Council of Korean Americans
CKA is a national nonprofit membership organization that advances the voice and influence of the Korean American community through a curated network of senior Korean American leaders, leadership fellowships, regional chapters, annual galas, advocacy programming, and inter-community partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Council of Korean Americans does
Council of Korean Americans (CKA) is a national, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 and headquartered at 1100 15th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. CKA advances the voice and influence of the Korean American community through a curated membership network of senior Korean American leaders across business, law, medicine, academia, arts, media, and technology, supported by regional chapters, affinity groups, leadership fellowships, an annual gala, podcast, video content, and inter-community partnerships. Its core products include the CKA Membership Directory, the NetKAL Fellowship (executive-level, celebrating 20 years), the Emerging Leaders Fellowship (redesigned hybrid format launched 2026), the Envision Gala & Summit, the Korean American Perspectives Podcast (Season 4), the Elevate Series video initiative, the Women's Affinity Group, and the Health & Life Sciences Affinity Group, plus the Legacy Tree of Hope digital tribute platform. Underlying technology is non-proprietary and limited to commodity web and payment infrastructure (Stripe, PayPal, Google Analytics) and a third-party database provider for member and donor records.
The organization's business model is donation- and sponsorship-driven rather than product-priced. Revenue streams include individual donations (accepted via PayPal, Stripe, bank transfer, check, and cryptocurrency), corporate sponsorships, stock gifts, and matching gift programs. CKA does not disclose revenue, financials, or membership dues, and operates with a lean staff of 1-10 employees. It markets through its website, social media (Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube), monthly newsletters, the podcast, webinars, and in-person events, with go-to-market executed via selective membership applications and direct outreach to Korean American leaders.
CKA is governed by a Board of Directors and is currently navigating a leadership transition: Dr. Abraham Kim departed as President at the end of December 2025; Angela Sungmee Killoren was appointed President effective May 2026, and co-founder Catharina Min was elected Board Chair in June 2026, taking the organization into its 15th year. The organization maintains strategic partnerships with Equilar Inc., the Asian American Journalists Association, the Korea Foundation, the American Jewish Committee, and the NAACP to extend programmatic reach across corporate governance, media, cultural, and inter-community domains.
Council of Korean Americans firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Council of Korean Americans
- Legal name
- Council of Korean Americans
- Website
- https://councilka.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- CKA is a national nonprofit membership organization that advances the voice and influence of the Korean American community through a curated network of senior Korean American leaders, leadership fellowships, regional chapters, annual galas, advocacy programming, and inter-community partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Council of Korean Americans industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Leadership Organization
- NAICS
- Business Associations (81391), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights (BPADAGAH)
Keywords
Where Council of Korean Americans is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Council of Korean Americans business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: CKA accepts donations from individuals via online platforms (PayPal, Stripe), bank transfers, checks, and cryptocurrency. Donations are tax-deductible as the organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Companies can sponsor CKA through corporate sponsorship interest forms to partner with the organization.
- Stock Gifts: CKA accepts gifts in the form of stocks.
- Matching Gifts: Many employers match employee charitable contributions dollar for dollar through matching gift programs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Council of Korean Americans product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CKA is a national, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of Korean American leaders, founded in 2011 and based in Washington, D.C. It runs a curated membership network for Korean American leaders and emerging professionals, and delivers flagship offerings such as the NetKAL and Emerging Leaders Fellowships, regional chapters, affinity groups, signature events (including the Envision Gala & Summit), the Korean American Perspectives podcast, advocacy and corporate board education programs. CKA's core activity is convening, developing, and advocating on behalf of Korean American civic and professional leadership across the United States.
Product overview
CKA is a national membership-based nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of leadership development and community-building programs. The core offerings include the membership directory (connecting Korean American leaders across sectors), the NetKAL Fellowship (executive leadership network established 2005), the Emerging Leaders Fellowship (launched 2016 with new format in 2026), the Korean American Perspectives Podcast (Season 4), annual Envision Gala & Summit events, the Elevate Series video content, regional chapters, affinity groups (Women's Affinity Group, Health & Life Sciences), mentorship programming, webinars, and the annual Legacy Tree of Hope digital tribute project. These programs collectively advance CKA's mission to amplify Korean American voices through leadership empowerment, community building, identity celebration, and advocacy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NetKAL Fellowship: Network of Korean American Leaders Fellowship - a leadership development program for Korean American executives
- Emerging Leaders Fellowship
- Korean American Perspectives Podcast
Products and services
- NetKAL Fellowship A flagship fellowship program of the Council of Korean Americans that develops and convenes Korean American leaders through a selective, cohort-based leadership experience. It is targeted at established and emerging Korean American leaders seeking national peer engagement and leadership development.
- Emerging Leaders Fellowship A fellowship program of CKA aimed at earlier-career Korean American emerging leaders, supporting professional development, civic engagement, and integration into the broader CKA leadership network.
- CKA Membership Directory A curated, national directory of Korean American leaders across industries, generations, and regions, available to CKA members as a networking and community resource.
- Envision Gala & Summit CKA's signature national convening event, bringing together Korean American leaders, sponsors, and partners for programming, recognition, and community building.
- Korean American Perspectives Podcast A podcast produced by CKA featuring conversations with Korean American leaders across sectors, distributed to members and the broader public to elevate Korean American voices and perspectives.
- Regional Chapters Program CKA's network of regional chapters across the United States that convene local Korean American leaders for in-person programming, networking, and community engagement.
- Affinity Groups (Women's Affinity Group and Health & Life Sciences Affinity Group) Issue- and identity-based affinity groups within CKA that bring together members around shared professional or demographic interests, including the Women's Affinity Group (WAG) and the Health & Life Sciences Affinity Group (HLAG).
- Corporate Board Education Program An educational initiative of CKA designed to prepare and position Korean American leaders for service on corporate boards, addressing underrepresentation in corporate governance.
- Legacy Tree of Hope A CKA initiative honoring Korean American heritage, contributions, and intergenerational legacy, delivered as a community and storytelling program.
Quantifiable outcome
- 420+ leaders convened at 2025 Envision Gala & Summit
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Council of Korean Americans
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Council of Korean Americans technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Council of Korean Americans partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Equilar Inc.coreCKA partnered with Equilar Inc., recognized as a leading data management company for corporate boards, to prepare Korean American leaders for positions on Fortune 500 company boards.
- Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA)minorCKA co-hosted Elevate training with the Asian American Journalists Association at Columbia University, providing training on media engagement and public relations.
- Korea FoundationminorPartnership for cultural and educational exchanges between Korean and Korean American communities.
- American Jewish Committee (AJC)minorCKA maintains innovative partnerships with Black and Jewish communities to promote inter-community dialogue and education.
- NAACPminorCKA builds bridges with other minority communities including NAACP to foster solidarity and mutual understanding.
- NetKAL (Network of Korean American Leaders)coreNetKAL Fellowship is a signature leadership development program that brings together Korean American executives for networking and mentorship, celebrating 20 years of impact.
- Korean American Coalition - LAminorCKA and Korean American Coalition - LA co-commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Los Angeles Riots, demonstrating partnership in community advocacy.
- Commonwealth Club World AffairsminorCKA partnered with Commonwealth Club World Affairs for a fireside conversation featuring James Rhee and Yul Kwon on leadership and the social compact.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Council of Korean Americans competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Council of Korean Americans social profiles
Digital presenceCouncil of Korean Americans compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Council of Korean Americans financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Council of Korean Americans leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Council of Korean Americans funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Council of Korean Americans 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 Council of Korean Americans
What does Council of Korean Americans do?
CKA is a national, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of Korean American leaders, founded in 2011 and based in Washington, D.C. It runs a curated membership network for Korean American leaders and emerging professionals, and delivers flagship offerings such as the NetKAL and Emerging Leaders Fellowships, regional chapters, affinity groups, signature events (including the Envision Gala & Summit), the Korean American Perspectives podcast, advocacy and corporate board education programs. CKA's core activity is convening, developing, and advocating on behalf of Korean American civic and professional leadership across the United States.
Is Council of Korean Americans a public or private company?
Council of Korean Americans is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Council of Korean Americans founded?
Council of Korean Americans was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Council of Korean Americans based?
Council of Korean Americans is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Council of Korean Americans make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, stock Gifts and matching Gifts.
Does Council of Korean Americans have an API?
No public API is recorded for Council of Korean Americans.
What industry is Council of Korean Americans in?
Council of Korean Americans's product category is Nonprofit Leadership Organization. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAGAH, Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights. Its NAICS code is 81391 and its SIC code is 8600.