SLACO

What SLACO does

SLACO (The St. Louis Association of Community Organizations) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1978 in St. Louis, Missouri, that operates as the umbrella convener for 37 neighborhood associations across the St. Louis and East St. Louis region. Its core function is community organizing: connecting neighborhood associations, providing a collective voice on issues such as vacant properties, deteriorating housing, public safety, unemployment, and racial equity, and administering programs that build member neighborhood capacity. The organization is governed by a Board with representation from each member neighborhood and led operationally by an Interim Executive Director (since December 2025).

SLACO's program portfolio spans youth services, neighborhood capacity building, and community redevelopment. The flagship community-bridge initiative is Neighborhoods United for Change, financed by HUD and the City of St. Louis Community Development Administration and delivered through bus tours, shared lunches, and cross-neighborhood convenings. The Etzel Community Center (at 5888 Plymouth Avenue) hosts a free after-school program and weekly Girl Scouts meetings for children ages 6-12. The Neighborhood Capacity Building Grant Program distributes small-dollar grants to member neighborhoods. The Finest 15, co-developed with the St. Louis Land Reutilization Authority, promotes homeownership through LRA property purchases and has facilitated over 50 such purchases. Additional environment-focused work includes tree replanting at O'Fallon Park following the May 2025 tornado in partnership with Forest ReLeaf of Missouri and the City of St. Louis Forestry Division.

SLACO's revenue model is a diversified nonprofit mix rather than a commercial GTM. It relies on individual donations (processed via the Donately platform), recurring $100/year membership dues from each neighborhood association, and program-specific funding from government sources (HUD, CDA) and foundations. The organization has no proprietary technology, no app, and no public financials. Distribution is conducted through direct community engagement — board meetings, neighborhood convenings, the Etzel Community Center, and recurring fundraising events such as the Blues, Brass & Sass concert — rather than through commercial sales channels.

Name

SLACO

Legal name

The St. Louis Association of Community Organizations

Website

https://slaco-mo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SLACO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1978 that convenes 37 neighborhood associations across the St. Louis and East St. Louis region to advocate on housing, safety, and equity issues and to deliver programs including after-school services, capacity-building grants, and homeownership education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Community organizing services
• Neighborhood development programs
• Community development corporation
• Youth after-school programs
• Neighborhood capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: SLACO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on donations from individuals who believe in stronger neighborhoods and more connected communities.
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues of $100 collected from neighborhood associations. Membership is open to any Neighborhood Association in the St. Louis Region.
3. Program Funding: SLACO receives program financing from government and foundation partners including HUD and the City of St. Louis Community Development Administration for specific initiatives like Neighborhoods United for Change.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SLACO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects and supports neighborhood associations across the St. Louis region through membership services, advocacy, and community programs. It delivers the Neighborhoods United For Change bridge-building initiative, a free After School Program and Girl Scouts program at the Etzel Community Center for children ages 6-12, the Neighborhood Capacity Building Grant Program for member neighborhoods, and the Finest 15 homeownership initiative in partnership with the St. Louis Land Reutilization Authority.

Product overview

SLACO offers a portfolio of community-focused programs including Neighborhoods United For Change (a neighborhood bridge-building initiative), an After School Program at Etzel Community Center, Girl Scouts programming, the Neighborhood Capacity Building Grant Program, and the Finest 15 homeownership initiative. These programs work together to strengthen neighborhoods through citizen empowerment, community organizing, and building resiliency of member organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ homes and apartments developed across St. Louis neighborhoods since 1989
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

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

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vandeventer Community Development Corp.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDCs are key partners in the Neighborhoods United For Change program. Vandeventer CDC specifically partners on hosting neighborhood kickoff events including bus tours and community conversations.
• Forest ReLeaf of MissouriminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForest ReLeaf of Missouri partners with SLACO on environmental projects including tree planting initiatives at O'Fallon Park to replant trees lost in the May 16 tornado.
• City of St. Louis Forestry DivisionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity department partnered with SLACO and O'Fallon Community Developing Organization on the restoration project for O'Fallon Park, replanting 350 trees lost in the May 2025 tornado.
• O'Fallon Community Developing Organization (OCDO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCDO leads the O'Fallon Park restoration project, with SLACO partnering to help organize volunteers and community participation for tree planting and beautification efforts.
• The St. Louis Blues SocietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSLACO partners with the St. Louis Blues Society for the annual Blues, Brass & Sass celebration event, which showcases local artists and celebrates SLACO's leadership in neighborhood stabilization.
• .Zack Performing Arts TheaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for the Blues, Brass & Sass fundraising concert. SLACO hosts this event at the theater located at 3224 Locust Street, St. Louis, MO 63101.
• Metro/Bi-StateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional transit authority that Michael von Gebel works with as President of Vandeventer CDC to enhance local economic growth and transportation infrastructure.
• Missouri Dept of ConservationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner in community development and environmental initiatives, working with SLACO leadership on conservation and green space projects.
• MoDOT (Missouri Department of Transportation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState transportation department partner for infrastructure projects including transportation infrastructure improvements and greenway development in St. Louis neighborhoods.
• AMICSTL (African American Male Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichael von Gebel serves on the Board of Directors of AMICSTL, representing SLACO in community development partnerships.
• The DriftersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatherine Smith-Morgan joined the St. Louis Chapter of The Drifters, a national women's organization dedicated to charitable, civic, and social endeavors supporting elderly seniors and college-bound students.
• TrailnetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive living organization that SLACO partners with on transportation infrastructure initiatives and community cycling events like Rockin' the Suburbs Classic.
• St. Louis Land Reutilization Authority (LRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAngela Drake serves as LRA Committee Member and co-founded the Finest 15, a collaborative effort between SLACO and LRA to promote homeownership by educating individuals on purchasing LRA properties. The initiative has facilitated purchase of over 50 LRA properties.
• University of Missouri St. Louis (UMSL) Missouri University ExtensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLACO leaders including Catherine Smith-Morgan and Sherri Bailey have graduated from UMSL's Neighborhood Leadership Fellow Program, building leadership capacity for community organizing.
• Urban Land Institute St. Louis (ULI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatherine Smith-Morgan graduated from ULI St. Louis focusing on housing and real estate development, enhancing SLACO's capacity for neighborhood redevelopment expertise.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Grace Hill Settlement House: St. Louis community development nonprofit providing family support, housing services, and neighborhood-based programs. Comparable as a long-standing 501(c)(3) serving St. Louis neighborhoods with a mix of direct services and organizing.
• Beyond Housing: St. Louis-area nonprofit focused on neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing development, and community organizing across multiple municipalities. Highly comparable in mission, geography, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit model.
• Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis: Coalition of community development corporations and nonprofits in the St. Louis metro. Comparable as a network of neighborhood-based CDCs engaged in housing, advocacy, and community capacity building.
• Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis: St. Louis affiliate of the National Urban League advancing racial equity, housing, workforce, and civic engagement. Comparable in advocacy focus (racial equity, empowerment) and regional footprint.
• Habitat for Humanity St. Louis: St. Louis chapter of Habitat for Humanity focused on affordable homeownership and housing development. Comparable in the housing development and homeownership education dimensions of SLACO's Finest 15 work.
• Dutchtown South Community Development Corporation: St. Louis neighborhood CDC serving the Dutchtown/South City area with housing, public safety, and community-building programs. Comparable neighborhood-scale scope and 501(c)(3) structure.
• Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council: St. Louis fair housing organization providing housing counseling, advocacy, and education. Comparable in addressing housing discrimination and promoting equitable homeownership in the same metro.
• Tower Grove Neighborhoods CDC: St. Louis community development corporation serving Tower Grove area neighborhoods. Comparable as a neighborhood-scale CDC engaged in housing, beautification, and community programming, and a current SLACO member organization.

Emerging players

• FOCUS St. Louis: St. Louis civic engagement nonprofit running leadership programs, neighborhood initiatives, and cross-community dialogue. Comparable in civic/grassroots engagement focus, though more leadership-development oriented.

Broad incumbents

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National community development financial institution supporting CDCs and neighborhood organizations with capital, grants, and technical assistance. Comparable in providing funding and capacity-building to neighborhood-level groups.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/314SLACO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/slaco
• Instagraminstagram.com/slaco314/?hl=en
• Xx.com/slaco314

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 SLACO