AVALON-CARVER COMMUNITY CENTER

What AVALON-CARVER COMMUNITY CENTER does

Avalon-Carver Community Center is a private, California-domiciled nonprofit organization headquartered at 4920 S Avalon Blvd in South Los Angeles. Founded in 1940 (with one source citing 1944) by community leader Mary B. Henry, the organization has operated continuously for over 80 years delivering an integrated portfolio of education, prevention, nutrition, workforce development, and housing services to under-resourced residents of South LA. Core programs include Mobile STEM Labs (hands-on K-12 STEM instruction aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and the California Science Test), the STEMLiner NASA Space Center experience in Houston, a Prevention Education Program built on the evidence-based Winners Sanokfa and Botvin LifeSkills curricula, a USDA-funded Nutrition Program serving over 100,000 meals annually to children and youth 18 and under, the Mary B. Henry YouthBuild Academy alternative high school, free GED preparation, bilingual DUI counseling, and a 150-bed transitional age youth shelter. Service delivery is conducted directly at LAUSD school sites, on the main campus, and through community nutrition points, with no proprietary technology platform underpinning operations.

The organization employs approximately 20 staff under Executive Director Jamico Elder, who assumed the role in 2016 and has overseen a doubling of the organization's size and program scope. Revenue is derived from three streams: individual donations (suggested tiers of $30, $60, $90, $120, with one-time/weekly/monthly cadence and a dedicated Melvin and Bobbie Mitchell Scholarship Fund), federal and state grants (USDA nutrition programs, California Department of Education nutrition funding, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health prevention contracts), and corporate/foundation partnerships. All community programs and services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries. Avalon-Carver's strategic partner ecosystem — spanning LAUSD, NASA, Microsoft, the City of Los Angeles, Boston Scientific, Joseph Drown Foundation, Code Ninjas, Beach City E Sports, and Dr. Joy DeGruy (Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome) — underpins program credibility and delivery capacity. The organization is currently raising capital for a Future Campus expansion to extend physical and programmatic reach.

Name

AVALON-CARVER COMMUNITY CENTER

Legal name

Avalon Carver Community Center

Website

https://avalon-carver.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Avalon-Carver Community Center is a South Los Angeles nonprofit founded in 1940 that delivers free STEM education, evidence-based substance use prevention, USDA-funded nutrition, alternative high school, and transitional youth housing to underserved youth and families across LAUSD and the surrounding community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Educational Services (611), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB)

Keywords

• Community services
• Youth development
• STEM education
• Nutrition programs
• Substance abuse prevention

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations at various levels ($30, $60, $90, $120 suggested amounts plus custom amounts), with options for one-time, weekly, or monthly giving. Also accepts donations for the Melvin and Bobbie Mitchell Scholarship Fund.
2. Government Grants: USDA federally funded nutrition program providing free lunches and snacks in high-need areas of South Los Angeles. California Department of Education funded nutrition program. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health partnerships for prevention services.
3. Scholarship Fund: Melvin and Bobbie Mitchell Scholarship Fund for educational support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Avalon-Carver Community Center is a nonprofit organization providing free community services to South Los Angeles residents, including STEM education (Mobile STEM Labs and STEM-Liner NASA program), nutrition services (USDA-funded meals), substance abuse prevention education, GED preparation, DUI counseling, transitional youth housing, and alternative high school education. The organization has served the community since 1940, focusing on education, community outreach, and empowerment for underserved youth and families.

Product overview

Avalon Carver Community Center is a community-based organization offering a portfolio of interconnected educational, health, and social service programs for South Los Angeles residents. The core offerings include Mobile STEM Labs (hands-on STEM education for underserved students) and STEM-Liner (NASA-aligned experiential learning trips), which together provide comprehensive STEM education from K-12. The Prevention Education Program delivers substance use prevention through evidence-based curricula, while the Nutrition Program addresses food insecurity with USDA-funded free meals serving over 100,000 annually. Additional services include the Mary B. Henry YouthBuild Academy (alternative high school), GED preparation classes, DUI counseling, and a 150-bed transitional youth shelter. The organization is currently expanding with a Future Campus development to extend its community impact.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mobile STEM Labs (MSL) A hands-on STEM education program for marginalized students in underserved communities, providing experiential learning opportunities aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and California Science Test preparation.
• STEM-Liner An immersive 3-day educational journey to NASA Space Center in Houston where middle and high school students complete 7 missions with NASA mentors and military personnel, aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.
• Prevention Education Program (PEP) An education-focused substance use prevention program using evidence-based curriculums (Winners Sanokfa and Botvin Life Skills) to empower elementary and middle school students with decision-making skills.
• Nutrition Program USDA federally funded nutrition program providing free lunches and snacks to children and youth 18 and under in high-need areas of South Los Angeles, serving over 100,000 meals annually.
• Mary B. Henry YouthBuild Academy An on-site high school program providing educational opportunities and workforce development for transitional age youth.
• DUI Program DUI counseling and outpatient drug-free program services provided in both English and Spanish.
• GED Classes Free educational resources providing GED preparation classes to help community members earn their high school equivalency credential.
• Youth Transitional Housing Shelter A 150-bed transitional age youth shelter providing housing and support services for vulnerable young people.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving over 100,000 meals annually through nutrition program
• +2 more outcomes

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

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

• Code NinjasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology/education partner supporting STEM programs and coding education for youth in the community.
• YouthBuild Charter SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-site YouthBuild High School operating at Avalon Carver campus, providing educational opportunities for transitional age youth.
• Beach City E SportsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting esports and technology engagement for youth in the community.
• City of Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner supporting community programs and services through city resources and coordination.
• Los Angeles County Department of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment health partner providing funding and oversight for prevention education programs addressing substance abuse and community health.
• Dr. Joy DeGruycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2015 with renowned researcher and author of 'Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome.' Collaborations include education and teacher trainings, parent education workshops, and rites of passage facilitator trainings focused on healing and empowerment for African American communities.
• NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASA Space Center in Houston hosts the STEMLiner program, providing students access to Mission Control, Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, ISS Mock Up, and Moon Rock Vault with NASA mentors and military personnel.
• LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with LAUSD to deliver Mobile STEM Labs and achieve educational equity for all students, particularly underrepresented groups in STEM careers.
• MicrosoftmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with Microsoft and local nonprofits to ensure inner city youth have access to literacy, coding, and STEM inspired learning opportunities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Para los Niños: LA-based nonprofit serving at-risk youth and families with education, mental health, and family support services in communities similar to Avalon-Carver's South LA catchment. Comparable charter-school and wraparound service delivery model.
• LA's BEST After School Enrichment Program: LAUSD-affiliated after-school enrichment program serving elementary-age students across LAUSD schools. Directly comparable in-school enrichment model and STEM/arts programming focus for the same school district.
• After-School All-Stars (ASAS): National nonprofit providing after-school academic, STEM, and enrichment programming in Title I schools. Direct comparable on the school-site enrichment delivery model and target beneficiary (LAUSD-area underserved youth).
• Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA): Provides after-school arts, academic enrichment, and youth development programs to underserved LA youth. Comparable youth-education and STEM-style enrichment mission serving LAUSD-area students.
• Boys & Girls Club of Los Angeles Harbor: Delivers youth education, STEM/STEAM programs, and after-school services to underserved youth in the LA area — closely aligned with Avalon-Carver's STEM education and prevention programming for school-age children.
• YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles: Los Angeles YMCA operates community centers delivering youth development, education, nutrition, and family services in underserved neighborhoods across LA County — directly comparable scope and beneficiary profile to Avalon-Carver's integrated program model.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National umbrella organization for hundreds of community-based youth clubs including LA chapters. Offers overlapping youth-development, STEM, education, and meal programs but at vastly greater scale and broader geographic scope.

Regional players

• Community Build Inc. South LA–based community development nonprofit offering youth services, education, and workforce development with deep roots in the same service geography as Avalon-Carver. Comparable youth and community development programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/avaloncarvercommunitycenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/avalon-carver-community-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 AVALON-CARVER COMMUNITY CENTER