Sacred Heart Center

What Sacred Heart Center does

Sacred Heart Center, Inc. is a 501(c)-equivalent nonprofit organization founded in 1990 by the Maryland Province Jesuits and the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, headquartered at 1400 Perry Street in South Richmond, Virginia. The organization provides a continuum of educational, legal, and social services to the Latino community in central and southeast Virginia, operating from a single campus with a staff of 11-50 supplemented by 250+ volunteers. Its core offerings span four program areas: (1) Adult Education, including a five-level ESL program, a Spanish-language GED preparation track, citizenship preparation, conversational Spanish, Plaza Comunitaria literacy certification through Mexico's INEA system, and a nine-month Latino Leadership Institute awarding 3 credit hours from the University of Richmond; (2) Youth Programs, including Famigos (Meadowbrook High School), College & Career Bound (Hermitage High School), Casa Lapiz (River City and Boushall Middle Schools), Pasitos Exitosos (ages 18 months-4), Kids of the Corazon (ages 5-12), Abriendo Puertas (parent empowerment), and Folklorico dance; (3) Immigration Legal Services, delivered by DOJ Accredited Representatives covering SIJS, asylum, U-visas, T-visas, adjustment of status, and naturalization on a retainer model; and (4) a Community Hub providing free bilingual tax preparation, family support case management, food pantry distribution, and a mobile bus for transportation access.

The organization operates as a community hub with no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is in-person and relationship-driven rather than software-mediated. There is no native mobile app, no AI/ML infrastructure, and no API integrations disclosed. Distribution is anchored at the South Richmond campus and through school-based delivery sites in Chesterfield County, Henrico County, and Richmond City Public Schools; reach is extended by a mobile bus that mitigates transportation barriers. Marketing relies on community referrals, the website, social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube), email newsletter, and earned recognition such as the Serve Virginia 2026 Winter Honor Roll.

The revenue model is a hybrid of donations and grants, modest program registration fees, and professional services fees. The largest revenue stream is donations and grants from 80+ organizational supporters including Altria, Bank of America, Bon Secours, Capital One, United Way, the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, and the Robins Foundation. Program fees are nominal ($40 per semester for ESL/GED/Citizenship, $400 for Spanish Language, $200 for Latino Leadership Institute, $10 for Pasitos/Kids of the Corazon, free for Plaza Comunitaria and Abriendo Puertas). Immigration legal services operate on a retainer with Stripe payment processing. The organization is privately held, governed by a community-based board of directors, and currently led by Executive Director Lyons Sanchezconcha following a transition from former Executive Director Tanya Gonzalez.

Name

Sacred Heart Center

Legal name

Sacred Heart Center, Inc.

Website

https://shcrichmond.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sacred Heart Center is a Richmond, Virginia-based nonprofit founded in 1990 that delivers adult education (ESL, GED, citizenship), youth programs, DOJ-accredited immigration legal services, and wraparound community support to Latino families across central Virginia, funded primarily through donations and grants from 80+ organizational supporters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Education and Immigrant Social Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Community & Adult Education (Municipal/Community Schools) (EDAAAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Immigrant/Integration Language Programs (ESL/ESOL, Civics-Integrated) (EDAMAFAK), Immigrant & Refugee Community Education (Integration/Navigation) (EDAAAFAH), Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Cultural, Multilingual & Immigrant Family Engagement Programs (EDACALAL)

Keywords

• Adult education programs
• Immigration legal services
• Youth enrichment programs
• Latino community services
• ESL and GED instruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Primary revenue stream from individual donations, corporate donations, and foundation grants. The organization receives support from over 80 organizational supporters including Altria, Bank of America, Bon Secours, Capital One, United Way, and many others.
2. Program Registration Fees: Modest registration fees for educational programs including ESL ($40), GED ($40), Citizenship ($40), Spanish Language ($400), and Latino Leadership Institute ($200 total). Plaza Comunitaria is free. Youth programs include $10 registration for Pasitos/Kids of Corazon.
3. Immigration Legal Services: Low-cost immigration legal services with retainer payment structure. Accepts online payments through Stripe, checks, money orders, and cash. Fees charged in USD with retainer deposited in client trust account.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sacred Heart Center delivers adult education (ESL, Spanish-language GED, Citizenship Preparation, Spanish Language, Plaza Comunitaria literacy, and Latino Leadership Institute), youth and family programs (Famigos, Casa Lapiz, College & Career Bound, Pasitos Exitosos, Kids of the Corazon, Abriendo Puertas, Sacred Heart Folklorico), low-cost Immigration Legal Services delivered by DOJ-Accredited Representatives, and Community Hub wraparound services including Family Support case management, free bilingual tax preparation, and a food pantry. Programs are delivered primarily in person at its South Richmond campus and partner school sites, serving Latino adults, children, and families across Central Virginia.

Product overview

Sacred Heart Center operates as a community hub offering educational and support services to Latino families in Richmond, Virginia. The organization provides adult education programs (ESL, GED, Citizenship, Spanish Language, Plaza Comunitaria, Latino Leadership Institute), youth programs (Famigos, Casa Lapiz, College & Career Bound, Pasitos Exitosos, Kids of the Corazon, Abriendo Puertas, Cielito Lindo, Folklorico), immigration legal services, and community support including food assistance and tax preparation. These programs work together to serve the Latino community through a continuum of educational opportunities and wraparound services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ESL (English as a Second Language) Five-level English language program from basic to advanced conversational, offered in-person on Tuesdays and Thursdays in morning and evening sessions to Latino adult learners in the Richmond area.
• GED Program Spanish-language high school equivalency preparation program taught by native Spanish-speaking teachers, covering Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Natural Sciences for Latino adults seeking a high school credential.
• Citizenship Preparation English-language course preparing permanent residents for the U.S. naturalization interview, covering U.S. history, civics, and government for Latino adults pursuing citizenship.
• Spanish Language Program Conversational Spanish program for adult learners with basic Spanish knowledge, offering personalized instruction and cultural exploration in evening sessions.
• Plaza Comunitaria Free Spanish-language literacy program affiliated with Mexico's INEA system, awarding literacy completion certificates to Latino adults without prior educational opportunities.
• Latino Leadership Institute Nine-month leadership development program focused on Latino history, policy, advocacy, and service learning, awarding 3 credit hours from the University of Richmond Center for Leadership in Education.
• Famigos School-based transition program for newly arrived Latino high school students focusing on mental health and community building, delivered at Meadowbrook High School in Chesterfield County.
• Casa Lapiz Art-based middle school program centered on community healing through the arts, delivered at River City and Boushall Middle Schools in Richmond City.
• College & Career Bound School-based program helping Latino high school students identify post-graduation college and career pathways, delivered at Hermitage High School in Henrico County.
• Pasitos Exitosos Social and academic enrichment program for Latino children aged 18 months to 4 years, running concurrently with the adult education morning schedule at the South Richmond campus.
• Kids of the Corazon Social and academic enrichment program for Latino children aged 5 to 12 years, running concurrently with the adult education afternoon-evening schedule at the South Richmond campus.
• Abriendo Puertas Free parent empowerment program designed to help Latino parents understand and support their children's development through a two-generation approach, delivered in person on Monday and Wednesday mornings.
• Sacred Heart Folklorico Weekly dance class for children and youth ages 5 to 18 exploring Latin American traditional dance, primarily Mexican folklorico.
• Immigration Legal Services Program (ILSP) Low-cost immigration legal services delivered by DOJ-Accredited Representatives for low-income immigrants in central Virginia, covering Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, Asylum, U-Visas, T-Visas, Adjustment of Status, Naturalization, and consultations on a retainer basis.
• Family Support Program Free health, career, and financial resources navigation with bilingual case management for individuals and families, including food pantry distribution and referrals to community resources.
• Tax Services Free bilingual tax preparation services for individuals and families earning less than $60,000 annually, delivered by appointment from February through April at the South Richmond campus.
• Food Pantry Food assistance program that accepts canned and dried foods including culturally affirming items, and distributes them to Latino families in need in the South Richmond community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 79% retention rate among nearly 1,000 adult learners
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UnidosUScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Latino civil rights organization providing advocacy support and partnership for Latino community issues.
• Feed MorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional food bank partnership providing food assistance and emergency food supplies for the food pantry program.
• INEA (National Institute for Adult Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMexican educational institution that issues Plaza Comunitaria completion certificates for literacy levels. Sacred Heart Center is one of 3,000+ programs in the US.
• University of Richmond Center for Leadership in EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership providing 3 credit hours of Continuing Education for Latino Leadership Institute graduates.
• Meadowbrook High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChesterfield County school hosting Famigos transition program for newly arrived Latino high school students.
• Hermitage High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHenrico County school hosting College & Career Bound program for Latino high school students.
• River City Middle SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRichmond City school hosting Casa Lapiz art-based program for middle school students.
• Boushall Middle SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRichmond City school hosting Casa Lapiz art-based program for middle school students.
• Children's Museum of RichmondminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing enrichment opportunities for children and families served by Sacred Heart Center programs.
• Mary and Frances Youth CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth center partnership supporting youth programming and services.
• VCU Dept of PsychologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership providing research collaboration and student involvement.
• Virginia Department of Social ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partnership supporting family support services and referrals for community members.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• La Raza Community Resource Center: California-based Latino-serving nonprofit providing adult education, immigration legal services, and family support programs. Directly comparable in mission and integrated service model to Sacred Heart Center, though serving a different geographic market.
• Casa de Maryland: A Latino-serving nonprofit in the mid-Atlantic offering adult education, workforce development, immigration legal services, and community support programs. Most directly comparable peer to Sacred Heart Center in mission, program mix, and integrated service model for Latino families.
• Centro Legal de la Raza: Bay Area-based nonprofit providing immigration legal services, community education, and youth programs to low-income Latino immigrants. Directly comparable through its DOJ-accredited immigration legal services combined with adult education and youth programming.

Broad incumbents

• UnidosUS: National Latino civil rights and advocacy organization and a current strategic partner of Sacred Heart Center. Comparable through its mission to support Latino community advancement, though operating primarily as an advocacy and capacity-building network rather than a direct service provider.
• Catholic Charities USA: National network of Catholic social service agencies providing immigration legal services, education, refugee resettlement, and family support. Sacred Heart Center shares its Catholic faith-based heritage and multi-program service model with Catholic Charities diocesan affiliates.
• Church World Service: Faith-based nonprofit providing refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and community integration programming. Comparable to Sacred Heart Center in serving immigrant communities through a multi-faith/multi-program service model with accredited immigration legal representation.
• International Rescue Committee: Large international nonprofit providing refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and adult education programs for newly arrived immigrants and refugees. Comparable through its integrated ESL, job training, and immigration legal services portfolio serving similar immigrant populations.
• Hispanic Federation: National Latino nonprofit federation supporting member organizations across the country through grant-making, advocacy, and capacity building. Comparable to Sacred Heart Center as a national umbrella serving similar Latino community development functions, though at substantially greater scale.

Others

• Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC): National nonprofit providing training, resources, and policy advocacy to strengthen immigration legal services. Comparable to Sacred Heart Center as an ecosystem player supporting the same immigration legal services field, though operating as a capacity builder rather than direct service provider.

Emerging players

• Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP): California-based nonprofit serving indigenous Latino migrant communities through education, organizing, and cultural programs. Comparable to Sacred Heart Center in serving Spanish-speaking immigrant populations but with a more focused indigenous community mission and geographic concentration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/shcrichmond
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCvlje5OVaUFCUV2PvBldjQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/sacredheartcenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/sacredheartcenter_rva
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sacred-heart-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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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 Sacred Heart Center