What BRIDGEGOOD does

BRIDGEGOOD (legal entity: Oakland Digital Arts and Literacy Center Inc., EIN 27-0720655) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in July 2009 and headquartered at a 3,000-square-foot community studio in Oakland's Jack London Square (95 Washington Street). The organization delivers tuition-free, three-month UX Design Apprenticeships, an annual Inspire Oakland Design Challenge, a Career Growth Incubator for ongoing post-program support, a Design Explorers high school internship, and a recently launched Cybersecurity for Social Good pilot. Programming is taught through industry-standard design tooling (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Miro, Slack, Trello, Zeroheight, Google Workspace) and covers UX, UI, product and visual design, accessibility, design sprints, and portfolio development. Learners are recruited primarily from Bay Area community colleges and high schools with priority for first-generation (80%), low-income (75%), women or nonbinary (90%), and BIPOC (95%) participants.

The business model is philanthropy-funded rather than tuition- or fee-based: all programs are free to participants, and the organization is sustained by tax-deductible donations (PayPal, Venmo, CashApp, stock, crypto, planned gifts), institutional grants (Tech Equity Collective/Google $50K in 2024, Craig Newmark Philanthropies funding for cybersecurity, Lowell Berry Foundation, Port of Oakland Community Investment grants), and in-kind contributions of volunteer instruction and mentorship from a corporate partner roster that includes Google, Adobe, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, Salesforce, Twitter/X, Slack, Twilio, PayPal, Cisco, BlackRock, Comcast, and Tesla. Participant recruitment is community-led through classroom visits, student ambassadors, alumni referrals, and earned-media coverage (KTVU Channel 2, KPIX Jefferson Awards), with corporate site visits (Google SF Power of We, Tesla Fremont Factory) functioning as employer-engagement touchpoints. To date BRIDGEGOOD reports educating roughly 15,000 students since 2009, launching 900+ tech careers, generating $69M in alumni career earnings, and targeting 50,000 total learners and 40,000 trained student designers by 2030.

Name

BRIDGEGOOD

Legal name

Oakland Digital Arts and Literacy Center Inc.

Website

https://bridgegood.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BRIDGEGOOD is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Oakland running tuition-free UX design apprenticeships, design challenges, and a cybersecurity pilot for first-generation, low-income, and BIPOC Bay Area learners, funded by donations, grants, and in-kind corporate mentorship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development and Design Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Portfolio, Capstone & Project-Based Program Support (EDAMAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Career Readiness & Employability Skills (Resume, Interview, Networking) (EDAMAKAG), Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF)

Keywords

• Design education programs
• Tech workforce development
• UX design apprenticeship
• Nonprofit career training
• Creative technology pathways

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tax-Deductible Donations: BRIDGEGOOD operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 27-0720655) and relies primarily on donations from individuals, companies, and foundations. Donations are accepted via PayPal, Venmo (@BRIDGEGOOD), CashApp ($BRIDGEGOOD), and online portal. The organization also accepts stock and crypto donations, planned/estate gifts, and real estate donations.
2. Grants and Impact Fund Awards: BRIDGEGOOD receives grant funding from institutional donors such as Google (via Tech Equity Collective Impact Fund), Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Lowell Berry Foundation, and Port of Oakland Community Investment grants. These are non-dilutive financial awards that support apprenticeship programs and organizational operations.
3. Volunteer and Community Support (In-Kind): BRIDGEGOOD leverages volunteer instructors, mentors, and coaches sourced from partner companies including Google, Adobe, Wells Fargo, Salesforce, Twitter, Slack, Twilio, and others. This in-kind contribution of professional design mentorship constitutes a significant non-cash revenue stream supporting program delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BRIDGEGOOD delivers tuition-free design and technology career readiness programs from its Oakland studio, anchored by a 3-month UX Design Apprenticeship that pairs underrepresented Bay Area learners with industry mentors from Google, Adobe, Wells Fargo, and Salesforce. Supporting programs include the annual Inspire Oakland Design Challenge, post-program Career Growth Incubator, Cybersecurity for Social Good pilot, Design Explorers high school internship, and ongoing Open Labs serving 15,000+ students since 2009.

Product overview

BRIDGEGOOD is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a suite of tuition-free, culture-centered career readiness programs for underrepresented creatives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Its core offerings include the UX Design Apprenticeship (UXDA), a 3-month portfolio-building program in UX/UI and Product Design; the annual Inspire Oakland Design Challenge for student creatives; the Career Growth Incubator providing ongoing post-program support; the Cybersecurity for Social Good pilot for foundational cybersecurity literacy; Design Explorers high school internship; and Open Labs & Events for community access. The programs collectively aim to advance design equity, digital inclusion, and economic mobility for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UX Design Apprenticeship (UXDA) A 3-month, tuition-free hands-on training, coaching, and portfolio development program for diverse creatives pursuing careers in UX/UI design, product design, and visual design, with 20 scholarships awarded annually. Alumni have secured positions at Etsy, YouTube/Google, Capital One, Beyond, and Twilio.
• Inspire Oakland Design Challenge An annual design challenge in which student creatives produce artwork reflecting what inspires them about Oakland, celebrating culture, justice, belonging, public voice, and local pride, with top designs featured on billboards, bus benches, LED displays, social media, and t-shirts.
• Career Growth Incubator Post-apprenticeship ongoing access program providing graduates with open labs, coaching, studio resources, and wraparound creative support guided by professionals and grounded in community care.
• Cybersecurity for Social Good An 8-session foundational cybersecurity literacy pilot program for job seekers and under-resourced community members in Oakland and the East Bay, covering cybersecurity literacy, digital misinformation, and safe online behaviors, complementing learners' UX and design backgrounds to pursue cybersecurity careers.
• Design Explorers High School Internship A high school internship initiative designed to nurture creative talent among high school students, with the goal of diversifying the tech sector and initiating meaningful, lucrative career paths in design.
• Open Labs and Events Curated virtual and in-person events featuring designers from leading tech companies, open lab sessions at BRIDGEGOOD Studio in Jack London Square, and ongoing access to studio resources for program graduates and community members.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,000+ students educated since 2009
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, supporting, core and notable.

• Port of OaklandmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023The Port of Oakland awarded BRIDGEGOOD a Community Investment grant supporting workforce development and education programs. BRIDGEGOOD named Port of Oakland its 2023 Community Partner of the Year. Both organizations share a commitment to empowering Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and women with career skills for the technology field. The Port supports over 98,000 jobs in the region.
• Hybrid InksupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Hybrid Ink, an Oakland entrepreneur, collaborated with and was supported by BRIDGEGOOD. By supporting BRIDGEGOOD, Hybrid Ink contributed to the empowerment and advancement of individuals underrepresented in the tech and design industries.
• Google San FranciscocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2023Google SF hosted BRIDGEGOOD's Power of We event in August 2023, where five groups of UX Design Apprentices presented their web application products to over 120 attendees including professionals from U.S. Bank, Robinhood, Beyond, Peralta Colleges, Smartsheet, Google, and others.
• TeslanotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Tesla hosted 20 BRIDGEGOOD UX Design Apprentices at their Fremont Factory in June 2023, providing exposure to robotics, product design, and engineering. Karlyn Neel, Tesla Design Leadership, led a career discussion with apprentices. Plans are in place to make the Tesla site visit an annual program, with specialized design sessions to be introduced.
• U.S. BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023U.S. Bank's Director of UX Design works directly with BRIDGEGOOD apprentices. U.S. Bank VP Deka Dike serves on BRIDGEGOOD's Board of Directors. U.S. Bank is also a financial supporter of the organization.
• BeyondcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2021Beyond partnered with BRIDGEGOOD over two years to nurture diverse talent in the design industry. Beyond mentored apprentices, offered internships (including a Design Research Internship for Koka Yamamoto), and provided real-world client project experience for apprentices working on Influenster's UX transformation and Netflix's diversity training.
• AdobecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAdobe is a key program partner supporting the Inspire Oakland Design Challenge and sourcing design mentors for the UX Design Apprenticeship. Adobe powers the design platform curriculum (Adobe XD, Illustrator, Photoshop) and has co-sponsored events with BRIDGEGOOD. It was a sponsor of the 15th Annual Inspire Oakland Design Challenge.
• SalesforcesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSalesforce is listed as a company from which BRIDGEGOOD sources design mentors. The company supports BRIDGEGOOD's mission through volunteer mentorship and program sponsorship.
• SlacksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSlack is listed as a company from which BRIDGEGOOD sources design mentors. Slack's platform is used in the apprenticeship curriculum for team collaboration and communication.
• Free AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree Association is listed as a partner company contributing professionals to BRIDGEGOOD programs, including participation in the Power of We showcase event at Google SF.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bridgegood
• YouTubeyoutube.com/bridgegood
• Facebookfacebook.com/bridgegood
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bridgegood
• Instagraminstagram.com/bridgegoodcom

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 BRIDGEGOOD