Transform

What Transform does

Transform is a nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1997 and headquartered in Oakland, California, that operates at the intersection of climate action, affordable housing, and sustainable transportation across the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. The organization builds and coordinates coalitions of transportation, housing, and climate groups to influence regional policy and direct funding toward transit, active transportation, and affordable housing for communities of color and low-income residents. Its core constituencies include low-income Bay Area residents, transit-dependent riders, youth (via the Safe Routes to Schools program in Alameda County), and historically impacted communities; its secondary constituents are local and regional government agencies such as MTC, ABAG, the San Jose Department of Transportation, and CARB.

Transform's programmatic portfolio spans community-facing initiatives and policy advocacy campaigns. Programs include Safe Routes to Schools (active transportation education in Alameda County), the Mobility Hubs Pilot (car sharing, EV sharing, and transit passes at affordable housing sites with First Community Housing, Richmond Community Foundation, and EBALDC), and SPOT SJ (a smart parking pilot with SJDOT and technology partner Umojo under a USDOT SMART Grant). Policy work centers on the Transit-Oriented Communities Policy, the Cap-and-Invest Program, and a 2026 regional transit funding ballot measure campaign targeting $50 billion in new funding by 2030. Transform does not develop or sell proprietary technology products; its technology-adjacent work is delivered through partners and focuses on community engagement, research, and storytelling rather than software.

Transform is funded through donations, foundation grants (e.g., San Francisco Foundation), state climate allocations (California Climate Investments), and federal grants (USDOT SMART). It has no disclosed revenue, no product pricing, and no commercial GTM motion; its operating model is community-led coalition advocacy supported by 11–50 staff and an executive team led by Executive Director Jenn, with Transportation Policy Director Zack Deutsch-Gross driving policy work.

Name

Transform

Legal name

TRANSFORM

Website

https://transformca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Transform is a 1997-founded Oakland-based nonprofit that advances equitable transportation, affordable housing, and climate policy across the nine-county Bay Area through coalition building, policy advocacy, and community programs including Safe Routes to Schools, Mobility Hubs, and SPOT SJ.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Transportation and Climate Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

Keywords

• Transportation policy advocacy
• Climate equity nonprofit
• Affordable housing advocacy
• Community coalition building
• Active transportation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a nonprofit organization, Transform relies on donations from supporters and grants to fund its operations and advocacy campaigns. The organization actively seeks donations through its website and engages in fundraising efforts to support its mission of climate and equity work.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Transform is a nonprofit advocacy organization that builds coalitions of transportation, housing, and climate groups to win transformative public investments and policy changes in the California Bay Area. It delivers community programs (e.g., Safe Routes to Schools, Mobility Hubs Pilot, SPOT SJ) and conducts policy advocacy linking affordable housing with sustainable transit and climate goals. Its work targets regional, state, and local government decision-makers while mobilizing communities of color and historically impacted residents.

Product overview

Transform is a nonprofit advocacy organization (not a technology product company) that operates a portfolio of transportation and housing programs. Its main offerings include the Safe Routes to Schools program promoting active transportation for students, the SPOT SJ smart parking initiative in San Jose, the Mobility Hubs Pilot providing shared mobility access at affordable housing sites, and transit-oriented communities advocacy linking housing density to climate goals. These programs are advocacy and community engagement initiatives rather than software products or technology platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Safe Routes to Schools A community program that promotes walking, biking, and rolling to school for students in Alameda County and the Bay Area, including events like Bike to School Day, the Golden Sneaker Contest, and Reboot Your Commute.
• Mobility Hubs Pilot A multi-year community-centered pilot that gives affordable housing residents access to shared transportation options such as car sharing, EV sharing, and transit passes, supported by California Climate Investments.
• SPOT SJ (Smart Parking for Optimal Transportation in San Jose) A smart parking initiative that uses parking technology tools, curb digitization, and community engagement to make more efficient use of existing spaces, create vibrant streets, and reduce housing costs in San Jose.
• Transit-Oriented Communities Advocacy Advocacy and policy work linking housing, transit, and climate goals through the Transit-Oriented Communities Policy, promoting density near transit stations and funding compliance tied to housing outcomes.
• Regional Transportation Funding Campaign Coalition-based advocacy to secure $50 billion in new funding for sustainable transportation and affordable housing by 2030, including support for a regional transit funding measure on the 2026 ballot and rescinding current transit cuts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Transit ridership increase to 1.7 million trips per day in Bay Area by 2030
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• San Jose Department of Transportation (SJDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Through a USDOT SMART Grant, SJDOT and Transform are piloting innovative tools to better understand curb space use downtown. Transform provides community engagement expertise while SJDOT builds the digital infrastructure for the SPOT SJ project.
• East Bay Housing Organizations (EBHO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026EBHO is a key coalition partner in Transform's work linking affordable housing and transit. EBHO's Board President William Goodwin framed Affordable Housing Month discussions. Transform and EBHO collaborate on housing-transit advocacy and signature gathering for regional transit measures.
• SV@HomecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026SV@Home (Silicon Valley at Home) partners with Transform on housing and transit advocacy in Santa Clara County. Kenneth Javier-Rosales represented SV@Home in discussions on linking affordable housing funding to transit.
• Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Ken Chan from the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County participates in Transform-facilitated discussions on affordable housing and transit funding advocacy.
• Coalition of Community Housing Developers in San FranciscocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Quintin Mecke represented the Coalition of Community Housing Developers in San Francisco in Transform's coalition discussions on transit and housing integration.
• Bike East BayminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Bike East Bay organized Bike to Wherever Day and helped build excitement around biking and active transportation in the East Bay. Transform collaborates with Bike East Bay on community events.
• OaklandishminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2026Oaklandish donated T-shirts from their AC Transit collaboration for school champions organizing Bike to School Day celebrations. Support helped bring excitement and community spirit to the event.
• Oakland BallersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2026Oakland Ballers donated tickets for participating schools as part of Bike to School Day celebrations.
• Oakland RootsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2026Oakland Roots donated tickets for participating schools as part of Bike to School Day celebrations.
• Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Transform coordinates with the Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools Program to bring safety activities, BikeMobile, and Bike Rodeo to community events like the Alameda Bike Fest.
• San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Transform partnered with SJDA to conduct a survey of local businesses on parking and transportation access. The survey showed business support for parking reform and creative street uses. Both organizations continue collaborating on resources for local businesses.
• First Community HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024First Community Housing is a site partner in Transform's multi-year Car Sharing and Mobility Hubs Pilot Project. Their Site Level Team members helped develop the final survey design and participate in community-centered evaluation.
• Richmond Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Richmond Community Foundation is a site partner in Transform's Mobility Hubs Pilot Project, helping develop survey design and participate in community-centered evaluation processes.
• East Bay Asian Local Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) is a site partner in Transform's Mobility Hubs Pilot Project, contributing to community engagement and evaluation efforts.
• Voices for Public TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransform is a member of Voices for Public Transportation, working with MTC, Bay Area transit operators, and state legislature to advance authorizing legislation for transit funding.
• Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTC is the primary regional transportation agency that Transform engages with on policy advocacy. Transform works with MTC on Transit-Oriented Communities Policy, regional funding measures, OBAG programs, and the Bay Area Transit Transformation Action Plan.
• Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABAG is the regional agency that creates policy alongside MTC for Plan Bay Area 2050. Transform has worked with ABAG since 2004 to promote smarter development around transit lines.
• California Air Resources Board (CARB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransform engages with CARB on Cap-and-Invest Program and climate policy. The organization has advocated against proposed rule changes that would reduce funding for affordable housing and transit programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sierra Club: Large national environmental organization with active California campaigns on transit, housing, and climate. Broader portfolio but overlapping policy and advocacy terrain with Transform.
• Climate Action Campaign: National coalition advocating for equitable climate and clean transportation policy. Comparable focus on integrating climate, equity, and transportation advocacy at the policy level.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Large national environmental advocacy organization with significant California climate, transportation, and equity work. Overlaps with Transform on climate policy and Cap-and-Trade advocacy but operates at a far broader scale.

Direct peers

• Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition: Regional advocacy organization promoting bicycling and active transportation in Santa Clara County. Direct overlap with Transform's Safe Routes to Schools and active transportation programming.
• SPUR (San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association): Bay Area-focused policy research and advocacy organization working on housing, transportation, and urban planning. Closely comparable mission, regional scope, and policy-engagement model to Transform.
• Public Advocates: California-based legal and policy advocacy nonprofit working on transit equity, affordable housing, and community development. Comparable equity-driven policy and coalition advocacy model.
• Move LA: Coalition-driven advocacy organization focused on securing transit funding through ballot measures and legislative campaigns in California. Highly comparable model of coalition-based transportation funding advocacy.
• Greenlining Institute: California policy and advocacy organization focused on racial equity across housing, climate, transportation, and economic justice. Directly comparable equity-centered advocacy approach and Bay Area/California policy engagement.
• California Housing Partnership: Nonprofit working on affordable housing preservation and production policy in California. Comparable housing-policy advocacy orientation and overlapping coalition partners with Transform.

Others

• Streetsblog California: California-focused transportation advocacy and journalism outlet covering transit, biking, and street design. Adjacent to Transform's active transportation and transit funding communications work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/transform_alert
• Facebookfacebook.com/TransFormCA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/transform_3

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Transform