ACLA Architecture for Communities Los Angeles

What ACLA Architecture for Communities Los Angeles does

ACLA Architecture for Communities Los Angeles is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID 27-5385832) founded in 2002 as the educational and community-outreach sibling of AIA Los Angeles, operating independently with its own board, mission, and finances. The organization runs a portfolio of community-based architecture programs serving K-12 students, architecture and design students at California colleges, and Los Angeles residents across 99 Neighborhood Councils. Core programs include the 2x8 Student Exhibition and Scholarship (21+ years, 14+ schools), Design by Diversity Day (annual block-party honoring figures such as César Pelli and Gin D. Wong), Design Like A Girl mentorship, Transform LA sustainability workshops, Student Summit, and Kids Draw Architecture.

The business model is donation- and sponsorship-driven. ACLA solicits tax-deductible donations across tiers from $25 (Grassroots) to $5,000 (Visionaries) and runs a $500,000 Center for Communities capital campaign with tiers up to $10,000 (Diamond). Program sponsorships range from $25 to $7,500 (Design by Diversity Presenting Sponsor), with major AEC firm sponsors including HMC Architects, ZGF, Montalba Architects, Turner Construction, Corgan, and HGA. Foundation support comes from the Snap Foundation, Barbara Bestor Foundation, HMC Designing Future Foundation, and the Eames Foundation (new 2025 partnership). Architecture schools also pay a $1,000 participation fee for 2x8. Distribution occurs through the new Center for Communities hub at 4450 West Adams Blvd, K-12 school partnerships (including LAUSD), rotating college host venues (Pasadena City College, Santa Monica College, SCI-Arc), and community activations at CicLAvia and neighborhood festivals.

ACLA employs approximately 9 staff, led by Executive Director Carlo Caccavale (17 years prior experience at AIA|LA) and Programs Coordinator Andrea Dussan, with governance by a volunteer board of LA architects under annually rotating Presidents. Geographic focus is the Los Angeles region, with 2x8 reaching statewide across California. The organization holds no proprietary technology; programs are delivered through in-person workshops, exhibitions, mentorship, and events.

Name

ACLA Architecture for Communities Los Angeles

Legal name

Architecture for Communities Los Angeles

Website

https://ac-la.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ACLA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers architecture education and community outreach programs, including 2x8, Design by Diversity Day, and Design Like A Girl, serving K-12 students, California architecture schools, and Los Angeles residents through donations, sponsorships, and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

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. General Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting architecture education and community outreach. Donation tiers range from $25 (Grassroots) to $5,000 (Visionaries).
2. Capital Campaign Donations: Capital campaign for the Center for Communities building renovation (a Neo-Classical bank building from 1927). Total fundraising target of $500,000 in cash donations. Donation tiers from $100 (Amethyst) to $10,000 (Diamond).
3. Program Sponsorships: Sponsorships for specific programs including 2x8 Exhibition ($100-$4,500), Design by Diversity ($100-$7,500), Design Like A Girl ($25-$5,000), and Transform LA ($25-$5,000). Sponsors include architecture firms, foundations, and corporate donors.
4. School Registration Fees: Architecture schools pay $1,000 participation fee to submit two student projects to the 2x8 exhibition and competition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ACLA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers architecture and design education programs to underserved K-12 students, families, and communities in Los Angeles. It operates a Center for Communities and partners with local schools and architecture firms to offer free programming, mentorship, and outreach activities that introduce youth to the built environment and design professions.

Product overview

ACLA Architecture for Communities Los Angeles is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a portfolio of educational and community outreach programs rather than a unified tech product. The core offerings include: 2×8 (student exhibition and scholarship competition), Design by Diversity (annual diversity-focused block party), Design Like A Girl (DLAG - mentorship for middle school girls), Transform LA (sustainability program for high schoolers), Student Summit, and Kids Draw Architecture (youth introduction program). Additional offerings include donations, sponsorships, and a capital campaign for the Center for Communities physical space. These programs are managed through various committees and are designed to inspire, educate, and engage communities about architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Architecture Education Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 attendees and $42,450 raised at DxD Day 2025, representing 12% increase from previous year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

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

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and general.

• AIA Los Angeles (AIA|LA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIA|LA is the parent professional organization that founded ACLA. Although ACLA is now independent with its own board, mission, and finances, the two organizations share space and some operational resources at the Center for Communities. AIA|LA programs like Encompass, Design for Dignity, and Powerful align with ACLA's community mission.
• HMC ArchitectsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHMC Architects is a Platinum Sponsor of 2x8x20 and supporter of the Center for Communities capital campaign. Their HMC Designing Future Foundation has provided grants to 2x8.
• ZGF (Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerZGF is a Platinum Sponsor of 2x8x20 20th Anniversary exhibition.
• Montalba ArchitectsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMontalba Architects is a Platinum Sponsor of 2x8x20 and provides the Montalba Architects Award for the Silver winner ($2,000).
• Turner ConstructionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTurner Construction is a sponsor of Design by Diversity Day and supports student competition awards.
• CorgangeneralGTM or Marketing PartnerCorgan is a sponsor of Design by Diversity Day events.
• HGA Architects & EngineersgeneralGTM or Marketing PartnerHGA Architects & Engineers supports ACLA through the capital campaign for the Center for Communities.
• Eames FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partnership in 2025 with the Eames Foundation, celebrating the enduring optimism and vision of Charles and Ray Eames. Hosted a special event at the iconic Eames House in Pacific Palisades featuring student panel discussion and celebration of creativity and resilience.
• SCI-Arc (Southern California Institute of Architecture)generalStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCI-Arc hosted DxD Day 2023 on its campus and is a supporter of ACLA programs.
• Pasadena City CollegegeneralStrategic or Co-development PartnerPasadena City College hosted DxD Day 2025, honoring César Pelli, with over 300 attendees.
• Santa Monica CollegegeneralStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanta Monica College Center for Media & Design will host DxD 2026: Gin D. Wong Day on April 17, 2026.
• Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)generalStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAUSD partners with ACLA for student internship programs placing high school students in architects' offices. LAUSD's Chief Eco-Sustainability Officer serves on ACLA's board.
• CicLAviageneralStrategic or Co-development PartnerACLA participates in CicLAvia events, engaging participants to 'ask an architect' and learn about the value of architecture and the Center for Communities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Emerging players

• Design Museum Foundation: Design Museum Foundation is a nonprofit that engages youth and the broader public in design education. Comparable as a design-focused nonprofit, though with a broader design scope beyond architecture specifically.

Direct peers

• Open Architecture Collaborative: Open Architecture Collaborative (formerly Architecture for Humanity) is a nonprofit using design to address social challenges, including K-12 architecture education programs. Direct peer in mission and nonprofit structure.
• Chicago Architecture Center: Chicago Architecture Center is a nonprofit education and exhibition center offering architecture programs to K-12 students and the public. Direct peer in operating a physical hub for architecture education and community programming.
• ACE Mentor Program: ACE Mentor Program is a national nonprofit connecting high school students with architecture, construction, and engineering professionals through after-school mentoring. Direct peer in K-12 architecture education pipeline mission.
• Architecture Center Houston: Architecture Center Houston is a nonprofit offering architecture education programs and exhibitions to the Houston community. Direct peer in operating a community-focused architecture education nonprofit in a major U.S. metro.
• Center for Architecture Foundation: Center for Architecture Foundation is a NYC-based nonprofit delivering architecture education programs to K-12 students and the public. Direct peer in mission and program structure, though operating in a different geography.
• AIA Los Angeles (AIA|LA): AIA|LA is the parent professional organization that founded ACLA and shares operational resources at the Center for Communities. Both serve the LA architecture community with aligned missions around design education and community impact, making it the closest comparable organization.
• SoCal NOMA (National Organization of Minority Architects): SoCal NOMA is the Southern California chapter of NOMA focused on increasing diversity in architecture, with an overlapping DEI mission to ACLA's DLAG and DxD programs. Listed as an ACLA donor/partner with shared focus on underrepresented architecture students.

Broad incumbents

• AIA Foundation: AIA Foundation is the national philanthropic arm of the American Institute of Architects, supporting architecture education and community programs at a national scale. Broader incumbent in the same architecture nonprofit space.
• AIA San Francisco: AIA San Francisco is a sister AIA chapter that operates architecture education and community programs in the Bay Area. Broader incumbent with similar chapter-level programming and architecture outreach focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acla-architecture-for-communities-los-angeles
• Instagraminstagram.com/acla_aiala

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ACLA Architecture for Communities Los Angeles