Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Collaborative

What Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Collaborative does

Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Collaborative is a nonprofit collective-impact organization founded in 2011 by eleven core community-based organizations to strengthen the regional nonprofit sector and increase civic engagement across ten cities in Southeast Los Angeles (Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Florence-Firestone, Huntington Park, Lynwood, Maywood, South Gate, Vernon, and Walnut Park). The Collaborative operates through three strategic priorities — Nonprofit Capacity Building, Civic Engagement, and Data-Driven Research — delivered via cohort training programs, AmeriCorps fellowships, Census outreach campaigns, and research publications such as the SELA Agenda and Asset Mapping reports.

The Collaborative's core "products" are programmatic rather than technology-based: a 9-month Nonprofit Capacity Building cohort delivered with The Nonprofit Partnership (launched 2022 with Vernon CommUNITY Fund support); a Civic Action Fellowship placing 35 AmeriCorps fellows with member nonprofits (2021–2022, administered with Cal State LA and California Volunteers); the We Count LA Census 2020 regional outreach effort; and a portfolio of data-driven research produced in partnership with the Pat Brown Institute at Cal State LA. The organization's technology footprint is limited to standard communications infrastructure — a WordPress site (selacollab.org), social media channels, Mailchimp newsletters, and YouTube video content — with no proprietary software, APIs, or AI components.

SELA Collaborative generates no commercial revenue. It operates as a private 501(c)(3) entity funded by institutional grants from foundations such as First 5 LA (Nonprofit Needs Assessment, Best Start SELA) and the Vernon CommUNITY Fund, with Families In Schools serving as fiscal sponsor. The organization convenes member organizations and stakeholders at no cost, distributing services through direct community engagement — town halls (Charlas), car caravans, faith-based convenings, press conferences, and regional meetings — rather than traditional commercial channels. Customer segments are community-based organizations, SELA residents (predominantly Latino/a/x including immigrants and limited-English speakers), local municipalities, and elected officials.

Name

Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Collaborative

Legal name

Southeast Los Angeles Collaborative

Website

https://selacollab.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SELA Collaborative is a 2011-founded nonprofit network of 11 community organizations delivering nonprofit capacity building, civic engagement, and data-driven research across 10 cities in Southeast Los Angeles, funded by foundation grants and serving CBOs, residents, and local governments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Community organizing
• Nonprofit capacity building
• Civic engagement
• Regional advocacy
• Data-driven research

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: The SELA Collaborative operates as a nonprofit and receives grant funding from foundations and government sources. Funding has been received from organizations such as First 5 LA (for nonprofit needs assessment) and Vernon CommUNITY Fund (for capacity building programs).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The SELA Collaborative is a nonprofit collective-impact network that delivers three integrated programs to Southeast Los Angeles: (1) Nonprofit Capacity Building cohorts and AmeriCorps fellowships that train and support regional nonprofits, (2) Civic Engagement initiatives including Census 2020 outreach, voter registration, and community organizing, and (3) Data-Driven Research publications such as the SELA Agenda, Asset Mapping, Transportation Study, Nonprofit Needs Assessment, and Policy and Advocacy Agenda. Services are provided at no cost to community-based organizations and residents across ten SELA cities.

Product overview

The Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Collaborative is a network of community organizations offering nonprofit capacity building programs, civic engagement initiatives, data-driven research, and census outreach programs. Founded in 2011, the Collaborative provides capacity building cohorts, AmeriCorps fellowships, research publications, and community engagement programs including census initiatives for the SELA region spanning ten cities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nonprofit Capacity Building Program A 9-month cohort program partnering with The Nonprofit Partnership to provide fund development training, marketing workshops, financial management systems setup, and one-on-one consulting for SELA-region community-based organizations.
• AmeriCorps Civic Action Fellowship A fellowship program in partnership with Cal State Los Angeles and California Volunteers office, placing 35 fellows with SELA nonprofits to increase civic engagement and nonprofit capacity in the SELA region from October 2021 to June 2022.
• Data-Driven Research and Reports Publications including the SELA Agenda, Asset Mapping reports, Transportation studies, Nonprofit Needs Assessment, and Policy and Advocacy Agenda developed with Pat Brown Institute at Cal State LA to inform regional programming and policy advocacy.
• Census Outreach Program Coordinated 2020 Census outreach including census caravans, Univision commercials, faith-based townhalls, and partnership with We Count LA campaign to ensure full count of SELA residents across 10 cities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 SELA residents, elected officials, nonprofit leaders, and agencies engaged through Summit of Possibilities events
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Nonprofit PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The SELA Collaborative partnered with The Nonprofit Partnership (TNP) to deliver a 9-month cohort capacity building program for SELA nonprofits. TNP provides trainers, affiliate consultants, and curriculum covering fund development, marketing, and financial management.
• California State University Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021SELA Collaborative partnered with Cal State LA for the AmeriCorps Civic Action Fellowship program. Thirty-five fellows were selected for the program aimed at increasing civic engagement and nonprofit capacity in the Southeast LA region. The partnership is administered through AmeriCorps and Governor Newsom's California Volunteers office.
• NALEO (National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020NALEO partnered with SELA Collaborative on Census 2020 efforts, providing Census 101 training sessions and supporting the We Count LA Campaign to ensure accurate count in the SELA region.
• UnivisionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Univision aired We Count LA commercials created by SELA Collaborative staff as part of Census 2020 outreach efforts in the SELA region.
• NBC4minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020NBC4 partnered with We Count LA and SELA Collaborative to elevate Census outreach activities through media coverage.
• Spectrum1minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Spectrum1 supported We Count LA Census outreach through media partnerships in the SELA region.
• Que Buena RadiominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Que Buena Radio partnered with We Count LA to promote Census participation through Spanish-language radio outreach.
• Los Angeles Regional Census Table (LARCT) / We Count LAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018The SELA Collaborative served as Southeast Los Angeles regional co-convener for the Los Angeles Regional Census Table (LARCT), which evolved into the We Count LA Campaign. In collaboration with Advancement Project California and California Community Foundation, the organization coordinated Census 2020 outreach across 10 SELA cities, providing spaces to convene diverse organizations, offices, and agencies to collectively strategize outreach efforts.
• First 5 LAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018First 5 LA funded the SELA Collaborative's Nonprofit Needs Assessment in 2018, providing a comprehensive analysis of capacity building needs, services, strengths, and assets of nonprofits in the SELA region. First 5 LA also funds the Best Start SELA community initiative and Census outreach efforts.
• Advancement Project CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Advancement Project California co-convened the We Count LA Table with the SELA Collaborative, working together to mobilize census outreach across Los Angeles County.
• California Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018California Community Foundation partnered with Advancement Project and SELA Collaborative to co-convene the We Count LA Campaign, providing funding and coordination for Census 2020 efforts.
• Pat Brown Institute at Cal State LAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016PBI partnered with the SELA Collaborative to host two Summit of Possibilities events focused on informing stakeholders about SELA's assets and development opportunities. PBI led key research including the Central 710 Freeway Corridor Asset Mapping and SELA Transportation Study, which served as foundational documents for the Collaborative's strategic planning.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Community Coalition (South LA): South LA-based community organizing and civic engagement nonprofit operating a comparable member-driven model with neighborhood-based leadership development, civic participation campaigns, and policy advocacy — directly analogous in structure and mission.
• Advancement Project California: Direct co-convener partner on the We Count LA Campaign alongside SELA Collaborative, running parallel regional civic engagement and equity advocacy work across LA County — making it the closest comparable in mission, funding base, and convening model.
• Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education (SCOPE): LA-based grassroots civic engagement and policy organization working on civic participation, equity, and community organizing in historically undercounted neighborhoods — directly comparable mission and operating geography.
• Pat Brown Institute at Cal State LA: Research and civic engagement institute that co-produced SELA Agenda, Asset Mapping, and Transportation Studies with the Collaborative — directly comparable in producing regional research that informs civic advocacy.
• InnerCity Struggle (East LA): East LA youth and community organizing nonprofit building civic engagement and collective power among residents — closely comparable as a regional LA-based collective-impact organization focused on underrepresented communities.
• The Nonprofit Partnership: SELA Collaborative's direct delivery partner for the Capacity Building Program, providing training and consulting to LA nonprofits — closely comparable as a capacity-building intermediary serving overlapping CBO clients.
• Families In Schools: SELA Collaborative founding member and fiscal sponsor; LA-based nonprofit supporting parent engagement and equitable education access — comparable as a peer member organization with overlapping civic engagement and community outreach work.

Broad incumbents

• California Community Foundation: Major LA-based foundation that co-funded We Count LA alongside SELA Collaborative, with broad civic engagement, equity, and capacity-building grantmaking — comparable as a regional civic funder and convening entity.
• United Way of Greater Los Angeles: Large LA nonprofit funder and capacity builder running regional grant programs and convening initiatives — comparable as a broader civic infrastructure player that funds and supports smaller CBOs in the same geography as SELA Collaborative.

Emerging players

• Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California: Regional LA-based civic engagement and policy organization supporting immigrant and underrepresented communities through advocacy, civic participation, and coalition building — comparable in mission to SELA Collaborative though serving a different demographic base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Selacollab
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@selacollaborative
• Facebookfacebook.com/Selacollab
• Instagraminstagram.com/Selacollab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/selacollab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments5 records

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Frequently asked questions about Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Collaborative