Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment

What Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment does

Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1993 and headquartered in downtown Los Angeles. Its mission is to promote civic and political empowerment for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities in California, where more than 7.5 million AANHPI residents make up over 16% of the state population and roughly 4 million are registered voters.

CAUSE operates a portfolio of leadership development and voter engagement programs. The Leadership Academy and Leadership Institute train emerging AAPI professionals in civic advocacy and community leadership, with the Leadership Institute charging a $240 six-month cohort fee covering twelve bi-weekly 90-minute sessions. CAUSE on Campus extends this pipeline to college students through university partnerships with UCLA, LMU, and Cal State LA. Voter engagement is delivered through VOTE Initiatives including the multi-day Together We Vote event during California's early voting period, Civic Leadership Opportunities, the Vote Center Food Crawl, the Did You Know educational series, and a Public Comment Toolkit.

The organization's research and data products include the Multiethnic Statewide Community Poll, conducted in partnership with Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE), the Los Angeles Urban League, and the Los Angeles Times since 2020, which surveys 1,300+ California adult citizens with oversamples of Latino, African American, and AANHPI respondents. Other research outputs include the 2024 Asian American Voter Access in Los Angeles County report (1,062 in-person surveys) and the Invisibility is Killing Us health data equity report funded by the U.S. DHHS Office of Minority Health. As a nonprofit, CAUSE generates revenue through charitable donations, corporate sponsorships (notably East West Bank through The Asian American Foundation's AAPI Giving Challenge), and grants from foundations and government agencies. Leadership is provided by Executive Director Nancy Yap and Founder and Board Chair Charlie Woo (胡泽群).

Name

Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment

Legal name

Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment

Website

https://causeusa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CAUSE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 that runs leadership development programs, voter engagement initiatives, and survey research to advance civic and political empowerment for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities across California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Engagement and Advocacy Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (81331), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Democracy, Voting Rights & Civic Participation Advocacy (BPAGAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Civic Participation & Leadership Development (Voting, Advocacy, Community Leadership) (EDAAADAL), Civic, Citizenship & Community Engagement Education (EDAAAEAI), Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI), Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space (BPADAGAD)

Keywords

• Civic engagement programs
• Leadership development training
• Voter mobilization initiatives
• Community research reports
• AANHPI advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Pasadena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1993, CAUSE generates revenue through charitable donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants from foundations and government agencies to sustain its leadership development, voter engagement, and civic empowerment programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs civic engagement, leadership development, and voter mobilization programs for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities in California. Its core offerings include the Leadership Academy, Leadership Institute, CAUSE on Campus, and VOTE Initiatives (including Together We Vote), supported by data products such as the Multiethnic Statewide Community Poll and the Asian American Voter Access Report.

Product overview

CAUSE operates as a civic engagement non-profit organization offering a portfolio of leadership development programs and voter empowerment initiatives. The core programs include the Leadership Academy (foundational leadership training), Leadership Institute (advanced advocacy certificate program), and CAUSE on Campus (university-based student engagement). VOTE Initiatives encompass Together We Vote and related voter mobilization efforts. Research products include the Multiethnic Statewide Community Poll (in partnership with HOPE and LA Urban League), Asian American Voter Access Report, and Invisibility is Killing Us health data report. The organization also hosts an Annual Summer Soirée celebration. These programs work together to advance APA civic and political empowerment through education, leadership development, and data-driven advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Leadership Academy A leadership development program that equips emerging Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) professionals with civic engagement skills and community leadership training.
• Leadership Institute A six-month community leadership and advocacy certificate program for high-potential professionals with seasoned leadership experience, focused on APA community issues and civic advocacy. Requires a $240 program fee per fellow.
• CAUSE on Campus A student-focused program that engages college students in AAPI civic participation and leadership development, partnering with universities such as UCLA, LMU, and Cal State LA.
• Together We Vote A collaborative, multi-day civic engagement initiative during California's early voting period that brings together local partners, artists, businesses, and civic leaders to empower AAPI voters in Los Angeles County.
• VOTE Initiatives A suite of voter engagement programs including Together We Vote, Civic Leadership Opportunities, Vote Center Food Crawl, Did You Know Series, and Public Comment Toolkit designed to increase AAPI civic participation.
• Multiethnic Statewide Community Poll A multiethnic statewide polling initiative partnering with HOPE and Los Angeles Urban League, surveying 1,300+ adult California citizens to inform cross-cultural civic understanding.
• Asian American Voter Access Report

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,062 in-person surveys collected with Asian American adults across Los Angeles County
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 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 major.

• Korean American Democratic Committee (KADC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Co-host of the 2026 AANHPI California Gubernatorial Forum with CAUSE and a coalition of 40+ AANHPI organizations. KADC President Esther Lim emphasized the forum's significance for AANHPI civic engagement.
• Cal State LA (California State University, Los Angeles)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025CAUSE on Campus program partnership with Cal State LA, engaging students in civic leadership development and voter engagement activities in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo area.
• UCLA Asian American Studies CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Academic research partner for the Asian American Voter Access in Los Angeles County report (2024). Professor Natalie Masuoka (UCLA) co-authored the report. CAUSE on Campus student interns from UCLA participated in research and data collection.
• Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Department of Political SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Academic partner for the Asian American Voter Access in Los Angeles County report. Professor Nathan Chan (LMU) co-authored the study. LMU students participated in the CAUSE on Campus program for survey data collection.
• The Asian American Foundation (TAAF)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2022CAUSE is listed among AAPI organizations that East West Bank has invested in through TAAF's AAPI Giving Challenge. TAAF is a nonprofit providing funding and resources to support AAPI advocacy, power, and representation.
• Southern California Pacific Islander and Asian American Data Equity and Health Policy CollaborativemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021CAUSE served as a community partner in the Invisibility is Killing Us report, which summarized Pacific Islander and Asian American experiences with California county public health departments' data collection and reporting practices.
• Jewish Center for JusticemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2020Partner in the Building Bridges monthly discussion series alongside HOPE and LA Urban League, addressing current issues affecting California's diverse communities including race, criminal justice, antisemitism, and elections.
• Holocaust Museum of Los AngelesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2020Host venue and partner for the Building Bridges cross-cultural dialogue series, providing a space for AAPI, Black, Jewish, and Latinx community leaders to engage in monthly discussions on shared challenges.
• Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2020Historic partnership launched in 2020 to conduct a multiethnic statewide community poll series, bringing diverse communities together for cross-cultural dialogues. The partnership with HOPE and LA Urban League provides data-driven insight into California's most prominent ethnic communities and increases understanding and collaboration among communities of color.
• Los Angeles Urban LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2020Core partner in the Multiethnic Statewide Community Poll series, working alongside HOPE and CAUSE since 2020. Contributes African American community perspective to cross-cultural polling and dialogue initiatives.
• Los Angeles TimescoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2020Media partner for the Multiethnic Statewide Community Poll series since February 2020. The LA Times provides editorial coverage and credibility to poll findings, significantly amplifying reach and media pickup of community survey results.
• Strategies 360majorOthers · 1 February 2020Polling firm that conducted the Multiethnic Statewide Community Poll series since 2020, surveying over 1,300 adult California citizens with demographic oversamples. Responsible for survey methodology, data collection, and topline/crosstab analysis.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• OCA (formerly Organization of Chinese Americans): OCA is a national AANHPI advocacy organization with a strong California presence running leadership development, civic engagement, and voter mobilization programs directly comparable to CAUSE's portfolio.
• Japanese American Citizens League (JACL): JACL is the oldest Asian American civil rights organization in the U.S., running civic engagement, leadership, and advocacy programs for the AANHPI community; it is a historical peer and likely coalition partner with CAUSE.
• Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote): APIAVote is a national nonpartisan nonprofit focused on AANHPI civic engagement and voter mobilization, operating in multiple states including California. It competes with CAUSE for foundation funding, voter education contracts, and coalition leadership within the same target demographic.
• Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA): CAA is a San Francisco-based AANHPI civil rights organization running voter engagement, leadership development, and immigration advocacy programs; it overlaps with CAUSE's California AANHPI civic engagement focus and shares comparable funder pools.
• Korean American Coalition (KAC): KAC is a Los Angeles-based Korean American civic engagement and advocacy nonprofit running leadership development and voter education programs that directly mirror CAUSE's portfolio within the same AANHPI community.
• Los Angeles Urban League: LA Urban League is CAUSE's co-partner in the Multiethnic Statewide Community Poll; it delivers civic engagement, leadership, and policy advocacy programs in Los Angeles for the African American community and operates with a comparable model.
• Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF): AALDEF is a national AANHPI legal and civic engagement organization that runs voter access research and multilingual exit polling in California and beyond, overlapping directly with CAUSE's Asian American Voter Access research and voter mobilization work.
• Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE): HOPE is a California-based Latina civic empowerment organization and CAUSE's core partner in the Multiethnic Statewide Community Poll since 2020; both organizations run analogous leadership, voter, and research programs targeting their respective ethnic communities.
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL): AJSOCAL is a leading AANHPI civil rights and civic engagement organization in Los Angeles, delivering voter mobilization, policy advocacy, and legal services — directly comparable in mission, geography, and target population to CAUSE.

Emerging players

• The Asian American Foundation (TAAF): TAAF is a national AANHPI philanthropy that funds CAUSE and many peer organizations through initiatives like the AAPI Giving Challenge; it sits upstream as both a funder of and a strategic counterpart to CAUSE's leadership and civic engagement work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CAUSEusa
• Facebookfacebook.com/CAUSEempowerment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-asian-americans-united-for-self-empowerment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment