The Coalition of Asian-American Leaders

Name

The Coalition of Asian-American Leaders

Legal name

Coalition of Asian American Leaders

Website

https://caalmn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Leadership and Advocacy Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Engagement & Service-Learning Partnerships (EDALAOAI), Volunteer Program Funding, Scholarships & Fundraising Support (EDAIAGAO)

Keywords

• Community leadership development
• Social justice advocacy
• Nonprofit network building
• Policy advocacy services
• Community grant programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: CAAL is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that generates revenue primarily through donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate matching programs. The organization accepts tax-deductible contributions with various giving levels from $25 to $1,000 or more, with options for monthly recurring donations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CAAL operates a pan-Asian leadership network in Minnesota that convenes and develops Asian American leaders through network-weaving events, three leadership development programs (BOBA for youth, MOVEE for adults, ERS for parents), a storytelling and podcast media platform (#MinneAsianStories), and a grant fund (CAAL Ignite) that awards $5,000–$15,000 to emerging entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits. It also runs policy advocacy in education, economics, immigration, and anti-Asian racism, and deploys crisis-response funds such as the Stronger Together Fund for vulnerable Asian Minnesotan communities.

Product overview

The Coalition of Asian-American Leaders (CAAL) is a social justice network organization that operates as a collection of interconnected programs rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include: the CAAL Ignite grant program ($5,000-$15,000 grants for entrepreneurs and nonprofits), the #MinneAsianStories storytelling campaign and podcast, three leadership development programs (BOBA for youth, MOVEE for adult leaders, and ERS for education-focused parents), Network Weaving community engagement events, policy advocacy work in Economics, Education, Immigration, and Anti-Asian Racism, and COVID-19 relief initiatives including the Stronger Together Fund. CAAL functions as a network organization connecting over 5,800 social justice leaders rather than selling software or technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CAAL Ignite Grant Fund CAAL Ignite is a grant fund that awards $5,000 to emerging entrepreneurs and up to $15,000 to small businesses and nonprofits driving economic growth and equity in Minnesota's Asian American community. Applications are submitted online and have cumulatively awarded over $525,000 since inception.
• Stronger Together Fund The Stronger Together Fund is a crisis-response grant mechanism that supported 22 Asian Minnesotan organizations with over $250,000 in grants during COVID-19 to serve limited-English, undocumented, low-income, and elderly community members.
• #MinneAsianStories Storytelling Campaign The #MinneAsianStories campaign is an annual themed storytelling initiative featuring a storybank, exhibits, and themed book releases that have collectively reached over 90,000 people and inform CAAL's policy and advocacy work.
• MinneAsianStories Podcast The MinneAsianStories Podcast is a co-produced audio series (CAAL, The Uptake, WFNU Frogtown Community Radio) that brings real Asian Minnesotan voices and stories to Spotify and Apple Podcasts, with new episodes released on Mondays.

Quantifiable outcome

• Network of 5,800+ social justice leaders
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Asian Minnesotan Alliance for Justice (AMAJ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Coalition formed in May 2020 in reaction to George Floyd's murder and rise of anti-Asian racism due to COVID-19. Using a solidarity framework, AMAJ seeks to mend social divides and fight inequities rooted in white supremacy. Member organizations include AAOP, Asian Media Access, CAPI-USA, CAAL, Filipinx for Immigrant Rights & Racial Justice Minnesota, India Association of Minnesota, JACL-Twin Cities, NAPAWF, Release MN8, RISE, SEWA-AIFW, SEAD Project, TaikoArts Midwest, Theater Mu, Transforming Generations, and Vietnamese Social Services.
• Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) at University of MinnesotasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnered with CURA to develop an interactive immigration resource map surveying over 50 organizations throughout Minnesota to help community members and advocates access relevant resources.
• Minnesota Education Equity Partnership (MnEEP)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partnership to found the Minnesota Multilingual Equity Network which launched the MN EL-ESSA Initiative to coordinate conversations with representatives of multilingual organizations and families most impacted by English Language Learner policies.
• LinkingLeaders PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-racial, cross-cultural partnership bringing together four networks of leaders in Indigenous, Black, Asian, and Latinx communities. Partners include African American Leadership Forum (AALF), Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL), LatinoLEAD, and Tiwahe Foundation. The four networks reach at least 5,500 BIPOC leaders who span across diverse communities statewide.
• Advocacy Partners (100+ organizations)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCAAL has built a broad base of advocacy partners on various issues, working with over 100 organizations to advance issues and leverage opportunities for Asian Minnesotans.
• Education EvolvingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Education Evolving on heritage language preservation research and the 2019 summit attended by over 100 educators from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and California.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Japanese American Citizens League (JACL): National AAPI civil rights organization with chapters across the U.S. JACL is a CAAL advocacy partner (JACL-Twin Cities is part of AMAJ), and both organizations focus on civil rights, immigration, and combating anti-Asian racism.
• Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA): AAPI labor and workers' rights organization focused on economic justice, immigration, and civic participation. Directly comparable to CAAL's economics, immigration, and education policy priorities with a similar movement-building approach.
• Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF): National AAPI organization protecting civil rights through litigation, advocacy, and community education. Comparable to CAAL in its focus on Asian American legal rights, immigration, and civic participation, with overlapping educational equity priorities.
• Tiwahe Foundation: Minnesota-based Native American foundation focused on leadership and community investment. Direct LinkingLeaders partner with CAAL, sharing the cross-racial coalition-building and grantmaking approach.
• African American Leadership Forum (AALF): Minnesota-based leadership network advancing equity for African American communities. Direct partner with CAAL in the LinkingLeaders Partnership, sharing a near-identical network-weaving and leadership-development model.
• LatinoLEAD: Minnesota-based Latinx leadership development organization. Direct LinkingLeaders partner with CAAL; both organizations use network-weaving and cross-racial solidarity models for community advancement.

Broad incumbents

• The Asian American Foundation (TAAF): National foundation established in 2021 to support AAPI communities through grantmaking and storytelling. Directly comparable to CAAL's mission and grantmaking approach (CAAL Ignite), but with substantially larger capital base and national scope.
• National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA): National coalition of 40+ AAPI organizations advancing policy and community priorities. CAAL's membership in this type of coalition structure mirrors NCAPA's purpose, though CAAL operates a direct network rather than an umbrella coalition.
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC: National AAPI civil rights advocacy organization focused on policy, litigation, and civic engagement. Directly comparable to CAAL's advocacy mission, but operates at national scale with a broader portfolio across multiple Asian American ethnic communities.

Emerging players

• Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs (APAPA): National AAPI civic engagement organization promoting political participation, leadership, and education. Comparable to CAAL in civic education and leadership development, though APAPA emphasizes electoral engagement more directly.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/caalmn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMX4xfnLdrUMobGb-H_V6Hg
• Facebookfacebook.com/CAALMinnesota
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caalmn
• Instagraminstagram.com/caalmn

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 The Coalition of Asian-American Leaders