What Los Angeles Conservation Corps does

The Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LA Corps / LACC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded on April 16, 1986 by Mickey Kantor in a decommissioned fire station in South Los Angeles with 27 Corpsmembers. The organization operates the nation's largest urban conservation corps with over 130 full-time staff serving approximately 5,000 young people annually across the Greater Los Angeles area. Its mission combines paid workforce development for young adults ages 18-26 with environmental conservation services delivery.

LACC runs two primary program lines. The Young Adult Corps provides paid job training, education (including a wholly-owned LA Education Corps Charter High School for diploma completion), industry-recognized certifications (OSHA 10, CPR/First Aid, Forklift, S212 Chainsaw, HAZWOPER 40), and career placement in conservation, urban forestry, recycling, and disaster response. The After School Programs serve 4,615 LAUSD students across 23 campuses through a ~30-year partnership with LAUSD's Beyond the Bell Branch. Service offerings — accessible via the Hire-a-Crew model — include tree planting, beverage container and tire recycling, litter abatement, food rescue and composting, wildfire recovery (launched January 2025 following the Palisades and Eaton Fires), and contracted construction. The organization operates eight facilities across Greater LA, including the John Van de Kamp Center (administrative HQ) and the renamed Russell Kantor Center.

LA Corps is funded through a diversified model: federal grants from the US Department of Labor, USDA Forest Service, EPA, and National Park Service (approximately $8.4M across 2024 awards); state and local government contracts with LA County, City of LA, California State Parks, LAUSD, and LA Sanitation & Environment; individual donations and planned giving; corporate sponsorships via an Annual Luncheon ($5,000 to $100,000 tiers) and partners including SoCalGas, LA Kings, and Niagara Bottling; and Hire-a-Crew service fees. The organization is governed by an independent board, with Tamara Muzac-Bravo, PhD, MBA, appointed CEO in February 2026 following Wendy Butts' retirement after 25 years of service.

Name

Los Angeles Conservation Corps

Legal name

Los Angeles Conservation Corps

Website

https://lacorps.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Los Angeles Conservation Corps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1986 that provides paid job training, education, and industry certifications to young adults ages 18-26 while delivering urban conservation, tree planting, recycling, and disaster-response services across Greater Los Angeles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Workforce Development and Conservation Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL), Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF)

Keywords

• Youth workforce development
• Conservation services
• Urban greening programs
• After school programs
• Disaster recovery services

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: Federal, state, and local government funding including grants from US Department of Labor, US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, US Environmental Protection Agency, and government contracts for conservation services.
2. Individual Donations and Philanthropy: Donations from individual supporters, major gifts, and planned giving programs.
3. Corporate Sponsorships and Event Revenue: Annual Luncheon sponsorship tiers ranging from $5,000 to $100,000, plus individual ticket sales at $500 and Friend of the Corps packages at $1,500.
4. Hire-a-Crew Service Fees: Government agencies and businesses hire Corpsmember crews for environmental projects, construction, urban greening, and community services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The LA Conservation Corps delivers paid workforce development and conservation services through two primary programs: the Young Adult Corps (ages 18-26) that provides paid job training, education support, industry certifications, and hands-on fieldwork in tree planting, urban forestry, recycling, litter abatement, food rescue, habitat restoration, and disaster response; and the After School Programs serving thousands of K-12 students across 23 LAUSD campuses with homework help, tutoring, enrichment, and sports. It also sells contracted crew services to government and corporate clients, operates a charter high school (LA Education Corps) for diploma completion, and runs an annual fundraising luncheon.

Product overview

The LA Conservation Corps operates a dual-program structure consisting of the Young Adult Corps (for ages 18-26) providing workforce development through conservation work, and After School Programs (serving 23 LAUSD campuses). The Young Adult Corps offers paid job training with hands-on experience in conservation, urban forestry, recycling, and disaster response. Related educational offerings include the LA Education Corps Charter High School for diploma completion. Service offerings span tree planting, recycling, litter abatement, food rescue/composting, wildfire recovery, and contracted crew services. The organization manages multiple facilities across Greater Los Angeles including the John Van de Kamp Center (administrative HQ) and the Russell Kantor Center (South LA flagship).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LA Education Corps: Charter high school providing educational programs for Corpsmembers to earn their high school diploma
• Russell Kantor Center
• John Van de Kamp Center
• Clean & Green

Products and services

• Young Adult Corps
• After School Programs
• LA Education Corps Charter High School
• Hire a Crew
• Wildfire Recovery
• Tree Planting & Urban Greening
• Recycling Program Beverage container recycling (glass, aluminum, plastic) and tire recycling services generating energy savings and reducing environmental impact.
• Litter Abatement & Community Clean Up Street and neighborhood clean-up services collecting and abating tons of litter from city streets, diverting materials from landfill to recycling.
• Food Rescue & Composting Food waste collection from grocery stores in the San Fernando Valley, transforming waste into compost with measurable environmental benefits including CO2 avoidance and water savings.
• Clean & Green Program Community beautification program created by Mayor Tom Bradley in 1988 for 14- to 17-year-old high school students during school breaks, providing street and neighborhood clean-up services across all LA City Council Districts.
• SEA Lab Coastal conservation education program opened in Redondo Beach in 1997 to teach young people about coastal and marine environments.
• River Rangers Program Partnership with the City of Los Angeles Office of Community Beautification protecting public spaces along the Los Angeles River, preserving native flora and fauna, and preventing trash from reaching the ocean.

Quantifiable outcome

• 346,863 hours spent on job training & development (FY24-25)
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Niagara Cares (Niagara Bottling)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 November 2025Philanthropic division of Niagara Bottling, active partner providing direct support during LA wildfire recovery efforts. Honored at 2026 Luncheon for commitment to environmental stewardship.
• MetrominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 November 2025Partner in tree planting initiatives supporting transportation corridor greening.
• Councilwoman Traci Park (CD11)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2025Collaboration on restoration efforts in the Pacific Palisades impacted by the Palisades Fire. Honored at 2025 Luncheon.
• Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado (CD14)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2025Partnership for graffiti abatement on the iconic 6th Street Bridge in downtown Los Angeles.
• LA Sanitation & EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2025Partnership on BeLeaf in Equity initiative expanding street tree coverage in low-canopy underserved communities. Also collaborated on Sepulveda Basin fire fuel reduction.
• SoCalGascoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 May 2025Tree planting partnership with SoCalGas and LA Kings to plant trees along Hyde Park Boulevard in South LA. SoCalGas also provides sponsorship at annual luncheons.
• LA KingscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 May 2025Partnership for tree planting events and hockey clinic for After School Program youth. Includes volunteer service days and Kings Care Foundation support.
• Supervisor Kathryn Barger (5th District)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2025Honored at 2025 Luncheon for strong leadership during Eaton Fire recovery efforts, including restoration of Loma Alta Park in Altadena.
• Supervisor Hilda L. Solis (1st District)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2025Partnership at Pellissier Trailhead Groundbreaking Ceremony connecting historic Pellissier Village to the San Gabriel River.
• Supervisor Holly Mitchell (2nd District)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Ribbon cutting of Lennox Revitalization Site where Compton-based Corpsmembers transformed vacant lot into community space.
• LA Office of Community BeautificationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2025River Rangers Program partnership to protect public spaces along the Los Angeles River, preserve native flora and fauna, and prevent trash from reaching the ocean.
• California Conservation CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 January 2025Partnership with California Conservation Corps for wildfire recovery efforts following the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires. Worked together on watershed protection and restoration efforts.
• LA County Department of Parks and RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 January 2025Longstanding partnership in protecting and enhancing public spaces. Collaborated on wildfire recovery including restoration of Loma Alta Park in Altadena.
• City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 January 2025Partnership with City of LA for various conservation and environmental projects including trail restoration and community beautification.
• Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 January 2025Partnership on restoration efforts in the Pacific Palisades and Compton Creek Natural Park. MRCA and Corps collaborate on habitat restoration and trail projects.
• AmeriCorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding Up Los Angeles (After School Program) was created as one of the nation's first AmeriCorps programs in 1995. Mobilizes 60 Community-Based Organizations.
• LAUSD Beyond the Bell BranchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfter School Programs partnership with LAUSD's Beyond the Bell Branch for nearly 30 years, serving students across 23 LAUSD campuses.
• Shade LAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on tree planting initiatives near Gates Street Elementary School in Lincoln Heights.
• The Corps NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization representing conservation corps. LA Corps is the nation's largest urban conservation corps and received their Project of the Year Award.
• ChrysalisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in wildfire prevention initiatives at the Sepulveda Basin.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• California Conservation Corps: The state-level sister organization that LA Conservation Corps partnered with on watershed protection after the Eaton and Palisades fires. Operates an identical model of paid youth workforce development in conservation for young adults across California, making it the most directly comparable peer.
• Chrysalis: LA-based nonprofit focused on workforce development for people experiencing barriers to employment, serving a similar client population (low-income, disconnected adults) in Los Angeles. Community partner of LA Conservation Corps on wildfire prevention initiatives at Sepulveda Basin.
• Conservation Legacy: National nonprofit that runs multiple conservation corps programs with a similar model of paid youth work in environmental restoration. Member of The Corps Network alongside LA Corps, with closely aligned programmatic structure and federal funding streams.
• Groundwork USA: National network of urban conservation trusts operating in cities across the US, addressing environmental justice through similar urban greening, habitat restoration, and youth workforce models. Direct programmatic overlap with LA Corps' urban greening and BeLeaf in Equity tree-planting work.

Broad incumbents

• AmeriCorps NCCC: Federal national service program that serves as the umbrella for LA Conservation Corps' After School Program (Building Up Los Angeles, the first AmeriCorps-funded program at LA Corps since 1995). Operates a national framework under which LA Corps' youth service programming functions.
• Job Corps: Federal workforce training program administered by the US Department of Labor serving similarly aged young adults with vocational training and education supports. Comparable scope in terms of credentialing and job placement focus, though Job Corps is residential and federally operated at national scale.
• The Corps Network: National membership organization representing conservation and service corps across the US, which awarded LA Conservation Corps its 2026 Project of the Year Award. Functions as both an industry association and a federal funding intermediary for member corps programs.

Emerging players

• City Year: National youth service nonprofit placing AmeriCorps members in schools to improve student outcomes - comparable in mission structure (young adults in service roles, AmeriCorps-funded, education-adjacent) and target age range, though focused on classroom supports rather than conservation work.
• Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit serving young adults ages 18-26 from underserved communities with training and corporate placement. Comparable in target demographic and job-training-to-employment pipeline, though focused on tech/business careers rather than environmental fields.

Regional players

• LA Works: Los Angeles-based volunteer and civic engagement nonprofit connecting volunteers with local nonprofits. Operates in the same LA geography serving overlapping community-based missions, though focused on volunteer mobilization rather than paid workforce development.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LAConservationCorps
• Facebookfacebook.com/LACorps
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lacorps
• Instagraminstagram.com/lacorps
• TikToktiktok.com/@laconservationcorps
• Xx.com/lacorps

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Los Angeles Conservation Corps