Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles

What Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles does

The Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles (CRP) is a nonprofit university research center housed within UCLA's School of Education & Information Studies. Founded in 1996 at Harvard University by Gary Orfield and relocated to UCLA, CRP commissions and publishes social science and legal research on civil rights and equal opportunity for racial and ethnic groups in the United States. The center has produced more than 400 commissioned studies and over 25 books across K-12 education, higher education, housing, immigration, and metropolitan inequality, and its research has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court in three landmark decisions (Grutter v. Bollinger 2003, Parents Involved 2007, and SFFA v Harvard College 2023). Operations are led by co-directors Gary Orfield (Distinguished Research Professor) and Patricia Gándara (Research Professor), supported by a small staff of senior researchers and fellows, with three formal operating sub-units: the Center for Civil Rights Remedies, Project SOL (U.S.-Mexico border focus), and the LASANTI Project (Los Angeles-San Diego-Tijuana region).

CRP's "products" are research reports, policy briefs, books, and convenings such as summits, all distributed free of charge through its website, the UC eScholarship open-access platform, email newsletters, and social media. Revenue is generated through foundation grants (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation), institutional funding from the University of California Office of the President, and individual donations accepted in preset tiers ($25-$500). The organization pursues a community-led go-to-market motion: convenings, summits, and free publication designed to equip policymakers, academic researchers, civil rights advocates, and education system stakeholders with empirical evidence for legislative analysis, litigation, and advocacy.

Name

Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles

Legal name

The Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles

Website

https://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles is a UCLA-based nonprofit research center that commissions social science and legal research on civil rights and equal opportunity for racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., serving policymakers, academic researchers, and civil rights advocates with free reports, policy briefs, and books.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Rights Research

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

akta.pro primary industry

Racial & Ethnic Justice Organizations (BPAGAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Equity, Inclusion & Civil Rights Reporting (Disparities, Access, Outcomes) (EDADAIAH), Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAA), Human Rights Monitoring, Documentation & Advocacy (BPADAGAK)

Keywords

• Civil rights research
• Education equity policy
• Social science research
• Policy brief publishing
• Racial inequality studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants and Philanthropic Support: The organization receives funding from foundations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and support from the University of California Office of the President. The website features donation options at various levels ($25, $50, $75, $100, $150, $200, $500).
2. University Housing and Institutional Support: Hosted within UCLA School of Education & Information Studies, receiving institutional support from the university for operations and infrastructure.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles is a university-based research organization that produces empirical social science and legal research on civil rights, racial equity, and equal opportunity for racial and ethnic groups in the United States. It commissions and publishes research reports, policy briefs, and books on K-12 and higher education, housing, immigration, and metropolitan inequality, and convenes policymakers, researchers, and advocates through summits and collaborative events.

Product overview

The Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles is a research organization at UCLA, not a technology product company. It produces research reports, policy briefs, books, and convenings focused on civil rights and equal opportunity for racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. The organization operates research series including 'A Civil Rights Agenda for the Next Quarter Century' (national) and 'A Civil Rights Agenda for California's Next Quarter Century' (state-level), along with specialized centers like the Center for Civil Rights Remedies and Project SOL. Major research outputs include reports on school segregation, housing inequality, community college access, and regional studies like the LASANTI Project covering Los Angeles, San Diego, and Tijuana.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Center for Civil Rights Remedies: A center focused on addressing school discipline disparities and the school-to-prison pipeline through research and policy advocacy.
• Project SOL
• LASANTI Project

Products and services

• A Civil Rights Agenda for the Next Quarter Century (National Series) A national research series examining civil rights issues and equity policies for the nation, published as part of the project's 25th anniversary commemoration.
• A Civil Rights Agenda for California's Next Quarter Century (CA Series) A California-focused research series examining civil rights issues and equity policies, given California's demographic diversity that foretells the future of the United States.
• Extreme Segregation and Policy Inaction in California Schools Research report presenting multiple measures of segregation in California's public schools, examining double segregation by race and class, charter and magnet school segregation, and racial inequalities in graduation rates and course enrollment.
• The Potential of California's Community College Baccalaureate for Closing Racial Equity Gaps Research report examining the progress and potential of California Community College Baccalaureate degree programs for closing racial equity gaps in higher education.
• The School Voucher Illusion: Exposing the Pretense of Equity Book examining the long-standing campaign that resulted in today's school voucher policies, edited by Gary Orfield, Kevin G. Welner, and Luis A. Huerta.
• Center for Civil Rights Remedies A specialized center focused on civil rights remedies and school discipline disparities research, addressing the school-to-prison pipeline through research and policy advocacy.
• Project SOL Research initiative focused on student outcomes and civil rights issues, with particular attention to the U.S.-Mexico border region.
• The LASANTI Project Regional research project exploring social and economic change and inequality across the bi-national urbanized complex stretching from Los Angeles through San Diego to Tijuana.
• Housing in the 21st Century: Taking Stock and Seeking Equality Research brief analyzing current state of housing inequality in the U.S., situating discussion within historical and social context of civil rights and fair housing policies.
• Investing in Our Nation's Future: Advancing Educational Opportunity for Underserved Students Research on economics of educational reforms, examining cost-benefit analyses of interventions from early childhood education to community college completion.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400+ studies commissioned on civil rights and equal opportunity
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2025CRP co-authored a report on school discipline disparities with the National Center for Youth Law. The report 'In Harm's Way: The Persistence of Unjust Discipline Experienced by California's Students' was released by NCYL, with CRP Senior Research Fellow Daniel Losen serving as senior director of education at NCYL. The partnership combines CRP's research expertise with NCYL's legal advocacy focus on youth issues.
• UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools (CTS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2024Collaborated on teacher diversity research including 'Barriers to Racial Equity for Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers in California's Teaching Pipeline and Profession' and 'Segregated by Teacher Experience in California.' The partnership leverages UCLA's institutional resources and the Center for the Transformation of Schools' policy expertise.
• UCLA School of Education & Information StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRP is housed within the UCLA School of Education & Information Studies, providing institutional infrastructure, academic credibility, and research resources. Faculty members including Patricia Gándara and Gary Orfield hold appointments at UCLA.
• Learning Policy InstitutesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partners on community college baccalaureate studies, with Learning Policy Institute researchers Emma García and Henry Levin co-authoring reports with CRP.
• Teachers College, Columbia UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authors including Henry Levin (William Heard Kilpatrick Professor Emeritus) and Luis A. Huerta collaborate on education economics and school voucher research.
• Harvard Education PresssecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublisher of CRP co-authored book 'Schools Under Siege: Immigration Enforcement and Educational Equity' by Patricia Gándara and Jongyeon Joy Ee.
• Teacher's College PresssecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublisher of CRP co-edited book 'The School Voucher Illusion: Exposing the Pretense of Equity' by Gary Orfield, Kevin Welner, and Luis Huerta.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Urban Institute: Nonprofit research organization producing evidence-based research on economic mobility, racial equity, housing, and education. Comparable as a multi-issue social science research center that informs federal and state civil rights policy.
• The Education Trust: Education equity research and advocacy organization focused on closing opportunity gaps for students of color and low-income students. Closely comparable in producing research on segregation, achievement gaps, and college access that informs civil rights policy.
• Migration Policy Institute: Think tank analyzing immigration and integration policy with substantial demographic and education research. Comparable to CRP's immigration-enforcement-and-education research stream and binational U.S.-Mexico border work.
• Learning Policy Institute: Education research organization producing policy research on equity, teacher diversity, and community colleges. Already an active co-authoring partner with CRP, making it a direct research-output peer in the same policy ecosystem.
• NAACP Legal Defense Fund: National civil rights legal organization that conducts research and litigation on racial equality in education, housing, and criminal justice. Directly comparable in mission and in providing expert research and testimony in landmark civil rights cases.

Broad incumbents

• RAND Corporation: Large nonprofit research institution with policy research spanning education, civil justice, and social equity. Comparable as a research output organization but operates at vastly larger scale across many policy domains.
• The Sentencing Project: Criminal justice research and advocacy organization. Comparable as a research-driven civil rights organization but with a narrower focus on criminal justice rather than CRP's broader education, housing, and immigration agenda.
• Brookings Institution: Established public policy research organization producing work on education, racial equity, and economic mobility. Overlaps with CRP on education and inequality research but as a much larger multi-topic institution.
• Center for American Progress: Progressive policy research and advocacy organization producing research on education equity, racial justice, and immigration. Comparable in policy research output and civil rights advocacy orientation but with a broader political agenda.

Regional players

• Economic Policy Institute: Think tank producing economic policy research with substantial focus on racial economic inequality and education funding equity. Comparable in social science research methodology but with an economics-first rather than legal/policy framework.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CRPatUCLA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@crppdc
• Facebookfacebook.com/CRPatUCLA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-civil-rights-project
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecivilrightsprojectucla

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles