GREATER SACRAMENTO URBAN LEAGUE

What GREATER SACRAMENTO URBAN LEAGUE does

The Greater Sacramento Urban League (GSUL) is a nonprofit community services organization founded in 1968 and headquartered in Sacramento, California. Operating for more than 55 years, GSUL serves Black and other historically marginalized people across the Greater Sacramento region through a five-pillar model covering Civic Engagement, Civil Rights, Economic Empowerment, Education and Youth, and Health. Core programs include workforce development services (Job Talk workshops, Thriving Thursdays, employment placement), HUD-approved housing counseling and an 8-hour Keys to HomeOwnership course, the allcove Sacramento youth mental health program, the Cut to the Chase culturally specific mental health program delivered at barbershops and salons, free monthly Community Health Clinics, wealth-building workshops (Let's Talk About Finance), and youth and family services including First Class Kids tutoring and the Black Child Legacy Campaign.

GSUL operates from two main facilities — the Empowerment Center (3725 Marysville Blvd) and the Youth & Families Center (2331 Alhambra Blvd) — supplemented by satellite program locations and partnerships with SETA, SacramentoWorks, Dignity Health, UC Davis, and the National Urban League. All services are provided at no cost to clients. The organization is funded through individual and corporate donations, foundation grants, and government contracts, with the technology stack consisting of basic web presence (gsul.org), EveryAction email/newsletter platform, and Zoom-based virtual programming — there is no proprietary technology or software product.

In 2023, GSUL made a $300,000 investment in Black Star Universal LLC, which subsequently became the subject of litigation filed in November 2025 to recover the funds. Under interim CEO Ken Barnes, the organization executed a financial reset in early 2025 including layoffs and loss-reduction measures. Barnes was named permanent CEO in April 2026.

Name

GREATER SACRAMENTO URBAN LEAGUE

Legal name

Greater Sacramento Urban League

Website

https://gsul.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Greater Sacramento Urban League is a Sacramento-based nonprofit founded in 1968 that delivers free workforce development, HUD-approved housing counseling, youth mental health, and community wellness programs to Black and historically marginalized residents across the Greater Sacramento region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Housing counseling programs
• Youth and family services
• Community health programs
• Financial education workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts donations from individuals and corporations to support its programs and services for the community.
2. Government Grants and Contracts: As a community services organization, GSUL likely receives government funding through programs like workforce development (SETA/SacramentoWorks partnership) and community health initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Greater Sacramento Urban League is a nonprofit community services organization delivering free employment, housing counseling, youth and family, health, and wealth-building programs to Black and other historically marginalized residents of the Sacramento region. Core offerings include Job Talk employer workshops, HUD-approved housing counseling and Keys to HomeOwnership homebuyer education, Thriving Thursdays job readiness sessions, allcove Sacramento youth mental health services, Cut to the Chase mental health meet-ups, and monthly Community Health Clinics. These services are delivered across two main facilities (Empowerment Center and Youth & Families Center) plus satellite community locations and Zoom-based virtual programming.

Product overview

Greater Sacramento Urban League is a non-profit community organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of social and economic empowerment programs and services. The organization operates as a multi-service agency organized around five pillars: Civic Engagement and Leadership Development, Civil Rights and Racial Justice, Economic Empowerment, Education and Youth, and Health and Quality of Life. Core programs include employment services (Job Talk workshops, Thriving Thursdays), housing counseling (Keys to HomeOwnership course, HUD-approved counseling), health services (Community Health Clinic, allcove Sacramento mental health program), youth and family programs (First Class Kids tutoring, Black Child Legacy Campaign), and wealth building initiatives (Let's Talk About Finance workshops). These services are delivered through two physical locations: the Empowerment Center and the Youth & Families Center, with additional virtual programming via Zoom.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Job Talk

Quantifiable outcome

• Free 8-hour homebuyer education courses resulting in homeownership certificates
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Urban LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGSUL is a local affiliate of the National Urban League, a historic organization dedicated to economic empowerment, civil rights, and equality. This affiliation provides access to national resources, best practices, and a broader network of Urban League affiliates across the country.
• SETA (Sacramento Employment Training Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for workforce development programs including monthly Job Talk workshops, job fairs, and employment services. SETA is a joint powers agency providing employment and training services in Sacramento County.
• SacramentoWorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for employment services and job placement programs. SacramentoWorks is part of the America's Job Center of California network.
• California American WaterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor that provided $10,000 to support workforce development initiatives. Northern Division of California American Water supports community programs.
• Dignity HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner supporting health programs and community wellness initiatives.
• UC DavisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing support and resources for community programs.
• Intel CorporationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting workforce development and technology-related community initiatives.
• My1of1minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to show youth how to become their own boss through entrepreneurship education and youth programming.
• Black Child Legacy CampaignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for youth and community empowerment programs, specifically focused on supporting Black children and families.
• Local Health ProvidersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVarious local health providers partner with GSUL to offer free monthly Community Health Clinics providing health screenings and educational materials.
• Sacramento County Public Defender's OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to host free expungement clinics helping individuals clear criminal records for better employment and housing opportunities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Urban League: National umbrella organization of which GSUL is a local affiliate. Operates the same five-pillar empowerment model (civic engagement, civil rights, economic empowerment, education, health) at scale across 90+ affiliates; directly comparable mission and program structure.

Direct peers

• UnidosUS: National Latino civil rights and community empowerment organization with affiliates delivering workforce, housing, education, and health programs. Comparable multi-pillar empowerment agenda and Hispanic-focused equivalent of the Urban League model.
• Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services: Major Sacramento-based multi-service nonprofit providing food, clothing, health, and family support to underserved residents. Same geography, similar multi-pillar social services model, and overlapping client base with GSUL.
• Urban League of Greater Atlanta: Mid-to-large Urban League affiliate delivering workforce, housing, education, and civil rights programs in metro Atlanta. Same organizational model and program portfolio as GSUL, useful for benchmarking growth and funding capacity at a larger affiliate scale.
• La Familia Counseling Center: Sacramento-based nonprofit offering mental health, youth, housing, and workforce services to underserved communities. Directly overlaps GSUL on youth/family, mental health, and housing counseling program lines within the same metro.
• NAACP: National civil rights and economic empowerment organization targeting African American communities with advocacy, education, and economic programs. Highly comparable mission to GSUL, though organized as a membership association with local branches rather than a service-delivery nonprofit.
• Chicago Urban League: Large local Urban League affiliate operating the same National Urban League playbook across employment, housing, education, and health. Strong structural peer for benchmarking GSUL's program depth and revenue scale at the affiliate level.
• Sacramento Steps Forward: Sacramento's lead Continuum of Care organization coordinating homeless and housing services across the region. Overlaps with GSUL's HUD-approved housing counseling and foreclosure prevention work in the same metro.
• United Way California Capital Region: Regional United Way covering Sacramento, Yolo, and surrounding counties, funding and convening social services in employment, housing, and education. Comparable donor/fundraising model and overlapping grant-making footprint.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento: Sacramento-based youth development nonprofit providing after-school programs, tutoring, and mentoring for at-risk youth. Closely comparable to GSUL's First Class Kids Tutoring, Elevate Youth California, and youth/family programs targeting ages 12-25.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gsulyp
• Facebookfacebook.com/gsulyp

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about GREATER SACRAMENTO URBAN LEAGUE