Employee Rights Center

What Employee Rights Center does

The Employee Rights Center (ERC) is a nonprofit legal aid and advocacy organization founded in 1999 and headquartered in San Diego, California, operating as a program of Labor's Training and Community Development Alliance. The organization delivers free, direct services to three overlapping populations in San Diego County: low-income and disadvantaged workers facing wage theft or labor violations, Legal Permanent Residents pursuing U.S. citizenship, and underserved community members needing health access support. Its service portfolio comprises three core pillars — Immigration Services (including naturalization processing, DACA support, and the ERC 25 interest-free loan program), Employment & Unemployment Services (wage claims, meal/rest period violations, unemployment insurance filing), and Health Access Services (Medi-Cal enrollment, workers' compensation, State Disability Insurance) — supplemented by recurring community workshops, monthly health clinics, voter education, and an online merchandise store whose proceeds pass through as tax-deductible donations.

ERC does not operate a software platform; its underlying technology footprint is limited to a WordPress website, a Shopify-based merchandise store, and standard communication channels (phone, email, social media). Service delivery is fundamentally human-led, relying on staff attorneys, advocates, and a network of pro bono partner law firms (four local firms) and academic institutions (Thomas Jefferson School of Law, USD School of Law, California Western School of Law). The organization's distinctive institutional asset is its contract with the County of San Diego to operate the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement information line, making it the designated first point of contact for labor standards complaints in the region.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations, grants, fundraising events, and a small Amazon Smile contribution (0.5% of eligible purchases), with individual giving tiers ranging from $25 to $5,000 and event sponsorships from $500 to $20,000. The ERC 25 program operates a separate $25,000 revolving fund that recirculates as repaid naturalization loans. All direct legal, immigration, health, and educational services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries, and no client fees are charged.

Name

Employee Rights Center

Legal name

Employee Rights Center

Website

https://weberc.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Employee Rights Center is a San Diego-based nonprofit legal aid organization founded in 1999 that provides free immigration, employment, and health access services to low-income workers, immigrants, and underserved community members across San Diego County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Aid Services

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAM

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGAFAH

Labor, Worker Rights & Employment Policy Advocacy

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYBPAHAAAD

Employment & Labor Law

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Legal Services

SECONDARYBPAGAEAJ

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

Keywords

• Workers rights legal aid
• Immigration legal services
• Naturalization assistance
• Community advocacy
• Health access navigation

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization operates primarily on donations from individuals, community members, and supporters. The website features a dedicated donation portal with tiered giving levels ($25, $50, $150, $500, $725, $1000, $5000) and an Amazon Smile partnership where 0.5% of purchases are donated. An ERC merchandise store sells donated items with 100% of proceeds going directly to the organization as tax-deductible donations.
2. ERC 25 Revolving Fund: A $25,000 revolving fund campaign to provide interest-free loans to eligible Legal Permanent Residents applying for citizenship. Participants repay the loan once their application is approved, and the repaid funds are re-circulated to help additional applicants. The fund is supported by targeted fundraising appeals.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Employee Rights Center is a nonprofit legal aid and advocacy organization that provides free legal consultations, naturalization application assistance (including interest-free ERC 25 loans for government fees), workers' rights representation (wage claims, unemployment insurance, discrimination), and health-access enrollment support (Medi-Cal, workers' compensation, State Disability Insurance) to low-income workers, immigrants, and underserved residents of San Diego County. Services are delivered through in-person appointments at two San Diego offices, monthly community workshops, and partner-hosted health clinics, with all offerings provided at no cost to clients.

Product overview

The Employee Rights Center (ERC) is a non-profit legal advocacy organization offering a unified suite of services for low-income workers and immigrants in San Diego. The organization operates three core service pillars: Immigration Services (including the ERC 25 citizenship loan program, naturalization processing, DACA support, and detention/raids resources), Employment & Unemployment Services (covering minimum wage compliance, meal/rest periods, wrongful termination, and unemployment insurance filing), and Health Access Services (including Medi-Cal enrollment, workers' compensation, State Disability Insurance, and maternal leave). Supporting these core services are free monthly community workshops on various legal topics, health clinics serving thousands annually, and an online merchandise store. The organization does not offer a software product platform but rather delivers direct legal aid, education, and advocacy services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ERC 25: A naturalization assistance program providing free legal assistance and no-interest loans for government fees to help Legal Permanent Residents become citizens.

Products and services

• Immigration Services Free legal assistance for immigrants and Legal Permanent Residents, including naturalization and citizenship applications, DACA support, adjustment of status processing, parole requests, and resources for individuals affected by immigration raids or detention. Includes help completing USCIS forms and free legal consultations. Intended for low-income immigrants and LPRs in San Diego County.
• ERC 25 Program A revolving fund naturalization program offering free legal assistance plus an interest-free loan covering the U.S. citizenship application government fee to eligible Legal Permanent Residents in San Diego County. Participants repay the loan after their application is approved, allowing funds to be re-circulated to help additional applicants. The fund supports 25 participants at any given time.
• Employment & Unemployment Services Free workers' rights assistance covering minimum wage and overtime compliance, meal and rest period enforcement, at-will employment guidance, wrongful termination and discrimination support, and unemployment insurance (UI) application assistance. Intended for low-wage and disadvantaged workers without union representation in San Diego County.
• Health Access Services Free assistance enrolling in Medi-Cal and Health4All Kids, filing workers' compensation claims, applying for State Disability Insurance (SDI), navigating earned sick leave rights, and obtaining maternal leave support. Intended for uninsured and underinsured residents of San Diego County.
• Community Workshops Free monthly educational workshops covering minimum wage, overtime, sick leave, family law, immigration, DACA, workplace harassment, health insurance, and tax filing. Workshops include childcare and dinner to lower attendance barriers. Open to low-income workers, immigrants, and community members in San Diego County.
• ERC Store (Merchandise Fundraising) Online merchandise storefront where 100% of purchase proceeds are donated directly to the Employee Rights Center as tax-deductible contributions. Operates as a fundraising mechanism rather than a commercial product line.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% citizenship application success rate across 448 N-400 applications since September 2021
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UURISEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021UURISE brings over 25 years of legal experience and expertise in the naturalization process in San Diego. They serve as the legal partner for the ERC 25 program, providing legal review and application assistance for participants seeking U.S. citizenship.
• San Diego Organizing Project (SDOP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021SDOP provides the outreach and organizing capacity for the ERC 25 program through its network of 20+ member churches. They recruit and refer eligible Legal Permanent Residents to participate in the naturalization program.
• County of San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerERC has a formal contract with the County of San Diego to act as the primary information line for the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE), making ERC the designated resource for workers seeking information about wage theft and labor standards.
• Four Local Law FirmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with four local law firms established to provide free legal consultations for workers through the Workers' Rights Program.
• San Diego Rapid Response Network (SDRRN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerERC participates in the San Diego Rapid Response Network, an interconnected system of organizations responding to immigration enforcement activities. Maintains a 24-hour hotline to document raids, arrests, and harassment and connect affected people with resources.
• Thomas Jefferson School of Law (TJSL)minorOthersAcademic partner providing law students and resources to support ERC's legal services programs.
• University of San Diego School of Law (USD)minorOthersAcademic partner providing law students and resources to support ERC's legal services programs.
• California Western School of Law (Cali-Law)minorOthersAcademic partner providing law students and resources to support ERC's legal services programs.
• San Diego Immigration ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner working on immigration issues in San Diego County.
• La Maestra Community Health CentersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity health center partner providing healthcare access referrals for ERC clients.
• City Heights CDCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Development Corporation partner based in City Heights, the neighborhood where ERC is located, focused on community health and economic development.
• Labor Council / San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council AFL-CIOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor council partner providing support for workers' rights advocacy and organizing.
• United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 135minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor union partner supporting workers' rights programs and organizing efforts.
• Southwest Carpenters Local 1506minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarpenters union partner supporting workers' rights and apprenticeship programs.
• UA Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 230minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlumbers and pipefitters union partner supporting workers' rights programs.
• IAM (International Association of Machinists) Local 389minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMachinists union partner supporting workers' rights programs.
• AFT Guild 1931minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeachers union local partner supporting educational outreach and advocacy.
• Associación de Jornaleros de San DiegominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDay laborer organization partner providing outreach and support for immigrant workers.
• CPI (Center for Postal Education)minorOthersCommunity organization partner supporting ERC's mission.
• United Business BankminorOthersBanking partner providing financial services support for the organization.
• Amazon SmileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon Smile Foundation donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to ERC when shoppers select 'Labor's Training & Community Development Alliance' as their charity. EIN: 95-6136389.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Immigration Law Center (NILC): National advocacy organization dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of low-income immigrants. Overlaps with ERC's immigration advocacy mission but operates at federal policy level rather than direct service; relevant comparator for the advocacy and policy dimension of ERC's work.

Direct peers

• Casa Cornelia Law Center: San Diego-based nonprofit providing free legal services to victims of human and civil rights abuses, with a major emphasis on immigration law. Closely comparable to ERC's immigration service line, including naturalization assistance, and operating in the same regional donor and law-firm ecosystem.
• Justice & Diversity Center of The Bar Association of San Francisco: Pro bono legal services nonprofit in San Francisco providing legal aid to low-income clients including immigrants and workers. Comparable legal-aid delivery model, donation/foundation revenue structure, and pro-bono law-firm partnership approach.
• Public Law Center: Orange County-based pro bono and legal aid organization serving low-income residents across housing, immigration, and employment matters. Comparable nonprofit legal-aid model serving a Southern California immigrant worker population similar to ERC's San Diego base.
• Bet Tzedek: Los Angeles nonprofit providing free legal services to low-income residents, with programs in workers' rights, immigration, and health access. Closely comparable multi-pillar legal-aid structure and funding model (donations, foundation grants, government contracts).
• Legal Aid Society of San Diego: San Diego's largest general civil legal aid provider serving low-income residents. Directly comparable because it operates in the same county, same client base (low-income workers, immigrants), and same service categories (employment, housing, immigration) — competing for the same donor and pro-bono law firm pool.
• California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA): Statewide nonprofit providing free legal aid to low-income rural and farmworker communities in California. Comparable mission (workers' rights, immigration, language access) with a multi-county footprint that ERC could mirror if it expands beyond San Diego.
• Centro Legal de la Raza: Bay Area nonprofit providing free legal aid to low-income immigrants and workers, including naturalization, DACA, and employment cases. Comparable community-based legal-aid model targeting a similar client demographic in California.

Regional players

• CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights): Los Angeles-based immigrant rights organization providing legal services, advocacy, and civic engagement. Comparable community-based immigration services and civic engagement programs (similar to ERC's voter education work with 300+ naturalized citizens), but operating in a different Southern California region.
• Inland Counties Legal Services: Nonprofit legal aid organization serving Riverside and San Bernardino counties in Southern California. Comparable legal-aid mission serving low-income and immigrant communities in an adjacent Inland Empire region — useful benchmark for ERC's potential geographic expansion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ercsandiego
• Facebookfacebook.com/employee-rights-center
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/employee-rights-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Employee Rights Center