Mexican American Opportunity Foundation

What Mexican American Opportunity Foundation does

Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1963 by Latino civil rights leader Dionicio Morales in Los Angeles. Headquartered in Montebello, California, MAOF operates a multi-generational Family Care Model that delivers social services across four pillars — early education, senior services, community development, and community partnerships — to low-income families across seven California counties (Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, San Diego, Ventura, Kern, and Monterey). The organization describes itself as one of the largest nonprofits in California, serving over 125,000 people per year through 27 child care centers, 7 Early Care Centers in Monterey County, senior congregate-meal sites, a Bakersfield Skill Center, and regional offices. Service lines span Head Start and Early Head Start, California Alternative Payment Program and CalWORKs subsidies, Universal PreKindergarten, Resource & Referral, senior benefits enrollment and meal/transportation programs, Financial Opportunity Center coaching, employment and vocational training, IRS-certified VITA tax preparation, ITIN services, and DOJ-accredited immigration legal services.

MAOF's revenue model is that of a contracted human-services provider rather than a commercial business: the operating budget exceeds $100 million annually, funded primarily through federal grants (HHS Head Start), California Department of Social Services vouchers, Los Angeles Department of Aging contracts, and philanthropic/donations processed via Zeffy. Services are free or income-subsidized for beneficiaries, and customer acquisition is community-led via county referral networks (CalWORKs, EDD, social services), employer partnerships, and word-of-mouth in Latino communities. Under the leadership of President & CEO Dr. Ciriaco "Cid" Pinedo (appointed April 2022), MAOF is undertaking a multi-year modernization program that includes PlanetBids digital procurement (announced March 2026), Microsoft 365 licensing, and Microsoft Dynamics 365–based centralized intake and case management, supported by an inaugural Chief Learning, Data and Evaluation Officer hired in November 2022.

Name

Mexican American Opportunity Foundation

Legal name

Mexican American Opportunity Foundation

Website

https://maof.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Mexican American Opportunity Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1963 that delivers early-childhood education, senior services, community development, and partnership programs to over 125,000 low-income beneficiaries annually across seven California counties via a $100M+ budget funded primarily by federal, state, and county government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Services (611), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction (EDACAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

Keywords

• Social services
• Early childhood education
• Senior support services
• Financial capability
• Community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Montebello

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: MAOF operates as a nonprofit receiving federal and state funding primarily through programs such as Head Start, Early Head Start, CalWORKs, and California Department of Social Services grants. The organization maintains an operating budget of over $100 million annually derived from these government contracts and grants.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive social services to low-income Latino families and disadvantaged individuals across seven California counties. Its offerings are organized under four pillars: early childhood education (Head Start, child care, preschool, CalWORKs subsidies), senior services (meals, transportation, benefits enrollment), community development (financial opportunity centers, employment training, tax preparation, immigration services), and community partnerships (Latina Women's Conference, wellness initiatives).

Product overview

MAOF is a nonprofit organization providing comprehensive human services through four core pillars: Early Education Services, Senior Services, Community Development Services, and Community Partnerships. The organization operates a multi-generational Family Care Model serving over 125,000 people annually across seven California counties. Early Education Services include Head Start/Early Head Start, subsidized child care through CalWORKs, Universal PreKindergarten, and the Family Child Care Home Educational Network. Senior Services encompass benefits enrollment, meals/dining centers, food bank, transportation, and case management. Community Development includes Financial Opportunity Centers, employment support through the Bakersfield Skills Center, tax preparation/VITA services, immigration assistance, and financial literacy programs. The organization also runs community partnerships including the annual Latina Women's Conference and Vive Tu Vida wellness events. MAOF maintains 27 child care centers and 7 Early Care Centers in Monterey County, with an operating budget exceeding $100 million.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Creciendo Juntos: A program that allows families in SoCal to qualify to enroll their children in a high-quality early childhood education program that is free or low-cost.

Products and services

• Early Education Services
• Head Start & Early Head Start
• Resource & Referral Program
• Senior Services
• Transportation Assistance Program (TAP)
• Community Development Services
• Financial Opportunity Center (FOC)
• MAOF Skill Center - Bakersfield
• Tax Preparation & ITIN Services
• Immigration Services
• Latina Women's Conference

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 125,000 people per year
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

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 operational, core and minor.

• PlanetBidsoperationalTechnology or Integration · 3 March 2026MAOF partnered with PlanetBids to implement a digital procurement system to modernize sourcing, improve vendor relations, and ensure transparency. This technology upgrade facilitates more efficient solicitation, evaluation, and vendor management, with future integration options for expanded capabilities.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAOF's Financial Opportunity Center operates in partnership with LISC, providing bundled services to low-to-moderate income families within Los Angeles County communities using a three-pronged approach: employment placement, financial education/coaching, and income support services.
• United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)coreOthersHead Start and Early Head Start programs are funded through federal HHS grants, providing comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and families.
• Los Angeles Department of AgingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAOF partners with the Los Angeles Department of Aging to operate the Senior Hispanic Information and Assistance Program (SHIAS), providing information services to seniors (60+) and connecting them with services to maintain independence.
• National Council on AgingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAOF partners with the National Council on Aging to offer the Benefits Enrollment Center, providing free assistance to seniors and individuals with disabilities to educate them on Medicare and enroll in eligible benefit programs.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)minorOthersMAOF participates in the All of Us Research Program, a NIH initiative to improve health care through research by building a diverse database for studies on various health conditions.
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS)coreOthersMAOF operates a VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program certified by the IRS to provide free tax preparation services for low-income households, helping families claim Earned Income Tax Credits and stimulus payments.
• Unidos USminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAOF is an affiliate member of Unidos US (formerly National Council of La Raza), a Latino civil rights organization providing advocacy and resources for Hispanic communities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Para Los Niños: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing early childhood education, youth development, and family services to low-income Latino and immigrant families. Closely comparable to MAOF in target population, service mix (child care, family support), and CalWORKs/Head Start funding model.
• Olive Crest: California-headquartered nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, early education, and family preservation services. Comparable to MAOF in early childhood education and government-funded family services, with multi-county California operations and similar population focus.
• Latino Community Foundation: California-based philanthropic organization investing in Latino-led nonprofits and community wealth-building. Comparable to MAOF in Latino community development focus, though operates as a grantmaker/intermediary rather than direct service provider.
• Children's Institute: LA-based nonprofit delivering early childhood education, mental health, and family strengthening services to children and families facing adversity. Overlaps with MAOF on Head Start-style programming and CalWORKs-funded child care, with a comparable California-only footprint.
• Children's Fund: Southern California nonprofit supporting children experiencing poverty, abuse, and neglect — the previous organization of MAOF's current President & CEO Dr. Cid Pinedo. Comparable in mission focus on vulnerable children and families.
• El Centro del Cardenal: Orange County-based Latino-serving nonprofit offering child care, senior services, immigration legal aid, and family self-sufficiency programs. Directly comparable to MAOF in target demographic, service pillars, and California regional footprint.

Regional players

• South Central LAMP: South Los Angeles community-based nonprofit providing workforce development, immigration services, and family support. Comparable to MAOF's Community Development pillar and CalWORKs-aligned services, though with narrower geographic focus.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities of Los Angeles: One of the largest social services providers in LA County, offering immigration legal services, senior services, refugee resettlement, and family support. Direct overlap with MAOF on immigration services, senior programs, and Head Start-style child care, but at significantly larger scale and broader mission.
• UnidosUS: National Latino civil rights and advocacy organization (formerly National Council of La Raza) of which MAOF is an affiliate member. Comparable in mission to advance Latino opportunity and operates similar early education and community programs through its affiliate network.

Others

• Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF): National Latino legal civil rights organization focused on education, employment, immigration, and voting rights. Not a direct service peer to MAOF but shares the Latino-advancement mission and is a relevant ecosystem partner/advocate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/maof
• Facebookfacebook.com/MAOForg
• Instagraminstagram.com/maofevents

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Mexican American Opportunity Foundation