RootDown
RootDown LA is a South Los Angeles non-profit founded in 2007 that empowers local youth through urban agriculture, culinary training, and a 13-week horticultural entrepreneurship program, operating a demand-and-supply healthy food venture model funded by grants and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What RootDown does
RootDown LA is a non-profit youth empowerment organization founded in October 2007 in South Los Angeles that operates a demand-and-supply healthy food venture ecosystem. The organization addresses limited training and employment pathways for South LA youth, nutrition education gaps, and food access inequities by pairing urban agriculture infrastructure with culinary and horticultural training. Its model simultaneously builds demand for healthy food through cooking classes, tastings, and community events, and creates supply through neighborhood urban gardens, micro-farms, and value-added product production.
Its core offerings include urban garden installations (both private and educational, sited near schools), youth culinary training programs at high schools and neighborhood non-profits, a signature 13-week intensive Horticultural Entrepreneurship Program for high school youth, community events and tastings, and a recipe/cooking techniques platform. Youth program graduates are supported to start or join local youth-led micro-businesses that include urban garden installation services, produce sales, and value-added products such as hot sauce, jams, teas, and lip balm made from surplus produce.
RootDown LA is funded entirely through grants and individual donations. Its financial partner base is broad, including federal funding via NIFA's Community Food Project Grants, state support from CDPH/The Network for a Healthy California, and major private and corporate foundations (Kaiser Foundation, Weingart Foundation, The Annenberg Foundation/Metabolic Studios, Wells Fargo Foundation, Liberty Hill Foundation, among others). Operational partnerships extend its reach: L.A. KITCHEN handles food recovery and distribution, L.A. Compost supports urban agriculture and sustainability, UCLA/REACH provides academic and research collaboration, and South Central Family Health Center addresses nutrition and health outcomes. The organization employs 11-50 staff, operates from two South LA locations (180 East 35th Street and 4410 McKinley Ave), and is currently led by Executive Director Karen Ramirez, who progressed from youth participant to organizational leadership.
RootDown firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RootDown
- Website
- https://rootdownla.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- RootDown LA is a South Los Angeles non-profit founded in 2007 that empowers local youth through urban agriculture, culinary training, and a 13-week horticultural entrepreneurship program, operating a demand-and-supply healthy food venture model funded by grants and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RootDown industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Youth Development & Urban Agriculture
- NAICS
- Community Food Services (624210), Community Food Services (62421)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI), Sustainability, Waste Reduction & Composting Programs (EDALADAL)
Keywords
Where RootDown is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
RootDown business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: RootDown LA operates as a nonprofit organization relying primarily on grants and support from individuals, foundations, and government programs to cover annual costs. The organization accepts donations through their website and relies on grant funding from various foundations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
RootDown product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RootDown LA is a nonprofit that empowers South Los Angeles youth through healthy food ventures by installing and maintaining urban gardens at schools and neighborhoods, running hands-on culinary and horticulture training programs (including a 13-week intensive horticulture program), hosting community events and tastings, and supporting youth-led micro-businesses that sell produce and value-added products such as hot sauce, jams, teas, and lip balm. The organization operates a "demand-and-supply" model in which community programming builds demand for healthy food while its gardens and youth ventures supply it locally.
Product overview
RootDown LA is a non-profit youth empowerment organization operating a unified healthy food venture ecosystem. The core offerings consist of urban garden installations (both private and educational), youth culinary and horticulture training programs, community events, and a recipe/cooking techniques platform. Youth program graduates are supported to start or join local youth-led business ventures including urban garden installations, produce sales, and value-added products like hot sauce, jams, teas, and lip balm. The organization operates a demand-and-supply model where gardens create supply while programs and events build demand for healthy food in South LA communities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Thousands of people in South LA have been convinced to eat their vegetables through the organization's demand-and-supply model
Companies that use RootDown
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
RootDown technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
RootDown partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- LAPDminorLaw enforcement partnership for community engagement and youth development initiatives in South LA.
- The Big HouseminorCommunity organization partner for youth programming and healthy food ventures.
- Stepping Forward L.A.minorPartner organization providing youth development support and community services.
- Cruzitas CafeminorLocal cafe partner for community food events and healthy eating initiatives.
- SEELAminorPartner organization supporting youth and community development in South LA.
- A Place Called HomeminorYouth and family services organization serving as a community partner.
- WYLD @ Caver Middle SchoolminorSchool-based partnership with WYLD program at Caver Middle School for youth nutrition education.
- L.A. KITCHENcoreL.A. KITCHEN is a key partner supporting food recovery and distribution efforts, working with RDLA on community food initiatives and healthy eating programs.
- OurFoodsminorFood systems partner supporting local healthy food distribution.
- South Central Family Health CenterminorHealthcare partner addressing nutrition and health outcomes in South LA community.
- L.A. CompostcoreKey composting partner supporting RDLA's urban agriculture and sustainability efforts through waste reduction and soil health programs.
- Roots 4 PeaceminorCommunity partner for peace-building and youth development initiatives.
- Blue Roof StudiosminorCreative/design partner supporting RDLA's visual communications and brand.
- St. Joseph's CenterminorSocial services partner supporting South LA families and communities.
- UCLA/REACHcoreAcademic partnership with UCLA's REACH program supporting research and community health initiatives.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
RootDown competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- REAL School Gardens: Nonprofit creating learning gardens in underserved elementary schools with teacher training. Directly comparable to RootDown LA's school garden installation and educator engagement model.
- Big Green: Nonprofit building learning gardens in low-income schools across multiple U.S. cities. Directly comparable to RootDown LA's urban garden installation and school-based food education mission.
- FoodCorps: National nonprofit that places service members in schools to teach kids about food, nutrition, and gardening. Highly comparable to RootDown LA's school-based culinary and horticulture education model, though operating at significantly larger national scale.
- Wellness in the Schools: Nonprofit working in public schools to provide healthy food, nutrition education, and fitness programs. Comparable mission around school-based food access and wellness programming.
- Common Threads: National nonprofit providing cooking and nutrition education to children and families. Directly comparable in targeting underserved youth with hands-on culinary programming to address healthy eating.
- L.A. KITCHEN: Los Angeles-based nonprofit recovering produce to train adults facing barriers to employment in culinary skills. Comparable as a fellow South LA food-systems nonprofit and active RootDown LA core partner.
- Green Bronx Machine: Urban agriculture and education nonprofit building school gardens in underserved communities. Comparable focus on using food growing as a vehicle for youth education and community health.
- L.A. Compost: Los Angeles-based nonprofit supporting community composting and urban soil health. Comparable urban sustainability focus and active RootDown LA core partner supporting their gardens.
Emerging players
- Teens Turning Green: Youth-led nonprofit promoting healthy, sustainable lifestyles through education and advocacy. Comparable youth-led mission with overlapping healthy-food advocacy focus.
Regional players
- Tierra Miguel Foundation: Southern California nonprofit focused on sustainable agriculture education and farm-to-school programming. Comparable regional focus on agricultural education and youth engagement in food systems.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
RootDown social profiles
Digital presenceRootDown financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RootDown leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
RootDown funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RootDown M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RootDown
What does RootDown do?
RootDown LA is a nonprofit that empowers South Los Angeles youth through healthy food ventures by installing and maintaining urban gardens at schools and neighborhoods, running hands-on culinary and horticulture training programs (including a 13-week intensive horticulture program), hosting community events and tastings, and supporting youth-led micro-businesses that sell produce and value-added products such as hot sauce, jams, teas, and lip balm. The organization operates a "demand-and-supply" model in which community programming builds demand for healthy food while its gardens and youth ventures supply it locally.
Is RootDown a public or private company?
RootDown is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was RootDown founded?
RootDown was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is RootDown based?
RootDown is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does RootDown make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Grants.
Who are RootDown's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are REAL School Gardens, Big Green, FoodCorps, Wellness in the Schools, Common Threads, L.A. KITCHEN, Green Bronx Machine and L.A. Compost. Teens Turning Green is listed as an emerging player. Tierra Miguel Foundation is listed as a regional player.
Does RootDown have an API?
No public API is recorded for RootDown.
What industry is RootDown in?
RootDown's product category is Community Youth Development & Urban Agriculture. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAD, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative), with a secondary code of BPAGAGAI, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems. Its NAICS code is 624210 and its SIC code is 8300.