SEARAC

What SEARAC does

SEARAC (Southeast Asia Resource Action Center) is a national 501(c)(3) civil rights organization founded in 1979 in response to the largest mass refugee resettlement in US history. Originally known as the Indochina Resource Action Center, SEARAC played a role in passing the 1980 Refugee Act that enabled resettlement of more than 1.2 million Southeast Asian refugees. The organization is headquartered in Washington, DC with a regional office in Sacramento, California, and operates with a small team of approximately 11 staff. Its mission is to build power with diverse communities from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam to create a just society through advocacy, community organizing, leadership development, legal support coordination, and storytelling.

SEARAC's core programmatic offerings include the Leadership and Advocacy Training (LAT) program, which has trained over 1,400 SEAA students, community leaders, and allies from 42 states since 1999; the Leadership, Empowerment, and Advocacy Fellowship (LEAF) convenings for SEAA-led and -serving organizations; the biennial Moving Mountains Equity Summit; and four policy priority areas (Data Equity, Health/Mental Health and Aging, Education, and Immigration). The organization also operates the Our Roots, Our Power 50th Year Campaign, a California-specific regional advocacy program, the SEAA Collaborative coalition, and an Anti-Asian Hate Resource Hub. Resource products include toolkits such as the Southeast Asian American Solidarity Toolkit developed with the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild and the University of Minnesota Binger Center.

SEARAC's revenue model is donation-driven, drawing on individual one-time and recurring contributions, employer-matched gifts, donor-advised funds (via Daffy), planned giving and bequests, the $30+/month Rooted in Power Giving Circle subscription program, foundation grants (including a documented $100,000 Surdna Foundation President's Grant in October 2022), event sponsorships (notably for LAT), and a merchandise shop. Distribution is community-led through direct engagement, digital channels (Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, YouTube, EveryAction-powered newsletter), crowdfunding on Chuffed.org, resource libraries in Hmong, Khmer, Lao, and Vietnamese, and coalition-based advocacy with more than 30 partner organizations including NAKASEC, SAALT, NAPAWF, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliates. Technology infrastructure is limited to standard nonprofit tooling; SEARAC offers no public API, proprietary platform, or AI capabilities.

Name

SEARAC

Legal name

Southeast Asia Resource Action Center

Website

https://searac.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SEARAC is a 501(c)(3) national civil rights organization founded in 1979 that advocates for Southeast Asian American communities from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam through policy advocacy, leadership training, legal support, and coalition building.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Rights Advocacy and Community Organizing

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights (BPADAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Civil rights advocacy
• Community organizing
• Immigration rights
• Policy advocacy
• Leadership development

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

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. Individual Donations: SEARAC accepts one-time and recurring donations from individuals via credit card, Apple Pay, and GPay through bit.ly/givetosearac. The organization also accepts physical checks and money orders.
2. Event Sponsorships: SEARAC offers event sponsorships for programs such as the Leadership and Advocacy Training (LAT), allowing small businesses and corporations to contribute.
3. Employer-Matched Donations: Many businesses match donations made by their employees, which can double the impact of a gift to SEARAC.
4. Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Gifts: SEARAC welcomes one-time and recurring DAF gifts via Daffy or direct email contact.
5. Planned Giving / Bequests: Donors can leave a gift of cash or property to SEARAC in their will or trust. Tax ID: 52-1161473.
6. Rooted in Power Giving Circle: A monthly giving program at $30 or more per month providing exclusive benefits such as website acknowledgement, webinars with staff, merchandise, mentoring opportunities with board members, and community connection events.
7. Foundation Grants: SEARAC receives grant funding from foundations such as the Surdna Foundation ($100,000 President's Grant).
8. Shop / Merchandise Sales: SEARAC operates a merchandise shop selling items such as 'Made by Refugees' and 'Made by Immigrants' t-shirts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

SEARAC (Southeast Asia Resource Action Center) is a 501(c)(3) national civil rights organization that delivers community organizing, policy advocacy, leadership training, and culturally competent resources for Southeast Asian American communities from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Its core offerings include the Leadership and Advocacy Training (LAT) program, the LEAF fellowship convenings, the Moving Mountains Equity Summit, and ongoing federal and state-level policy advocacy across four priority areas: data equity, health, education, and immigration.

Product overview

SEARAC (Southeast Asia Resource Action Center) is a national civil rights organization founded in 1979, not a technology product company. Its offerings consist of advocacy programs, policy initiatives, and community resources. The core programs include the Leadership and Advocacy Training (LAT) program for building community leaders, the Our Roots Our Power 50th Year Campaign for anniversary commemoration, and the SEAA Collaborative coalition. The organization focuses on four policy priority areas: Data Equity, Health/Mental Health and Aging, Education, and Immigration. Regional programming includes California-specific advocacy. Resource offerings encompass a Resource Library with reports and toolkits, an Anti-Asian Hate Resource Hub, and the Southeast Asian American Solidarity Toolkit for detention/deportation resistance. Donor engagement includes the Rooted in Power Giving Circle monthly giving program. SEARAC does not offer technology products, APIs, or AI-powered features.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Leadership and Advocacy Training (LAT) Program An annual training program that teaches Southeast Asian American students, community leaders, and allies how to harness personal stories to inspire communities and engage elected officials. Participants travel to Washington, DC for advocacy skill-building and Capitol Hill meetings, and join a nationwide alumni network.
• LEAF (Leadership, Empowerment, and Advocacy Fellowship) Convenings A fellowship program and national convening series that brings together SEAA community leaders from partner organizations for capacity building, healing, and joint strategy on national policy issues affecting Southeast Asian American communities.
• Moving Mountains Equity Summit A biennial national convening that brings together the SEAA community to celebrate identity, build collective power, and advance equity, featuring plenaries, community-led workshops, and networking.
• Rooted in Power Giving Circle A monthly donor membership program ($30+/month) that provides recurring sustaining support to SEARAC and offers members exclusive benefits including website acknowledgment, behind-the-scenes webinars with staff, exclusive merchandise, mentoring opportunities with board members, and community connection events.
• SEARAC Merchandise Shop SEARAC's online merchandise storefront selling branded apparel and accessories, including 'Made by Refugees' and 'Made by Immigrants' t-shirts, with proceeds supporting SEARAC's programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 1,400 SEAA students, community leaders, and allies trained across 42 states since 1999
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Southeast Asian Freedom Network (SEAFN)coreOthers · 19 January 2019SEAFN is a core coalition partner co-organizing the National Week of Action to End Southeast Asian Deportations (January 19-27, 2019) across 15 cities. SEAFN and SEARAC jointly respond to ICE violence against SEAA communities.
• National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild (NIPNLG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIPNLG collaborated with SEARAC, #ReleaseMN8, and the University of Minnesota James H. Binger Center of New Americans to author the Southeast Asian American Solidarity Toolkit: A Guide to Resisting Detentions and Deportations. The toolkit provides organizing, advocacy, and legal tools for families whose loved ones face detention and removal.
• University of Minnesota James H. Binger Center of New AmericanscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with SEARAC and NIPNLG to develop the Southeast Asian American Solidarity Toolkit for resisting detentions and deportations. The center provides legal expertise and advocacy support for SEAA communities facing deportation.
• Asian American Resource WorkshopminorOthersParticipating organization in SEARAC's LEAF convening — a fellowship program for SEAA community leaders.
• Boat People SOS-HoustonminorOthersParticipating organization in SEARAC's LEAF convening.
• Cambodian Mutual Assistance AssociationminorOthersParticipating organization in SEARAC's LEAF convening, based in Lowell, MA.
• Formerly Incarcerated Group Healing Together (FIGHT)minorOthersParticipating organization in SEARAC's LEAF convening, based in Pullman, WA.
• Freedom Inc.minorOthersParticipating organization in SEARAC's LEAF convening, based in Madison, WI.
• Fresno Interdenominational Refugee MinistriesminorOthersParticipating organization in SEARAC's LEAF convening, based in Fresno, CA.
• Hmong Innovating PoliticsminorOthersParticipating organization in SEARAC's LEAF convening, based in Sacramento, CA.
• Khmer Girls in ActionminorOthersParticipating organization in SEARAC's LEAF convening, based in Long Beach, CA.
• Laotian American National AllianceminorOthersParticipating organization in SEARAC's LEAF convening, based in Los Angeles, CA.
• ManForwardminorOthersParticipating organization in SEARAC's LEAF convening, based in St. Paul, MN.
• Mekong NYCminorOthersParticipating organization in SEARAC's LEAF convening, based in Bronx, NY.
• Providence Youth Student MovementminorOthersParticipating organization in SEARAC's LEAF convening, based in Providence, RI.
• ReleaseMN8coreOthersSEARAC partnered with the #ReleaseMN8 campaign — founded by families of detained Cambodian Americans in Minnesota — to fight deportations and co-develop the Southeast Asian American Solidarity Toolkit. ReleaseMN8 was started when eight Cambodian men were abruptly detained by ICE for immediate deportation in 2016.
• Southeast Asian Coalition (Charlotte, NC)minorOthersParticipating organization in SEARAC's LEAF convening.
• The Cambodian Family Community CenterminorOthersParticipating organization in SEARAC's LEAF convening, based in Santa Ana, CA.
• VietLeadminorOthersParticipating organization in SEARAC's LEAF convening, based in Philadelphia, PA.
• NAKASEC (National Korean American Service & Education Consortium)coreOthersSEARAC and NAKASEC co-issue statements and joint advocacy campaigns on shared AAPI policy priorities including immigration, refugee rights, and civil rights.
• SAALT (South Asian Americans Leading Together)coreOthersSEARAC and SAALT jointly advocate on issues impacting AAPI communities, including immigrant rights and deportation relief.
• NAPAWF (National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEARAC and NAPAWF co-hosted immigration report briefings on Capitol Hill and jointly published 'Dreams Detained, in Her Words' — a report on the effects of detention and deportation on SEAA women and families.
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC, ALC, LA, Atlanta, Chicago)coreOthersSEARAC collaborates with the Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation on immigration policy advocacy, deportation defense, Know Your Rights resources, and Congressional education on SEAA issues.
• MN8 (Minnesota 8)coreOthersSEARAC joined with MN8 and other partners (CAAL, HAP/HND) to respond to ICE's escalation of violence against Southeast Asians in Minnesota, including providing Know Your Rights materials in SEAA languages.
• Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL)coreOthersSEARAC and CAAL jointly responded to ICE's violence and escalation of attacks against Southeast Asians in Minnesota.
• Hmong American Partnership and Hmong National Development (HAP/HND)coreOthersSEARAC partnered with HAP/HND to respond to ICE violence against SEAA communities in Minnesota and to support mutual aid efforts.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Boat People SOS-Houston: A Vietnamese American community organization providing social services, legal aid, and advocacy; participates in SEARAC's LEAF convening and overlaps directly with SEARAC's SEAA immigrant rights agenda.
• Asian American Resource Workshop: A community-based AAPI organizing group participating in SEARAC's LEAF convening; operates at a regional scale with similar grassroots-and-policy advocacy model on immigrant rights and community power-building.
• Hmong American Partnership: A Minnesota-based Hmong-serving social services and advocacy organization that is a core coalition partner of SEARAC on SEAA deportation defense and Know Your Rights work; comparable constituency focus on one of the SEAA sub-communities SEARAC serves.
• Khmer Girls in Action: A Cambodian American youth and community organizing group in Long Beach, CA; LEAF convening participant and directly comparable to SEARAC's grassroots community-organizing approach for one of its core SEAA constituencies.

Broad incumbents

• AAPI Equity Alliance: A California-based AAPI-serving umbrella advocacy and policy organization; comparable nonprofit advocacy model and policy focus on data equity and immigrant rights within SEARAC's largest SEAA population base.
• OCA (Asian Pacific American Advocates): A national AAPI civic engagement and advocacy organization with comparable mission scope on civil rights and data disaggregation, though broader across all AAPI communities rather than SEAA-specific like SEARAC.

Direct peers

• NAPAWF (National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum): A national AAPI women's advocacy organization that co-hosts Capitol Hill briefings and joint reports with SEARAC (e.g., 'Dreams Detained, in Her Words'); comparable nonprofit advocacy model and overlapping immigration/civil rights priorities.
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice: Largest national AAPI civil rights affiliation with a shared advocacy focus on immigration, education, and civil rights; SEARAC is an active coalition partner and they co-develop Know Your Rights resources and Congressional education work on overlapping AAPI policy priorities.
• NAKASEC (National Korean American Service & Education Consortium): A national AAPI civil rights organization focused on Korean and broader AAPI immigrant communities; SEARAC and NAKASEC co-issue statements and joint campaigns on immigration, refugee rights, and civil rights, making them coalition peers serving overlapping communities.
• SAALT (South Asian Americans Leading Together): A national civil rights organization for South Asian American communities with overlapping advocacy on immigrant rights, deportation defense, and disaggregated data — directly comparable mission scope to SEARAC and an active coalition partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/searac
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@searac
• Facebookfacebook.com/searac
• Instagraminstagram.com/searac

Compliance1 record

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 SEARAC