Council of Korean Americans

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.

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

Product category

Nonprofit Leadership Organization

NAICS

Business Associations (81391), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAGAH

Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Human Rights, Democracy & Governance

Keywords

• Korean American advocacy
• Nonprofit leadership development
• Community membership organization
• Professional networking programs
• Leadership fellowship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

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. 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.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Companies can sponsor CKA through corporate sponsorship interest forms to partner with the organization.
3. Stock Gifts: CKA accepts gifts in the form of stocks.
4. 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

Core 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

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Equilar Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCKA 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)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCKA co-hosted Elevate training with the Asian American Journalists Association at Columbia University, providing training on media engagement and public relations.
• Korea FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for cultural and educational exchanges between Korean and Korean American communities.
• American Jewish Committee (AJC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCKA maintains innovative partnerships with Black and Jewish communities to promote inter-community dialogue and education.
• NAACPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCKA builds bridges with other minority communities including NAACP to foster solidarity and mutual understanding.
• NetKAL (Network of Korean American Leaders)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetKAL 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 - LAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCKA and Korean American Coalition - LA co-commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Los Angeles Riots, demonstrating partnership in community advocacy.
• Commonwealth Club World AffairsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCKA 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

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/councilka
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC38vFLaChKajuZeTJnWsJZw
• Facebookfacebook.com/CouncilKA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/council-of-korean-americans
• Instagraminstagram.com/theCouncilKA

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Council of Korean Americans