Thinkwatts Foundation
Thinkwatts Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit based in Watts, Los Angeles that runs free food distributions, financial literacy, entrepreneurship training, youth sports, and health programs for underserved LMI/BIPOC communities across LA, NYC, Virginia, DC, and Maryland.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Thinkwatts Foundation does
Thinkwatts Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization (EIN: 83-2224841) founded in 2018 and headquartered at 1225 E. 100th St in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. It delivers a broad portfolio of community programs targeting low-income, LMI/BIPOC, and underserved residents in Watts and beyond, with a leadership team of five covering Communications, Partnerships, Operations, and Programming under Founder and CEO Brandon "Stix" Salaam-Bailey. Core programs include monthly Financial Literacy Education, the Mastercard-partnered Business Builder Program (three cohorts completed with grants to small business participants), the LAFC Foundation Soccer Clinic (12-week quarterly youth program), bi-weekly and monthly Food Distributions across LA County, New York City, Virginia, DC, and Maryland, quarterly Health Fairs with Kaiser Permanente and Watts Health Care, twice-yearly Teacher Supplies Drives, and Environmental Justice Initiatives including 27 donated hydrogen vehicles and water-box deployment. The foundation has developed 16 outdoor courts, an indoor gym, and a Planet Fitness facility, and is planning a THINK WATTS HQ community hub with a coding classroom, music studio, and sewing/printing manufacturing capabilities.
The foundation operates a community-led go-to-market model in which all services are provided free to beneficiaries, with revenue derived from individual tax-deductible donations, corporate sponsorships, and partnership-funded grants. Fundraising and visibility are amplified by the founder's entertainment industry connections, including ties to Top Dawg Entertainment, the LA Clippers (creator of the "Clip City" anthem), LAFC, and the LA Rams, and by a corporate sponsor portfolio spanning Mastercard, Nike, Beyond Meat, Banc of California, Planet Fitness, Kaiser Permanente, the LA Dodgers, the LA Food Bank, and Foodbank NYC. There is no proprietary technology product, software platform, or mobile app; impact is delivered through in-person activations, recurring cohorts, school-based programs, and direct community distribution coordinated with HACLA's 14 public housing developments and the LAUSD. The company type is private nonprofit, with no parent organization, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed institutional investors beyond the Nike funding commitment dated 2023-02-15.
Thinkwatts Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Thinkwatts Foundation
- Legal name
- Thinkwatts Foundation
- Website
- https://thinkwattsfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Thinkwatts Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit based in Watts, Los Angeles that runs free food distributions, financial literacy, entrepreneurship training, youth sports, and health programs for underserved LMI/BIPOC communities across LA, NYC, Virginia, DC, and Maryland.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Thinkwatts Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC), Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)
Keywords
Where Thinkwatts Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Thinkwatts Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals supporting the foundation's community programs. EIN: 83-2224841
- Grants: Foundation provides grants to small business participants at the end of each entrepreneurship cohort, funded through partnership programs with Mastercard and other corporate sponsors.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Thinkwatts Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Thinkwatts Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit that delivers free community programs to underserved urban populations in Los Angeles and beyond, including bi-weekly/monthly food distributions, monthly financial literacy education, the Mastercard-partnered Business Builder entrepreneurship program with grant disbursements, youth soccer clinics with LAFC Foundation, quarterly health fairs, environmental justice initiatives (hydrogen vehicle donations and water boxes), and teacher supply drives. The foundation is funded through individual tax-deductible donations, corporate sponsorships, and program grants, and operates as a community-rooted conduit between LMI/BIPOC residents and public/private sector partners.
Product overview
Thinkwatts Foundation operates as a community-focused nonprofit organization offering a diverse portfolio of interconnected programs addressing underserved communities in Los Angeles and beyond. The core offerings include the Financial Literacy Education Program providing monthly workshops on money management and investing, the Business Builder Program (in partnership with Mastercard) delivering entrepreneurship training with grant opportunities, and the Soccer Clinic Program in collaboration with LAFC Foundation for youth development. Additional programs span food distributions (bi-weekly in LA, monthly in NYC and Virginia), environmental justice initiatives with hydrogen vehicle donations and water boxes, quarterly health fairs, teacher supply drives, and community activations including Juneteenth festivals. The organization is developing THINK WATTS HQ as a central hub consolidating these services with new resources including a coding classroom, music studio, and manufacturing equipment. All programs are delivered through strategic partnerships with sports teams, healthcare providers, and corporate sponsors rather than a unified technology platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Financial Literacy Education Program
- Business Builder Program
- Soccer Clinic Program
- Food Distributions
- Environmental Justice Initiatives
- Health Care Program
- Teacher Supplies Drive
- Community Activations
Quantifiable outcome
- 250+ families served monthly through food distributions for nearly 3 years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Thinkwatts Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Thinkwatts Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Thinkwatts Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.
- Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE)coreMusic label and hometown organization that co-hosts Above & Beyond Food Distribution events. TDE artists including Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Jay Rock participate in community events. TDE also hosts annual Christmas toy drives.
- Beyond MeatmajorSponsor of food distribution events, providing Beyond Meat food products for distribution to underserved communities.
- Harold Robinson FoundationcoreCollaborator on Above & Beyond Food Distribution program, supporting food distribution to Watts and Compton residents.
- Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA)coreCoordinates services for 14 public housing developments including Nickerson Gardens, Jordan Downs, Imperial Courts, and others. Partners on food distribution events.
- Aqua Equity WatersupportingSponsor providing water for food distribution events.
- Primestor DevelopmentsupportingSponsor of food distribution events supporting underserved communities.
- LAFC FoundationcorePartnership for Soccer Clinic program - a holistic initiative designed to nurture life skills and cultivate healthy habits among underserved youth through 12-week soccer training.
- LA ClipperscoreCollaborated on Clippers Community Courts initiative, renovating recreational spaces at University Pathways Public Service Academy and Charles R. Drew Middle School. Partnership led by founder Stix (creator of 'Clip City' anthem).
- LA LakerssupportingNBA team partner in coalition to uplift underserved communities through sports programs.
- Sports AcademysupportingPartner in sports programming coalition supporting youth wellness through sports.
- Shoot360supportingPartner in sports programming coalition supporting youth development through basketball training.
- MastercardcorePartnership for Business Builder Program - provides education, tools, and resources to small business owners. Three cohorts completed with grants provided to participants.
- Banc of CaliforniacorePartner providing connections for weekly financial literacy program at New Charles Drew Middle School. Program grew from 12 to 50+ participants.
- Watts Health Care CorporationcoreCollaboration on quarterly health fairs providing free health services including diabetes screenings, hypertension readings, mammograms, HIV/AIDS testing, and flu shots.
- Kaiser PermanentecoreCollaboration on quarterly health fairs supporting community healthcare access.
- LA DodgersmajorPartnership with Los Angeles Food Bank for food distributions across LA County.
- Los Angeles Food BankmajorPartner for food distribution programs serving communities across Los Angeles County.
- Foodbank NYCmajorPartner serving communities in New York City with monthly food distributions at Dyckman Park.
- Planet FitnesscoreCreated fitness center for students at University Pathways Public Service Academy and Charles Drew Middle School. Goal to test model for underserved communities.
- Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)corePartner in school revitalization projects including court renovations at Drew Middle School and University Pathways Public Service Academy.
- American AirlinessupportingPartner in Clippers Community Courts initiative supporting school facility renovations.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Thinkwatts Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- LA84 Foundation: LA-based sports philanthropy foundation funding youth sports programs in underserved communities. Closest peer for Thinkwatts' Soccer Clinic Program and renovated outdoor courts/indoor gym work with LAFC Foundation and LA Clippers.
- GRID Alternatives: National nonprofit delivering environmental-justice and clean-energy programming in underserved communities — directly comparable to Thinkwatts' hydrogen vehicle donations and water-box environmental justice initiatives.
- YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles: Operates sports, fitness, and youth-development programming across LA's underserved neighborhoods. Thinkwatts' renovated courts, indoor gym, and Planet Fitness facility compete for the same youth/family wellness participation pool.
- Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC): Long-standing Watts-based community nonprofit delivering social services, youth programs, and economic development to the exact same geographic community as Thinkwatts Foundation. Closest geographic and mission-aligned peer.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America (LA region): National youth-development nonprofit offering sports, education, and enrichment programming in underserved communities — directly comparable to Thinkwatts' Soccer Clinic Program, financial literacy, and after-school activities at Drew Middle School and University Pathways.
- Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: Major LA-area food distribution nonprofit that is an active partner of Thinkwatts Foundation. Directly comparable on the food-distribution program and serves a similar low-income LA County population, making it both a collaborator and a peer for evaluation purposes.
Broad incumbents
- The California Endowment: Major California health-focused foundation that funds community health programs similar to Thinkwatts' Kaiser/Watts Health Care health fairs. Comparable on community-health grantmaking in underserved California communities.
- Feeding America (Foodbank NYC partner): National food-distribution umbrella that includes Foodbank NYC, Thinkwatts' partner in NYC operations. Operates at a far larger scale and is the dominant institutional counterpart in the food-insecurity vertical Thinkwatts works in.
- Cal Wellness Foundation: California-based grantmaking foundation focused on equity, health, and economic security for underserved communities. Directly comparable grantmaking and DEI focus; a likely funder or competitor for community-level grants.
- United Way of Greater Los Angeles: Large LA grantmaking and community-impact organization funding many of the same nonprofit partners (HACLA, food security, financial empowerment) that Thinkwatts collaborates with. Competes for corporate donor dollars and serves as a referral funnel into similar programs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Thinkwatts Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceThinkwatts Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Thinkwatts Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Thinkwatts Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Thinkwatts Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Thinkwatts Foundation
What does Thinkwatts Foundation do?
Thinkwatts Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit that delivers free community programs to underserved urban populations in Los Angeles and beyond, including bi-weekly/monthly food distributions, monthly financial literacy education, the Mastercard-partnered Business Builder entrepreneurship program with grant disbursements, youth soccer clinics with LAFC Foundation, quarterly health fairs, environmental justice initiatives (hydrogen vehicle donations and water boxes), and teacher supply drives. The foundation is funded through individual tax-deductible donations, corporate sponsorships, and program grants, and operates as a community-rooted conduit between LMI/BIPOC residents and public/private sector partners.
Is Thinkwatts Foundation a public or private company?
Thinkwatts Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Thinkwatts Foundation founded?
Thinkwatts Foundation was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Thinkwatts Foundation based?
Thinkwatts Foundation is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Thinkwatts Foundation make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are grants.
Who are Thinkwatts Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are LA84 Foundation, GRID Alternatives, YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC), Boys & Girls Clubs of America (LA region) and Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Broad incumbents are The California Endowment, Feeding America (Foodbank NYC partner), Cal Wellness Foundation and United Way of Greater Los Angeles.
Does Thinkwatts Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Thinkwatts Foundation.
What industry is Thinkwatts Foundation in?
Thinkwatts Foundation's product category is Community Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGADAC, After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 813211.