Amistades, Inc.

What Amistades, Inc. does

Amistades, Inc. is a Latino-serving nonprofit organization founded in 2006 in Tucson, Arizona by Ricardo M. Jasso. The organization operates across four Southern Arizona counties — Pima, Pinal, Cochise, and Santa Cruz — providing culturally responsive programs in substance abuse prevention, education, civic engagement, workforce development, and behavioral health. Its service model is grounded in an intergenerational family approach and the proprietary "La Cultura Cura" (Culture Heals) philosophy, supplemented by developed curricula including "500 Years of Chicano History" and "Razalogia." The organization maintains offices in three locations and operates with a staff of approximately 17 people.

The organization's revenue model is grant- and donation-funded rather than commercial. Cumulative grant funding exceeds $20 million over its 20-year history, sourced from major foundations (W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Bank of America) and federal agencies including SAMHSA, CDC, and HRSA. Active programmatic offerings include Ciclos de Cambio (substance abuse prevention), Pioneras en STEM (STEM education), a Narcan distribution program, and an emerging climate action initiative. The organization has received White House recognition and maintains national-level strategic partnerships with UnidosUS and the National Compadres Network, which extend its influence beyond Southern Arizona. There is no evidence of a commercial technology platform; service delivery is community-based and human-services oriented.

Name

Amistades, Inc.

Legal name

Amistades, Inc.

Website

https://amistades.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Amistades, Inc. is a Latino-serving nonprofit founded in 2006 in Tucson, Arizona, providing culturally responsive programs in substance abuse prevention, education, civic engagement, workforce development, and behavioral health across four Southern Arizona counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Administration of Public Health Programs (923120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health & Health Equity/Social Determinants Units (HLAJAAAO)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Substance abuse prevention
• Culturally responsive programs
• Latino community empowerment
• Nonprofit community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Cash and in-kind support from individual donors directed to programs at the heart of the Amistades mission. Donors can claim Arizona state tax credits for their contributions through the Qualified Charitable Organization (QCO) program.
2. Foundation and Government Grants: Funding from private foundations (e.g., W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation) and government agencies (e.g., CDC, SAMHSA, HRSA, Arizona Governor's Office) to support specific programs and initiatives.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Support from corporate partners including Bank of America, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment, and other businesses through charitable contributions and sponsorship.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Amistades, Inc. is a community-centered nonprofit that provides culturally responsive social services, substance abuse prevention, and community empowerment programs to Latino communities across Southern Arizona. It delivers these through a portfolio of programs, evidence-based curricula, and community-defined best practices aimed at addressing substance abuse, opioid use disorder, intergenerational education, civic engagement, and cultural preservation.

Product overview

Amistades, Inc. is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of community programs, initiatives, and curricula focused on Latino communities in Southern Arizona. The organization operates across multiple service areas including substance abuse prevention, health promotion, youth empowerment, civic engagement, workforce development, higher education support, behavioral health, and cultural preservation. The core offerings include evidence-based prevention curricula (such as Botvin Lifeskills, Catch My Breath, Cuidate, Keepin' It REAL, and Too Good for Drugs), culturally-rooted community-defined best practices (including 500 Years of Chicano History and La Cultura Cura), and program initiatives addressing opioid use, youth development, family engagement, STEM education, and climate action. Services are delivered through direct program implementation, coalition building, technical assistance, and community-centered healing practices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• A CURE A substance abuse prevention and intervention program for community members.
• Avanzando Through College A college access and persistence program developed in collaboration with UnidosUS and higher education institutions to support Latino students.
• Ciclos de Cambio A women and youth-centered initiative developed jointly with the Solutions Project focused on climate and environmental justice.
• Civics for All A civic engagement initiative developed in collaboration with UnidosUS that nurtures civically minded youth.
• Cuentos LGBTQ An LGBTQ-focused storytelling program developed in collaboration with the Arizona Community Foundation's Kellenberger + Tollefson Center for LGBTQ Philanthropy.
• Escalera A national postsecondary and career development program implemented in partnership with UnidosUS.
• Familia Adelante A comprehensive family engagement program developed in partnership with the Arizona Governor's Office of Youth, Faith, and Family supporting at-risk youth aged 10-14 and their families.
• Latino Opioid Consortium A consortium developed in partnership with SAMHSA to decrease rates of illicit opioid use and increase culturally responsive MAT services across Arizona counties.
• Mayahuel Prevention Consortium II A substance use prevention program developed in collaboration with the CDC Drug-Free Communities Support Program targeting youth and adult perceptions of harm.
• Our Seasons Our Stories A culturally inclusive climate readiness initiative developed in partnership with TEP.
• Padres Comprometidos A family engagement program developed in partnership with UnidosUS that strengthens connections between schools and families.
• Pioneras en STEM A STEM access and entry program developed jointly with UnidosUS for Latino youth.
• Por Vida A substance abuse and HIV/STI prevention program developed in partnership with SAMHSA supporting youth and young adults in Pima County.
• Prevención Sin Fronteras II A comprehensive substance use prevention initiative developed with the Arizona Governor's Office of Youth, Faith, and Family for Cochise County.
• Raíces Vivas A community program developed with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
• Vida Hermosa A multi-county community coalition developed in partnership with Vitalyst Health Foundation.
• Si Se Puede II An opioid and substance use prevention program developed in partnership with HRSA increasing prevention, treatment, and recovery services in Pinal County.
• CARAs de Esperanza A school-based prevention program developed in partnership with CDC focused on prescription medication, opioid, and psychostimulant misuse prevention using the Razalogia Community Outreach Framework.
• Nopal Kitchen A two-semester youth culinary development program developed in collaboration with Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation and Sunnyside Unified School District.
• Circle Keeper Certification A certification program developed in partnership with the National Compadres Network focusing on building natural opportunity factors and community health.
• Narcan Distribution Free Narcan, testing strips, and informational resources distributed through emergency Narcan boxes at partner locations across Southern Arizona counties.

Quantifiable outcome

• Raised more than $20 million in grant funding for cultural programming since founding
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• UnidosUScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Latino civil rights organization collaborating on multiple programs including Avanzando Through College, Civics for All, Escalera, Padres Comprometidos, and Pioneras en STEM. Deep strategic partnership for Latino community advancement.
• National Compadres NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmistades serves as the anchor organization for Arizona supporting the National Compadres Network's Circle Keeper Certification program, which focuses on building natural opportunity factors within individuals, families, communities, and cultures.
• University of ArizonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for research collaborations, student mentorship, internship programs, and joint studies. Multiple UA colleges and departments partner with Amistades including Mexican American Studies, Psychology, College of Medicine, Eller College of Management, and Cancer Center.
• Hispanics in PhilanthropysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional membership organization providing networking, capacity building, and thought leadership for Latino-serving nonprofits.
• Independent SectorsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational membership organization for nonprofits, foundations, and corporate giving programs. Amistades participates in leadership roundtables and capacity building initiatives.
• CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization supporting community-based substance abuse prevention. Amistades implements CADCA's Seven Strategies for Community Change framework.
• Arizona Hispanic Chamber of CommercesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional chamber membership providing networking and business development opportunities for Latino-serving organizations.
• Southern Arizona Hispanic Chamber of CommercesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal chamber membership supporting business connections and community visibility in the Tucson metropolitan area.
• Pima County Health DepartmentsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government health agency partner for community health initiatives and overdose prevention programs.
• Sunnyside Unified School DistrictsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEducational partner hosting Nopal Kitchen culinary program and other youth development initiatives at Apollo Middle School.
• Coolidge Unified School DistrictsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEducational partner for prevention programming and student support services in the Coolidge area.
• Arizona Community Foundation (Kellenberger + Tollefson Center for LGBTQ Philanthropy)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partner supporting Cuentos LGBTQ program in collaboration with Amistades' cultural programming.
• Solutions ProjectsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Ciclos de Cambio, a women and youth-centered climate and environmental justice initiative.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chicanos Por La Causa: One of the largest Latino-serving community development organizations in the Southwest, headquartered in Arizona. Directly comparable to Amistades in mission, target population (Latino families and youth), and service breadth across education, health, housing, and economic development in the same Southern Arizona geography.
• Casa de los Niños: Tucson-based nonprofit serving children and families in Southern Arizona, including family support, early childhood education, and youth programs. Comparable geographic focus, family-centered service model, and target population of at-risk youth and families in the same regional market.
• National Compadres Network: National network focused on building natural opportunity factors for Latino, American Indian, and other communities of color. Amistades serves as the Arizona anchor for their Circle Keeper Certification program. Highly comparable in cultural methodology and intergenerational family approach.
• Somos El Poder: Arizona statewide Latino civic empowerment network (Amistades is a member organization). Comparable Latino-focused community empowerment mission and Arizona geographic focus. Functions as a peer organization in the Arizona Latino nonprofit ecosystem rather than a direct service provider.
• Primavera Foundation: Tucson-based nonprofit providing workforce development, housing, and community services to low-income Southern Arizona residents. Directly comparable geographic footprint, community-based service model, and target population including Latino families facing economic hardship.
• Promise Arizona: Arizona-based Latino civic engagement organization focused on voter mobilization, civic participation, and policy advocacy. Comparable in Arizona-based Latino community focus and grassroots organizing approach, though narrower programmatic focus on civic engagement.

Broad incumbents

• UnidosUS: National Latino civil rights organization and major Amistades partner. Operates as a national umbrella organization deploying programs (Avanzando Through College, Padres Comprometidos, Civics for All) that Amistades implements locally. Comparable in mission focus on Latino community advancement but operates at national scale rather than regional.
• CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America): National membership organization supporting community-based substance abuse prevention coalitions. Amistades implements CADCA's Seven Strategies for Community Change framework. Operates at national scale across all communities rather than focusing specifically on Latino populations.
• Hispanic Federation: National Latino service organization operating across the U.S. Northeast and beyond. Comparable mission of Latino community empowerment through health, education, and civic engagement programs, but operates at national scale rather than a single regional focus.

Regional players

• Pima Prevention Partnership: Regional substance abuse prevention coalition in Pima County, Arizona. Directly comparable geographic footprint and substance abuse prevention mission, though more narrowly focused on a single county and prevention coalition work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amistades-inc.

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 Amistades, Inc.