Painted Brain
Painted Brain is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit behavioral health organization in Los Angeles that delivers peer-led mental health services, arts programming, and Medi-Cal-approved workforce training to LGBTQ+ communities, justice-involved individuals, and Medi-Cal recipients with complex needs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Painted Brain does
Painted Brain is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit behavioral health organization headquartered in Los Angeles, California, founded in 2006 by David "Eli" Israelian and Rayshell Chambers (current Executive Director). The organization operates a peer-run, majority BIPOC women-led model in which staff and leadership share direct lived experience with mental health challenges, substance use, and justice system involvement. It delivers services across four core pillars: peer support and care coordination (including United Mental Health Promoters for the LGBTQ+ community, Enhanced Care Management for Medi-Cal recipients with complex needs, and Project New Start for justice-involved individuals); community wellness and arts programming at its physical wellness center at 3350 W 1st St; workforce development through an 80-hour California state-approved Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Training program with HCAI- and CalMHSA-funded scholarships; and advocacy and systems change, including a documented role in passing SB 803 that expanded the behavioral health workforce.
The underlying programmatic framework is the proprietary Painted Path™ four-step recovery model — Connect, Create, Learn, Lead — combined with trauma-informed peer support methodology. Service delivery is hybrid: in-person at the community wellness center on scheduled weekdays, plus Zoom-based synchronous instruction for the statewide training program. Marketing and outreach rely on organic social media, earned media coverage (LA Times, VoyageLA), partner referrals from LACDMH and community organizations, and event-driven engagement through workshops, art exhibitions, and the Mental Health Film Festival partnership.
The organization is funded primarily through California state government grants (HCAI/MHSA, CalMHSA, California Community Reinvestment Grants), individual and organizational donations, and Medi-Cal reimbursement pathways tied to Enhanced Care Management. All community wellness programs and events are delivered free of charge to participants; training programs valued at $1,600 per participant are made accessible through scholarship funding. The organization earned the Candid Gold Seal of Transparency in 2024 and is governed by a board including Elyn Saks (Board Treasurer) and Gary Shenk (Board President).
Painted Brain firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Painted Brain
- Legal name
- Painted Brain
- Website
- https://paintedbrain.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Painted Brain is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit behavioral health organization in Los Angeles that delivers peer-led mental health services, arts programming, and Medi-Cal-approved workforce training to LGBTQ+ communities, justice-involved individuals, and Medi-Cal recipients with complex needs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Painted Brain industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Mental Health Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- General Mental Health Therapy Platforms (Talk Therapy) (HLALAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Integrated Behavioral Health (Collaborative Care) Platforms (HLALAEAC), Disability Employment & Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programs (EDAAAOAI)
Keywords
Where Painted Brain is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Painted Brain business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization relying on individual and organizational donations to fund operations and community programs. Donations page emphasizes support for underserved communities and mental health services.
- Government Grants: Funding from California state programs including HCAI (Department of Health Care Access and Information) through Mental Health Service Act (MHSA), CalMHSA scholarships, and California Community Reinvestment Grants program that fully funds Project New Start services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free Community Programs |
| Subscription | One time | Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Training |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Painted Brain product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Painted Brain is a peer-run nonprofit that delivers community-based mental health services, including one-on-one peer counseling, support groups, Enhanced Care Management, and art-therapy workshops at its Los Angeles Community Wellness Center. It also operates a state-certified 80-hour Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist (CMPSS) training program with scholarship funding, plus advocacy programs (United Mental Health Promoters) targeting the LGBTQ+ community and justice-involved individuals.
Product overview
Painted Brain is a peer-run community mental health nonprofit offering a multi-faceted portfolio of programs, training, and community spaces. The core offerings include: (1) direct clinical and support services - United Mental Health Promoters (UMHP), Enhanced Care Management (ECM), and Project New Start; (2) workforce training - Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Training (CMPSS) and Continuing Education courses; (3) community wellness programming - the Community Wellness Center and Painted Brain Art Haus providing arts workshops, Open Studio, Community Canvas, and Mindful Making sessions; and (4) special events including exhibitions and film screenings. The organization serves California communities through arts, advocacy, and enterprise.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Painted Path™: The organization's step-by-step recovery journey model combining creativity, wellness, and peer support with four steps: Connect, Create, Learn, Lead.
- United Mental Health Promoters (UMHP)
- Enhanced Care Management (ECM)
- Project New Start
- Painted Brain Art Haus
- Creatives In Residence
- Reentry Through the Arts
Quantifiable outcome
- Trained hundreds of Certified Peer Support Specialists
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Painted Brain
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Painted Brain technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Painted Brain partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Voices With ImpactminorPartnership with Voices With Impact film festival for community preview screening of mental health short films. Painted Brain hosts screening events and director panels to explore storytelling's role in mental health awareness.
- Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH)corePartnership to host the United Mental Health Promoters (UMHP) program connecting Los Angeles' LGBTQ+ community with peer-led mental health advocacy and care. Painted Brain serves as a community partner for county mental health outreach initiatives.
- Seeds of Morning GloryminorMonthly food bank partnership hosting food distribution events on the second Thursday of every month, expanding services to address food insecurity among community members.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Painted Brain competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Largest U.S. peer-led mental health advocacy organization offering support groups, education, and public policy work. Comparable to Painted Brain in peer-led philosophy and advocacy focus, but operates nationally with a far larger infrastructure and broader scope.
- Mental Health America: National community-based nonprofit addressing mental health through advocacy, education, peer support, and direct services. Shares Painted Brain's community-based, peer-informed model and policy advocacy emphasis at a much larger scale.
Direct peers
- The Trevor Project: Leading LGBTQ+ youth crisis intervention and mental health organization offering peer support, advocacy, and culturally competent care. Comparable to Painted Brain's UMHP program serving the LA LGBTQ+ community with peer-led mental health support.
- Bring Change to Mind: Mental health advocacy nonprofit focused on ending stigma through storytelling, peer-led programs, and youth engagement. Closely aligned with Painted Brain's arts-based advocacy and peer-led community programming approach.
- Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA): National peer-led organization providing support groups, education, and resources for people living with mood disorders. Directly comparable to Painted Brain's peer support groups and lived-experience-led model.
- Active Minds: Youth and young adult mental health nonprofit focused on peer-led awareness, education, and advocacy on college campuses. Comparable to Painted Brain in peer-led advocacy and arts-based community engagement approach.
- Step Up: LA-based nonprofit serving youth and adults with mental health needs through community programs and supportive services. Already a Painted Brain partner providing peer support and creative arts services to Step Up members.
Regional players
- Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services: Major LA-based behavioral health provider offering crisis services, outpatient care, and peer support programs. Comparable to Painted Brain as a regional LA behavioral health nonprofit competing for the same county and state grant dollars.
- Steinberg Institute: California-based mental health policy and advocacy organization working on state-level behavioral health reform. Comparable to Painted Brain's advocacy function (e.g., SB 803) and California-focused policy engagement.
Others
- CalMHSA (California Mental Health Services Authority): Joint powers authority administering statewide mental health programs and peer support training scholarships. Functions as both a current funding partner and an ecosystem counterpart to Painted Brain's CMPSS training program in California.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Painted Brain social profiles
Digital presencePainted Brain compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Painted Brain financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Painted Brain leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Painted Brain funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Painted Brain 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 Painted Brain
What does Painted Brain do?
Painted Brain is a peer-run nonprofit that delivers community-based mental health services, including one-on-one peer counseling, support groups, Enhanced Care Management, and art-therapy workshops at its Los Angeles Community Wellness Center. It also operates a state-certified 80-hour Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist (CMPSS) training program with scholarship funding, plus advocacy programs (United Mental Health Promoters) targeting the LGBTQ+ community and justice-involved individuals.
Is Painted Brain a public or private company?
Painted Brain is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Painted Brain founded?
Painted Brain was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Painted Brain based?
Painted Brain is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Painted Brain make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are government Grants.
Who are Painted Brain's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Mental Health America. Direct peers are The Trevor Project, Bring Change to Mind, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), Active Minds and Step Up. Regional players are Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services and Steinberg Institute. CalMHSA (California Mental Health Services Authority) is listed as an others.
Does Painted Brain have an API?
No public API is recorded for Painted Brain.
What industry is Painted Brain in?
Painted Brain's product category is Community Mental Health Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLALAEAA, General Mental Health Therapy Platforms (Talk Therapy), with a secondary code of HLALAEAC, Integrated Behavioral Health (Collaborative Care) Platforms.