A Place Called Home

What A Place Called Home does

A Place Called Home (APCH) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization founded in 1993 by Debrah Constance in the aftermath of the LA Civil Unrest, operating from a 52,000-square-foot campus at 2830 S. Central Ave in South Central Los Angeles. The organization serves youth from elementary age through their mid-twenties, along with their families, through six core program areas: Learning and Academic Excellence (afterschool, summer, college prep, Shaheen Scholarships), Job Readiness and Career Development (internships, mentorship), Mental Health and Case Management Services (counseling, therapy), Arts and Creative Expression (dance, music, visual arts, digital media), Health and Wellness (athletics, nutrition, federal Summer Food Service Program), and Da Vinci RISE High (an on-campus charter high school for students navigating foster care, housing instability, or juvenile justice involvement). All programs are delivered free of charge to families.

APCH's business model is donation-funded rather than commercial. Revenue streams consist of individual donations (one-time, monthly via the Social Change Club, stock, planned giving, IRA QCDs), corporate and foundation grants (including a $400,000 AEG Community Foundation grant for music expansion, ongoing ECMC Foundation GO! Program support for nine consecutive years, and Golden Globe Foundation funding), corporate matching programs, and proceeds from signature fundraising events (annual Gala, GirlPower! Luncheon, Corks & Community, Backpack Giveaway, Teen Boutique). The organization has 101–250 employees, an 18-member Board of Directors, and reports having served more than 20,000 youth since inception with 550+ first-generation college graduates, 1,500+ annual hours of mental health support, and 1,000+ weekly meals served. Underlying technology is light: the organization uses Classy (GoFundMe) for donation processing, Google Analytics and Feathr for web analytics, Airtable for class scheduling, Dropbox for asset sharing, and Double the Donation for matching gift lookup — none of which constitute proprietary technology.

The go-to-market motion is community-led: enrollment is driven by word-of-mouth and referral among South Central LA families, supported by organic social media (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube), email newsletters, community events, and earned media. Fundraising is anchored by direct donor cultivation, foundation relationships, and high-touch event marketing. APCH does not charge participants and operates under no standard pricing model — its commercial equivalent is donor lifetime value across sustaining, major, and institutional giving tiers.

Name

A Place Called Home

Legal name

A Place Called Home

Website

https://apch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

A Place Called Home is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 that provides free arts, education, wellness, mental health, and career development programs to youth and families in South Central Los Angeles from a 52,000-square-foot campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development and Community Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Charter Alternative & At-Risk Schools (Continuation, Credit Recovery, Juvenile) (EDAJACAE), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Residential Education, Programming & Community Development (EDALACAC)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• After-school education
• College preparation services
• Mental health counseling
• Arts and wellness education

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: APCH relies primarily on donations from individuals. The website features a donate button with various giving levels ($100, $250, $750, $2,500, $5,000, $10,000) corresponding to specific program impacts. Donors can give one-time, monthly (through Social Change Club), stock donations, wire transfers, donor advised funds, IRA qualified charitable distributions, or planned giving.
2. Corporate and Foundation Grants: APCH receives grants from foundations including AEG Community Foundation ($400,000 for music program expansion), Golden Globe Foundation, ECMC Foundation (GO! Program grant for educational innovation and racial equity), and others. Corporate matching programs are also promoted.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

A Place Called Home operates a free youth development center in South Central Los Angeles providing after-school and summer programs, college preparation and scholarships, career readiness and mentorship, mental health counseling and family therapy, arts education (dance, music, visual arts, digital media), athletics and nutrition, and the Da Vinci RISE High charter school for students navigating foster care or housing instability. All programs are offered at no cost to youth ages elementary through mid-twenties and their families in South Central LA.

Product overview

A Place Called Home (APCH) is a dynamic, multi-service youth and community center in South Central Los Angeles offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs across six core service areas: Learning and Academic Excellence (afterschool/summer programs, college prep, Shaheen Scholarships), Job Readiness and Career Development (internships, mentorship), Mental Health and Case Management Services (counseling, therapy), The Arts and Creative Expression (dance, music, visual arts, digital media), Health and Wellness (athletics, nutrition), and Da Vinci RISE High (charter high school for displaced students). These programs are complemented by signature events (GirlPower! Luncheon, Corks & Community, CALE, Backpack Giveaway, Gala), mentoring programs (L.I.F.E. and Group Mentoring), and engagement opportunities (Leadership Council, Social Change Club). The organization also participates in the Summer Food Service Program to address food insecurity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Da Vinci RISE High at APCH: An innovative charter high school designed to meet the unique needs of students navigating foster care, housing instability, the juvenile justice system and/or other circumstances that have caused disruptions to their academic journeys.

Products and services

• Learning and Academic Excellence Free after-school and summer educational enrichment, college preparation, and scholarships that foster lifelong learning for South Central LA youth from elementary school through their mid-twenties.
• Job Readiness and Career Development Free career readiness services, internships, and mentorship supporting economic success for South Central LA youth.
• Mental Health and Case Management Services Free counseling, individual and family therapy, holistic needs assessment, and case management resources helping youth and families navigate challenges.
• The Arts and Creative Expression Free dance, music, visual arts, and digital media programs nurturing social-emotional growth, creativity, and self-expression among APCH youth.
• Health and Wellness Free athletics, outdoor play, culinary arts, and nutrition education programs promoting physical well-being for youth.
• Da Vinci RISE High at APCH Charter high school program on the APCH campus tailored for students experiencing foster care, housing instability, juvenile justice involvement, or other academic disruptions.
• Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Free nutritious meals and snacks served to children 18 and under during summer months as part of the federal Summer Food Service Program.
• L.I.F.E. Mentoring Program One-on-one mentoring matching APCH youth members with caring adult mentors offering wisdom, guidance, and personal/professional support.
• Group Mentoring Programs (GEM, GirlPower, Junior Journey, Journey) Peer group mentoring programs including GEM (Girls Empowering Many), GirlPower, Junior Journey, and Journey, building community, identity, and leadership skills among APCH youth.
• Shaheen Scholarship Program College scholarship program helping first-generation students pursue higher education, including a scholarship pathway with Loyola Marymount University.
• Social Change Club (Monthly Giving Program) Monthly recurring giving program through which donors become sustaining members supporting APCH's ongoing operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 550+ first-generation students sent to college
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

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

• Los Angeles LakersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe LA Lakers partnered with APCH to host the Cinderella & Prince Charming Project, a prom dress and suit distribution event. The partnership provided formal attire for youth who might otherwise not be able to attend prom.
• LA GalaxyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLA Galaxy players delivered backpacks filled with school supplies to students in South Los Angeles through a community partnership with APCH.
• HerbalifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHerbalife partnered with APCH for the Annual Backpack Giveaway 2025, providing free backpacks filled with school supplies to kids in South LA. The event was featured on FOX Live News.
• Los Angeles RamsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe LA Rams named Ann Stacy of A Place Called Home as their 'Rams Fifth Playmaker of 2025,' recognizing her as a community hero for her volunteerism work. APCH has an ongoing partnership with the Rams organization.
• Da Vinci RISE HighcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDa Vinci RISE High is an innovative charter high school operating at APCH's campus, specifically designed to meet the unique needs of students navigating foster care, housing instability, the juvenile justice system, and other circumstances that disrupt academic journeys.
• Marymount High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarymount High School has an ongoing partnership with APCH, part of Sister Patricia Connor's legacy of connecting APCH with educational institutions. The relationship involves the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary community's support.
• Camp HopeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPCH had a collaborative partnership with Camp Hope that would take APCH member families to the woods for a week-long outdoor experience. Former APCH member Ethan Smith returned as a junior counselor.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Inner-City Arts: Inner-City Arts is a Downtown LA arts education nonprofit providing visual and performing arts programming to underserved youth. Directly comparable as a LA-based youth arts nonprofit with similar funding model (foundation/corporate/individual donations) and similar target population.
• LA's BEST (Better Educated Students for Tomorrow): LA's BEST is a LAUSD-affiliated after-school program serving elementary-age youth across Los Angeles. Directly comparable as a free after-school enrichment program targeting underserved LA youth, with education and arts components similar to APCH's Learning and Academic Excellence program.
• KIPP LA Schools: KIPP LA operates charter schools serving predominantly low-income students in Los Angeles. Comparable in serving the same South LA demographic with a college-prep mission, and a key collaborator/competitor in the charter school space for APCH's Da Vinci RISE High program.
• YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles: LA YMCA operates youth development, education, and wellness programs across the same South LA geography as APCH. Both are community-center based, free or low-cost, donation-supported, and serve similar youth populations with comparable program verticals (education, arts, athletics, mental health).
• Communities In Schools of Los Angeles: Communities In Schools places coordinators in LA public schools to deliver wraparound services (academic support, mental health, basic needs) to at-risk students. Highly comparable to APCH's wraparound model and Da Vinci RISE High population (foster care, housing instability, juvenile justice-involved youth).
• After-School All-Stars: After-School All-Stars provides free after-school programming to underserved youth in Los Angeles and other cities. Direct comparable model: free enrollment, comprehensive programming, corporate/foundation funding, and measurable outcomes for at-risk youth in similar communities.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Boys & Girls Clubs of America is the closest direct peer to APCH, operating club-based youth development programs combining education, arts, athletics, and mentorship for underserved youth. Both organizations serve low-income communities, rely on donations/grants, and provide free after-school programming with comparable outcome metrics.

Regional players

• Brotherhood Crusade: Brotherhood Crusade is a South LA nonprofit focused on economic and educational equity for African American and Latino communities. Comparable geographic focus and target population to APCH, with overlapping program verticals around education, workforce development, and youth services.

Broad incumbents

• Children's Defense Fund: Children's Defense Fund is a national child welfare and youth advocacy organization. Broader incumbent operating across child poverty, foster care, and education policy—comparable to APCH in mission (foster youth, housing instability, juvenile justice) but at national advocacy scale rather than direct-service scale.

Emerging players

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater LA runs one-on-one mentoring for youth, including the L.I.F.E. Mentoring-equivalent model APCH offers. Comparable target population and mentoring methodology, though narrower in scope than APCH's full wraparound programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/apch2830
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/apch2830
• Facebookfacebook.com/APCH2830
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a-place-called-home
• Instagraminstagram.com/apch2830

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

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 A Place Called Home