Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation

What Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation does

East Bay Spanish Speaking Citizens' Foundation (SSCF / Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 1470 Fruitvale Avenue in Oakland, California. Founded by local visionaries in 1964 and formally incorporated on November 12, 1965, SSCF delivers a portfolio of community-based programs for low-income Latino families, immigrant communities, and youth across Oakland and the East Bay. Core offerings include the LIBRE youth empowerment program (serving roughly 100 youth ages 12-20 annually in Oakland), immigration and citizenship legal services, citizenship preparation classes covering the 100-question civics curriculum, ESL instruction (seven weekly classes serving 243 adults in 2023-24), tutoring, and college-access programs such as FAFSA clinics, College/Peer Mentor, and Avanzando Through College.

The organization's business model is multi-stream: individual and corporate donations processed through a Snowball Fundraising-powered giving portal, text-to-give, Venmo, car donations, mail-in checks, and employer-matching platforms (Benevity Causes, PayPal Giving, YourCause from Blackbaud); government grants, explicitly noted as having contracted and prompting diversification; earned revenue from $50 / 30-minute immigration consultations with a licensed attorney or accredited representative; and event-driven fundraising through the annual Aztec Run for Education 5K (registration tiers $10-$55). Distribution is primarily in-person at the Fruitvale headquarters (Mon-Fri, 9:00am-5:00pm) and via school-based programming in Oakland, augmented by community events, an ACILEP partnership hotline for ICE response, and a small digital footprint (website sscf.org, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn).

SSCF operates within an ecosystem of strategic partnerships — UnidosUS (national affiliate), the Resilient Fruitvale collaborative with the Unity Council, and the ACILEP legal collaborative — that consolidate funding, advocacy, and referral capacity. The most recent product innovation is the AI Community Program, in which youth, college students, and community members learn to apply AI tools to real-life problems; an OpenAI Foundation grant was recorded on 2025-12-03 in support of related programming. No revenue, headcount change data, or pricing for most services is disclosed; most services are free to clients.

Name

Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation

Legal name

East Bay Spanish Speaking Citizens' Foundation

Website

https://sscf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation (SSCF) is an Oakland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving low-income Latino families, immigrants, and youth in the East Bay with immigration legal services, citizenship and ESL classes, and the LIBRE youth empowerment program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Language Schools (611630), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Citizenship Test Preparation (Civics & Interview) (EDAAADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

English for Citizenship (ESL/Civics Integrated) (EDAAADAC), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI)

Keywords

• Immigration legal services
• Citizenship preparation classes
• Youth development programs
• ESL adult education
• Community nonprofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual and corporate donations, including online donations through Snowball Fundraising platform, text-to-give, Venmo, car donations, mail-in checks, and employer matching programs through Benevity, PayPal Giving, and YourCause from Blackbaud.
2. Government Funding: Government grants and funding for programs, though the organization has experienced reductions in government funding and is seeking to diversify funding streams.
3. Aztec Run for Education: Annual 5K run/walk event (in-person and virtual) that raises funds to support educational and enrichment programs. Registration fees range from $10-$55 depending on age category.
4. Immigration Consultation Fees: Immigration consultations offered at $50 for a 30-minute session with a licensed immigration attorney or accredited representative.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Spanish Speaking Citizens' Foundation provides immigration legal services (citizenship applications, DACA renewals, family petitions, work permits), citizenship preparation classes covering 100 civics questions, ESL classes for adults, and youth development programming through the LIBRE program serving ages 12-20. It also runs the annual Aztec Run for Education fundraising 5K and operates an online donation portal. Most services are free, with paid immigration consultations ($50/30 min) and tiered Aztec Run registration fees.

Product overview

The Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation (SSCF) offers a portfolio of community-focused social service programs rather than a software product. The core programs are the LIBRE youth empowerment program (ages 12-20, serving ~100 youth annually) and Immigration and Citizenship Services. These are supplemented by Citizenship Preparation Classes, ESL Classes, an AI Community Program, a College/Pee r Mentor program, an Avanzando Through College (ATC) continuation program, a Tutoring Program, and the annual Aztec Run for Education fundraising event. An online donation portal (Snowball Fundraising) enables direct financial support. The organization also provides Information and Referral services connecting community members to resources. Programs are provided in both English and Spanish, with additional language support including Mam.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LIBRE: Leading the Independence of our Barrios through Raza Empowerment. A youth program serving 100 youth annually in Oakland, offering a supportive environment for learning, leadership, work skills, self-esteem, and environmental awareness. Serves youth ages 12-20 of any sexual identity.

Products and services

• LIBRE (Leading the Independence of our Barrios through Raza Empowerment) Youth empowerment program serving 100 youth ages 12-20 annually in Oakland. Provides academic enrichment, leadership development, work skills, self-esteem building, environmental awareness, college access support, mentorship, and an inclusive safe space for learning and growth.
• Immigration and Citizenship Legal Services Immigration legal services for individuals and families, including citizenship application assistance (Form N-400), Form I-130 family petitions, Form DS-260 consular processing, Form I-864 affidavits of support, DACA renewals, Adjustment of Status, work permit applications, voter registration, voter education workshops, and immigrant rights advocacy.
• Immigration Consultations 30-minute detailed consultation with a licensed immigration attorney or accredited representative providing information on legal immigration resources, application procedures, fees, timelines, and eligibility assessment. Offered Mondays and Wednesdays at SSCF's Oakland office for a $50 fee.
• Citizenship Preparation Classes Free on-site citizenship preparation classes covering the 100 Civics (history and government) questions for the naturalization test, including reading, writing, speaking practice, and mock interviews. Offered on a weekly schedule including mornings, afternoons, evenings, and Saturdays.
• ESL (English as a Second Language) Classes Weekly English language instruction for adults covering reading, writing, listening, speaking, grammar, and civic participation. Seven weekly classes are offered, serving 243 adults in 2023-24, with the goal of helping adults advance in school or work.
• Aztec Run for Education Annual 5K run/walk event held in-person and virtually at Lake Merritt, Oakland, that raises funds for SSCF's educational and enrichment programs. Registration managed through Innovative Timing Systems with tiered pricing by age category: Child 13 & Under $10, Youth 14-24 $30, Adults 25-64 $55, Seniors 65+ $40, plus early-bird and group discounts.
• Online Donation Portal Secure online giving platform for monetary contributions to SSCF's programs, with options for one-time and recurring donations. Processed through Snowball Fundraising; also accepts text-to-give (text sscf to (510) 867-3368), Venmo (@SSCF1965), car donations, mail-in checks, in-person donations, employer matching through Benevity, PayPal Giving, and YourCause from Blackbaud, and Donor-Advised Fund grants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 178 permanent residents became new U.S. citizens in 2023-24 through Citizenship Services
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• UnidosUScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSCF is affiliated with UnidosUS, a national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization. The partnership supports SSCF's mission to serve Latino communities through shared resources, advocacy efforts, and organizational collaboration.
• Resilient FruitvalecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSCF participates in the Resilient Fruitvale collaborative project with the Unity Council, focused on community resilience initiatives in Oakland's Fruitvale neighborhood. This partnership addresses community needs through coordinated services and advocacy.
• Alameda County Immigration Legal and Education Partnership (ACILEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSCF is a proud partner of the ACILEP collaborative, a program dedicated to protecting and empowering undocumented communities across Alameda County. ACILEP provides rapid response, legal services, and community education. SSCF provides immigration legal services as part of this collaborative.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA): Bay Area nonprofit providing immigration legal services, citizenship and ESL classes, and refugee resettlement support — directly overlapping with SSCF's core programs and serving a similar low-income immigrant client base in the same geography.
• Catholic Charities of the East Bay: Oakland-based faith-affiliated nonprofit offering immigration legal services, refugee resettlement, ESL, and youth programs for low-income families — directly comparable in service mix, funding model, and target population.
• Centro Legal de la Raza: Oakland-based legal and social-services nonprofit serving Latino immigrants with legal aid, citizenship services, and youth programs — a direct competitor in the same Fruitvale-adjacent geography.
• The Unity Council: Oakland-based Latino-serving umbrella organization running youth, education, immigration, and community programs in the Fruitvale neighborhood — an active SSCF partner via Resilient Fruitvale and a directly comparable service portfolio.
• Refugee Transitions: Bay Area nonprofit providing ESL, citizenship preparation, and resettlement support for refugees and immigrants — directly comparable to SSCF's adult-education and newcomer services in the same East Bay geography.
• Chicano Federation: California Latino-serving nonprofit offering immigration legal services, youth education programs, and community resources — comparable to SSCF on mission, target population, and wraparound service model.
• Mission Asset Fund: San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit serving low-income Latino immigrant families with financial services, citizenship support, and community programs — overlapping with SSCF's East Bay immigrant client base and integration services.
• Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice (ACRJ) / Asian Law Alliance: San Jose-based nonprofit providing immigration legal services, ESL, and citizenship support — directly comparable to SSCF's legal-services and adult-education offerings for immigrant communities in Northern California.
• CARECEN (Central American Resource Center): California-based Latino-serving nonprofit offering immigration legal services, citizenship classes, and youth programs — comparable to SSCF on mission, services, and population, though operating primarily in Southern California.
• La Raza Community Resources: Bay Area Latino-focused nonprofit providing immigration, education, and youth programs for low-income families — comparable in mission, target population, and service portfolio to SSCF's Fruitvale offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SSCFOAK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/east-bay-spanish-speaking-citizens-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/sscf.oakland
• Xx.com/sscfoak

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation