizations. The organization serves youth from age 0 to adulthood across multiple school districts with a focus on the Black community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• In School Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% high school graduation rate for SEI youth, compared to 81% statewide and 73% for Black students in Oregon
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Community Development Partners (CDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between SEI and CDP has resulted in transformative affordable housing projects including the Alberta Alive initiative. SEI contributes youth development and community support expertise while CDP brings real estate development experience, creating sustainable mixed-use developments serving underserved communities in Portland.
• Portland Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEI embeds coordinators in multiple PPS schools across four regions, providing In-School Program case management and SUN Community School services. SEI serves students across Rosa Parks ES, George MS, Ockley Green MS, Roosevelt HS, Boise Elliot/Humboldt ES, Harriet Tubman MS, Jefferson HS, and other PPS sites.
• Parkrose School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEI embeds coordinators in Parkrose MS, Grant HS, McDaniels HS, and Parkrose HS as part of its In-School and SUN Community School programs, serving students in an underserved East Portland community.
• Reynolds School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEI operates SUN Community School services at Reynolds High School and Reynolds Middle School, providing enrichment, academic support, and wraparound services to students in Troutdale.
• Centennial School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEI provides SUN Community School services to students in the Centennial School District as part of its regional expansion across four Portland-area districts.
• Alaska AirlinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlaska Airlines sponsored SEI's HBCU Tour, flying over 30 high school juniors to visit Tuskegee University, Alabama State University, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, Johnson C. Smith University, North Carolina A&T University, and Howard University. Alaska Airlines has also been a sponsor of Soul of the City gala.
• Nike and Jordan BrandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNike and Jordan Brand are sponsors of SEI's Soul of the City annual gala, providing brand association with SEI's largest fundraiser and its mission to empower Black youth in Portland.
• 12 Education Co-Op Grantee OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEI's Education Co-Op distributes annual grants to 12 peer community-based organizations including Black Parent Initiative, Camp ELSO, Elevate Oregon, Friends of Baseball, HOLLA School, Kairos PDX, POIC, Project LEDO, REAP, Triple Threat Mentoring, Word is Bond, and Y.O.U.T.H. The Co-Op provides shared evaluation frameworks and collective impact coordination.
• Call to Safety (formerly Portland Women's Crisis Line)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEI's Anti-Domestic & Sexual Violence (ADSV) Program works in partnership with Call to Safety. Hotline calls received outside SEI's office hours are automatically forwarded to Call to Safety to ensure continued support for survivors.
• Home ForwardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome Forward (Portland's housing authority) processes Short Term Rental Assistance payments for SEI's housing assistance programs, enabling SEI to distribute rental assistance to eligible households.
• Pacific PowerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEI partners with Pacific Power to administer energy assistance funds for eligible Pacific Power customers. SEI accepts applications and manages the waitlist for Pacific Power Energy Assistance funding.
• Portland General Electric (PGE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEI partners with PGE to provide energy assistance for eligible PGE customers, helping households manage utility bills through the Energy Assistance Program.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC): Portland-based Black-led nonprofit providing workforce training, education, and wraparound services to opportunity youth. Operates similar case-managed, culturally specific programs targeting the same population and even receives funding via SEI's Education Co-Op.
• New Avenues for Youth: Portland nonprofit serving youth experiencing homelessness and poverty through case management, education, and housing programs. Comparable mission (youth/family stabilization in Portland metro) and school-linked service delivery model.
• Black Parent Initiative: Black-led Portland nonprofit focused on Black parent engagement, educational equity, and culturally specific family support. Comparable Black-community-anchored service model and even receives SEI Education Co-Op funding.
• Urban League of Portland: Portland affiliate of the National Urban League, providing Black community services, workforce development, youth programs, and housing navigation. Comparable mission, target population, and service mix in the same Portland metro geography.
• Kairos PDX: Black-led Portland charter school and community organization offering K-12 education and wraparound services to Black and Latino students. Directly comparable culturally specific education model and Education Co-Op grantee.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro: Portland affiliate of BGCA providing after-school, summer, and case-management youth services in similar school-based and community settings. Comparable target demographic and school partnership GTM, though not culturally specific.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of Columbia-Willamette: Regional YMCA serving Portland metro with youth development, child care, and family services through school and community site delivery. Comparable after-school and youth enrichment model but operates as broad incumbent across multiple program areas.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development organization providing after-school, summer, and case-management services via local affiliates. Comparable core youth services franchise and school/community site model, but far broader and less culturally specific than SEI.

Emerging players

• Harlem Children's Zone: Pioneer of the cradle-to-career pipeline model for Black children in Central Harlem. Closest analogue to SEI's full-continuum, place-based, culturally specific service architecture — even though SEI is a nonprofit rather than a charter operator.

Others

• Community Development Partners (CDP): Affordable housing developer partnering with SEI on Alberta Alive and other projects. Comparable in the SEI Living affordable housing context; included as enabling partner and adjacent comparable in the real estate development arm rather than direct youth services peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/self-enhancement-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/self_enhancement_inc
• Xx.com/SelfEnhancement
• Facebookfacebook.com/SelfEnhancement

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Self Enhancement