New Community Leadership Foundation

What New Community Leadership Foundation does

New Community Leadership Foundation (NCLF) is a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2012 (Tax ID 47-5108167) that provides financial and technical resources to change makers in the arts, nonprofit, and for-profit small business sectors to strengthen disenfranchised communities. Headquartered at 233 Eddy Street and serving the Bayview-Hunters Point, Tenderloin, and Fillmore District neighborhoods, NCLF operates nine interconnected programs: Business Services Hub (including the UpSkill program), Life In The Arts (artist development), Non-Profit Assistance (capacity building), Mission Possible Portal (a multilingual Learning Management System with 24 modules in Vietnamese, Mandarin, and English), Tenderloin-Little Saigon District Program, SoulStation (a 2026-opening cultural and culinary hub at 210 Jones Street), Barter Marketplace, Community Real Estate (under COPA Qualified Nonprofit status), and Shared Business Ownership.

NCLF's business model is donation- and grant-driven rather than fee-based: the organization provides all services free of charge and funds operations through tiered individual donations ($25 to $2,500+), monthly recurring contributions, foundation grants, and government contracts (OEWD, OCII, SF Planning). The SoulCircle sponsorship program formalizes higher-tier institutional and corporate giving at levels up to $25,000+. NCLF also serves as the administrative arm of the San Francisco Black Led Organizations Coalition (SF BLOC), guiding $2+ million across 100+ member organizations. Since 2012, the foundation reports supporting 100+ businesses, 150+ nonprofits with $12.4 million in grant revenue facilitated, and 300+ creative artists across 200+ events.

Technology is not a core differentiator: NCLF has no proprietary technology stack and operates as a service-delivery nonprofit. Its only digital asset is Mission Possible LMS, hosted externally on Podia, and its "products" are program offerings rather than software. The organization holds no patents or trademarks and reports no API, SDK, or AI capabilities. Its competitive position rests on regulatory standing (COPA Qualified Nonprofit, 501(c)(3) status), community-rooted credibility (board with lived displacement experience including former Black Panther Party members and lifelong Fillmore residents), and a multilingual service model that addresses documented language and cultural barriers in target neighborhoods.

Name

New Community Leadership Foundation

Legal name

New Community Leadership Foundation

Website

https://nclfinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

New Community Leadership Foundation is a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2012 that provides financial and technical resources to small businesses, nonprofits, and creative artists in historically underserved neighborhoods including Bayview-Hunters Point, Tenderloin, and Fillmore District.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nonprofit, Social Services & Community Development Congresses (THAHAJAO), Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI)

Keywords

• Community development services
• Nonprofit capacity building
• Small business support
• Artist development programs
• Affordable housing advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: NCLF operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID: 47-5108167) and relies primarily on donations from individuals, sponsors, and community supporters to fund its operations and programs. The organization accepts one-time and monthly donations at various tier levels ($25, $50, $100, $200, $500, $1,000, $2,500, custom amounts).
2. Grants and Funding: NCLF secures grant funding from government agencies and foundations to support its programs including the Shared Ownership Program, SoulStation development, and community initiatives. Notable grants include funding from OEWD for SoulStation planning, and support from OCII for Certificate of Preference outreach.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

New Community Leadership Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free financial and technical resource programs to small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and creative artists in historically disenfranchised San Francisco neighborhoods. Offerings span business formation and mentorship, artist and nonprofit capacity building, multilingual online training, shared-ownership restaurant ventures, a community barter platform, and affordable-housing preservation under COPA.

Product overview

New Community Leadership Foundation operates as a multi-program nonprofit organization providing financial and technical resources to change makers in the arts, non-profit and for-profit small businesses. The organization offers nine interconnected programs: Business Services Hub (featuring UpSkill), Life In The Arts (Artist Development), Non-Profit Assistance, Mission Possible Portal (LMS), Tenderloin-Little Saigon District Program, SoulStation (restaurant/cultural hub), Barter Marketplace, Community Real Estate, and Shared Business Ownership. Programs include both direct service delivery and community capacity building, with a focus on San Francisco's historically marginalized neighborhoods including Bayview-Hunters Point, Tenderloin, and Fillmore District.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SoulStation: A cultural and culinary hub coming to the Tenderloin in 2026, offering affordable meals, shared kitchen access, job training, creative workspace, and community gathering space.
• Mission Possible Portal
• Business Services Hub
• Life In The Arts

Products and services

• Business Services Hub Home to the UpSkill flagship program, providing hands-on support for micro and small businesses including business launch support (legal formation, permitting), financial strength (grants, budgeting), market readiness (branding, digital skills), and ongoing mentorship and networking for SMBs in historically underserved San Francisco neighborhoods.
• Life In The Arts Artist Development program supporting emerging creative artists across for-profit and nonprofit ventures in genres including music, dance, painting, spoken word, theater, and photography, with resources for career and business development in low-income communities of color.
• Non-Profit Assistance Capacity building program helping residents start, strengthen, and grow nonprofit organizations, including nonprofit formation, mission/vision development, fundraising support, grant oversight, and capacity-building resources.
• Mission Possible Portal NCLF's Learning Management System (LMS) offering 24 online business training modules in Vietnamese, Mandarin, and English, providing education and action resources for people, small businesses, and community organizations; the first multilingual program of its kind in San Francisco.
• Tenderloin-Little Saigon District Program Targeted business support initiative providing one-on-one guidance in marketing, financial planning, and business development with multilingual training in Vietnamese, Mandarin, and English, addressing language and cultural barriers in partnership with SF Planning and OEWD.
• SoulStation Cultural and culinary hub at 210 Jones Street in the Tenderloin featuring a restaurant with affordable meals, shared-use kitchen for food entrepreneurs, job training, and collaborative space for creative artists and community events.
• Barter Marketplace Community platform enabling businesses and individuals to exchange services instead of money, fostering collaboration and reducing financial barriers to success in San Francisco's underserved neighborhoods.
• Community Real Estate Program under San Francisco's Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) in which NCLF serves as a Qualified Nonprofit, helping acquire and preserve affordable housing and prevent gentrification and displacement in vulnerable communities.
• Shared Business Ownership Initiative creating shared business opportunities that help entrepreneurs unite, pool resources, and scale together through collaborative ventures, resource sharing, and strategic growth partnerships, exemplified by Cafe Melange and Bayview Collective at City Hall.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150+ nonprofit organizations supported with $12.4 million grant revenue generated
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Fillmore Bike CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCLF and Honey Art Studio collaborated with hundreds of Fillmore residents, community groups, and City partners (SFMTA) to shape a community-driven vision for safer, more accessible streets. This plan ensures future transportation investments align with Fillmore's culture and needs, addressing historical transportation harms.
• Certificate of Preference (COP) Program PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCLF, in partnership with Lynx Insights & Investigations and with support from Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure (OCII), launched an effort to reconnect with 10,000+ individuals displaced during San Francisco's urban renewal programs of the 1960s and 1970s. The initiative locates COP holders and their descendants to connect them with affordable housing opportunities.
• San Francisco Black Led Organizations Coalition (SF BLOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCLF serves as the administrative arm for SF BLOC, a coalition founded in 2020 to tackle structural racism and funding inequities impacting Black-led organizations. SF BLOC unites agencies, churches, and grassroots groups across the Bay Area to build solidarity, advocate for equitable funding, and coordinate efforts for greater community impact.
• Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOEWD provided the initial planning grant for SoulStation, NCLF's cultural and culinary hub at 210 Jones Street in the Tenderloin. This early investment helped lay the foundation for the project launching in 2026.
• SF PlanningmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSF Planning partnered with NCLF on the Tenderloin-Little Saigon district initiative to provide targeted business support with multilingual training in Vietnamese, Mandarin, and English.
• Lynx Insights & InvestigationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with NCLF on the Certificate of Preference outreach initiative, combining investigative research, community outreach, and historical knowledge to locate displaced individuals and families.
• Mackey's KornerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal collaborator essential to Certificate of Preference outreach and search efforts, trusted partner in community engagement.
• KOHO Co-Creative HubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal collaborator essential to Certificate of Preference outreach and search efforts, trusted partner in community engagement.
• Tenderloin BlacknessmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of SoulStation Clean Sweep event in June 2025, contributing $1,100 as Main Event Sponsor. Community organization supporting Tenderloin initiatives.
• Tenderloin People's CongressminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated $1,000 to SoulStation Clean Sweep event in June 2025, supporting community mobilization efforts.
• Faithful Fools Street MinistryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated $250 to SoulStation Clean Sweep event, supporting community-building efforts.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA): San Francisco-based nonprofit providing business technical assistance, lending, and capacity building to Latino and other underserved small businesses in the Mission District. Directly comparable as a San Francisco community development nonprofit serving minority-owned SMBs with grant-funded programs.
• Community Economics, Inc. California-based nonprofit supporting community economic development through cooperative business ownership, shared equity models, and workforce development. Highly comparable to NCLF's Shared Business Ownership Program and cooperative ownership philosophy.
• Akonadi Foundation: Bay Area foundation supporting racial justice movement-building through grants to Black-led organizations and grassroots groups. Comparable to SF BLOC's mission and to NCLF's work supporting Black-led nonprofits and capacity building in marginalized communities.
• Working Solutions CDFI: Bay Area-based nonprofit CDFI providing microloans, business consulting, and grant support to underserved small business owners in the San Francisco Bay Area. Directly comparable in serving the same SF-based minority small business community with grant and technical assistance programming.
• Bay Area Community Land Trust: Bay Area nonprofit focused on community-owned real estate, affordable housing preservation, and anti-displacement. Directly comparable to NCLF's COPA-aligned Community Real Estate and Certificate of Preference programs working in the affordable housing and community ownership space.
• Richmond Neighborhood Center / RYSE Center: RYSE Center is a Richmond, CA-based nonprofit supporting young people through education, arts, and career pathways, with a strong youth leadership development focus. Comparable to NCLF in combining youth development, arts programming, and capacity building in underserved Bay Area neighborhoods.
• Self-Help Federal Credit Union: National community development financial institution focused on economic opportunity for underserved families, including formerly incarcerated individuals and low-income entrepreneurs. Comparable as a CDFI-style organization supporting financial inclusion and small business formation in disenfranchised communities.

Broad incumbents

• The San Francisco Foundation: One of the largest community foundations in the Bay Area, with deep focus on racial equity, affordable housing, and nonprofit capacity building across the Bay Area. Comparable as a SF-rooted community foundation serving similar populations, but at much greater scale and with broader programmatic scope.
• Tipping Point Community: Bay Area philanthropic organization funding nonprofits working to break the cycle of poverty, with grants to multiple grassroots organizations in SF. Comparable as a Bay Area grantmaking intermediary supporting underserved communities, but operating at significantly larger scale.

Others

• National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals: Professional network for community development extension professionals, providing peer learning and capacity building. Comparable as an ecosystem/thematic peer in the community development space, though not a direct competitor for NCLF's services or funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NCLFSF
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-community-leadership-foundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 New Community Leadership Foundation