FIERCE Advocates
FIERCE Advocates is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Richmond, California, providing free, culturally grounded health, wellness, birth justice, and leadership development programs to Black and Latinx families across Contra Costa County, funded by donations and grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersRichmond, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What FIERCE Advocates does
FIERCE Advocates is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2005 (originally as Building Blocks for Kids) and headquartered in Richmond, California. It serves Black and Latinx families across Contra Costa County, with primary concentration in Richmond and West Contra Costa County. The organization delivers a coordinated suite of community-based programs organized around three pillars — Health & Wellness, Policy Advocacy & Organizing, and Birth Justice — including CoCo Doulas (community-based doula services, launched 2021), Sanctuary Groups, life coaching, the Community Education Leadership Institute (CELI), the Black Village Network, the Brilliance of Brotherhood men's wellness program, the Advocacy Bootcamp, the Parent Fellow Program, and the Black Women's Sanctuary Conference. Programs are provided at no cost to participants and led by community-rooted staff, with outcomes reported as 270+ babies born through CoCo Doulas since 2021, 183 deliveries in 2024, and 60+ doula graduates trained.
FIERCE does not operate a technology platform or sell technology products; its work is grounded in community organizing, healing-centered care frameworks, and culturally specific wellness and leadership curricula. Its technology footprint is limited to a Squarespace-hosted website, social media profiles (Instagram, Facebook), a quarterly newsletter, and an online donation portal via funraise.org.
The business model is a hybrid of individual donations and foundation/government grants. Individual contributions are solicited through the online donation portal and are tax-deductible under 501(c)(3) status. Institutional funding flows from partners including First 5 Contra Costa County, Contra Costa Health and Human Services, and other foundations supporting CoCo Doulas, the Advocacy Bootcamp, CELI, and Sanctuary Groups. There is no pricing model in the conventional sense — all programs are free to participants — and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The organization is led by Executive Director Sheryl Lane with a small team of approximately seven staff supported by a board of directors, and has no parent company, venture capital backing, or public listing.
FIERCE Advocates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FIERCE Advocates
- Legal name
- FIERCE Advocates
- Website
- https://fierceadvocates.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- FIERCE Advocates is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Richmond, California, providing free, culturally grounded health, wellness, birth justice, and leadership development programs to Black and Latinx families across Contra Costa County, funded by donations and grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FIERCE Advocates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Social Services
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Education Policy, Research & Advocacy Organizations (Nonprofit) (BPAGADAN), International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD), Community Fundraisers & Charity Events (Gala/Walks excluded) (MPAGAEAK)
Keywords
Where FIERCE Advocates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Richmond
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
FIERCE Advocates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: FIERCE accepts financial contributions from individuals via its website donation portal (funraise.org). Donations are tax-deductible under its 501(c)(3) status and directly fund programs including wellness, leadership, doula care, and advocacy initiatives.
- Foundation and Government Grants: FIERCE operates funded programs through grants from foundations and government agencies. The organization is referenced as partnering with Contra Costa Health and Human Services, First 5 Contra Costa County, and other institutional funders to sustain CoCo Doulas, Advocacy Bootcamp, CELI, Sanctuary Groups, and other programming.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
FIERCE Advocates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FIERCE Advocates is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers a coordinated suite of community-based programs to Black and Latinx families and caregivers in Contra Costa County. Offerings include community-based doula services (CoCo Doulas), wellness and Sanctuary groups, leadership development (CELI, Parent Fellow Program, Advocacy Bootcamp), policy advocacy and organizing, intergenerational community-building (Black Village Network, Brilliance of Brotherhood), and healing-centered conferences — all provided at no cost to participants and funded by donations and grants.
Product overview
FIERCE Advocates is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a coordinated suite of community-based programs organized around three pillars: Health and Wellness, Policy Advocacy Organizing, and Birth Justice. The core programs include CoCo Doulas (community-based doula services), Health & Wellness Programs (Sanctuary groups, life coaching), Policy Advocacy & Organizing (PAO), Community Education Leadership Institute (CELI), Black Village Network, Brilliance of Brotherhood, and the Advocacy Bootcamp. These programs work together to support Black and Latinx families in Contra Costa County through healing-centered care, leadership development, and parent-led advocacy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CoCo Doulas Trains and deploys community-based doulas to provide free, culturally affirming prenatal, labor, postpartum, and lactation support to Black moms and birthing families in Contra Costa County.
- Health & Wellness Programs Culturally grounded wellness services including Sanctuary groups, life coaching, and multigenerational healing support for Black and Latinx families.
- Policy Advocacy & Organizing (PAO) Civic engagement and collective action program helping parents and caregivers reclaim power, deepen leadership, and drive change in education, health, and community systems.
- Community Education Leadership Institute (CELI) Leadership development program equipping parents, caregivers, and community leaders with public speaking, policy engagement, and coalition-building skills to serve on boards and commissions.
- Black Village Network Intergenerational collaborative initiative connecting Black parents, youth, and community leaders to co-create solutions for Black students and families, prioritizing joy, healing, and community empowerment.
- Brilliance of Brotherhood Men's wellness program providing a safe, intergenerational space for Black men and boys to gather, reflect, encourage one another, and develop leadership skills.
- Women's Sanctuary Groups Support groups for Black women and Latinas providing safe environments to build emotional resilience, find rest, and foster community belonging.
- Black Women's Sanctuary Conference Annual conference creating a healing-centered space for Black women focused on rest, reflection, and collective care, with sound baths, creative expression, and holistic healing sessions.
- Advocacy Bootcamp
Quantifiable outcome
- 270+ babies born with CoCo Doulas support since program launch in 2021
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use FIERCE Advocates
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
FIERCE Advocates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
FIERCE Advocates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- First 5 Contra Costa CountycoreFIERCE partnered with First 5 Contra Costa County to co-host a five-week Advocacy Bootcamp for parents and caregivers across Contra Costa County. The partnership combined First 5's two decades of early childhood and family development expertise with FIERCE's leadership and advocacy training, empowering parents with skills to navigate local government and advocate for community issues.
- Contra Costa Health and Human ServicescoreContra Costa Health and Human Services partnered with FIERCE Advocates to present the 2025 Black Women's Sanctuary Conference, a healing-centered wellness event for Black women in the county. The partnership provided resources and support for the conference focused on rest, reflection, and collective care.
- Breast FriendsminorFIERCE Advocates partnered with Breast Friends to expand culturally affirming lactation support for Black and Brown families in Contra Costa County, combining FIERCE's birth justice work with Breast Friends' lactation expertise.
- Richmond Museum of History & CultureminorFIERCE Advocates and the Richmond Museum of History & Culture co-produced a video highlighting local resources that help Richmond families learn, connect, heal, and better understand the history of their community.
- Urban TilthminorFIERCE collaborated with Urban Tilth to host a four-part Climate Friendly Diet workshop series introducing the 70/30 eating concept, local ingredients, and sustainable food practices to the community.
- Black Infant Health (Contra Costa)minorBlack Infant Health was listed as a community marketplace vendor and resource partner at FIERCE's 20th Anniversary Block Party, supporting FIERCE's maternal and infant health mission.
- Loaves and Fishes of Contra CostaminorFIERCE shared Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa as a community food resource for families affected by the SNAP/CalFresh delay, connecting families in need with meals and grocery access.
- Food Bank of Contra Costa and SolanominorFIERCE shared the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano as a community food resource, including its food boxes and produce distribution locations, for families experiencing food insecurity.
- First 5 (as community resource)minorFirst 5 Contra Costa was listed as a community marketplace vendor and in-kind partner at FIERCE's 20th Anniversary Block Party, supporting early childhood development resources for families.
- Contra Costa and Solano Food BankminorFIERCE partnered with the Contra Costa and Solano Food Bank to share food resources and distribution information with families affected by SNAP/CalFresh delays.
- San Francisco GiantsminorThe San Francisco Giants served as an in-kind donor for FIERCE's 20th Anniversary Community Block Party, contributing to the celebration of 20 years of community impact.
- Oakland A'sminorThe Oakland A's served as an in-kind donor for FIERCE's 20th Anniversary Community Block Party.
- Oakland Roots SCminorOakland Roots SC served as an in-kind donor for FIERCE's 20th Anniversary Community Block Party.
- Grocery OutletminorGrocery Outlet donated in-kind support for FIERCE's 20th Anniversary Community Block Party.
- CostcominorCostco donated in-kind support for FIERCE's 20th Anniversary Community Block Party.
- Home DepotminorHome Depot donated in-kind support for FIERCE's 20th Anniversary Community Block Party.
- Trader Joe'sminorTrader Joe's donated in-kind support (food) for FIERCE's 20th Anniversary Community Block Party.
- Leftside PrintingminorLeftside Printing donated printing services as in-kind support for FIERCE's 20th Anniversary Community Block Party.
- National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE)minorDulce Galicia, Policy Advocacy & Organizing Manager at FIERCE, represented the organization at the NAFSCE national conference in New Orleans. FIERCE connected with the California Coalition for Family Engagement through this partnership and began envisioning national panels featuring CELI graduates.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
FIERCE Advocates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- First 5 Contra Costa County: County-level early-childhood funder and convener that co-delivers programming with FIERCE — a key partner and adjacent peer given its overlapping focus on early childhood family well-being in the same geography.
- Community Health Councils: Los Angeles-based nonprofit driving community health equity through advocacy and coalition-building — adjacent peer reflecting the broader LA/CA peer ecosystem for community-rooted health-equity nonprofits.
Direct peers
- SisterWeb: San Francisco-based community-based doula organization offering free, culturally rooted birth support primarily to Black and Pacific Islander families in the Bay Area — the closest geographic and programmatic peer to CoCo Doulas.
- Ancient Song Doula Services: NYC-based doula and reproductive justice organization providing culturally competent support to BIPOC birthing people — a direct programmatic and demographic peer to CoCo Doulas.
- HealthConnect One: National nonprofit that trains and supports community-based doulas and breastfeeding peer counselors in underserved communities, operating a model structurally similar to FIERCE's apprenticeship-style CoCo Doulas program.
- Mamatoto Village: Washington DC-area nonprofit providing community-based doula care, perinatal support, and family wellness for Black families — directly comparable in mission and service model to FIERCE's CoCo Doulas and Sanctuary Groups.
Broad incumbents
- Black Mamas Matter Alliance: National advocacy coalition advancing Black maternal health, rights, and justice — a broader, policy-centered counterpart to FIERCE's community-delivered birth-justice work.
- National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC): National nonprofit focused on Black maternal and infant health through research, advocacy, and training — a larger, more policy-oriented peer in the same mission space as FIERCE.
- Black Women's Blueprint: National social-justice organization centering Black women and girls through advocacy, community organizing, and healing-centered programs — overlaps with FIERCE's Black Women's Sanctuary Conference and Sanctuary Groups.
Regional players
- Roots of Birth Justice: Bay Area birth-justice nonprofit training and deploying birth workers of color in the broader Northern California region — directly comparable to FIERCE's CoCo Doulas model in an overlapping but non-overlapping geography.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
FIERCE Advocates social profiles
Digital presenceFIERCE Advocates compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
FIERCE Advocates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FIERCE Advocates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
FIERCE Advocates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FIERCE Advocates M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FIERCE Advocates
What does FIERCE Advocates do?
FIERCE Advocates is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers a coordinated suite of community-based programs to Black and Latinx families and caregivers in Contra Costa County. Offerings include community-based doula services (CoCo Doulas), wellness and Sanctuary groups, leadership development (CELI, Parent Fellow Program, Advocacy Bootcamp), policy advocacy and organizing, intergenerational community-building (Black Village Network, Brilliance of Brotherhood), and healing-centered conferences — all provided at no cost to participants and funded by donations and grants.
Is FIERCE Advocates a public or private company?
FIERCE Advocates is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was FIERCE Advocates founded?
FIERCE Advocates was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is FIERCE Advocates based?
FIERCE Advocates is headquartered in Richmond, United States, in the North America region.
How does FIERCE Advocates make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Government Grants.
Who are FIERCE Advocates's main competitors?
Others on record are First 5 Contra Costa County and Community Health Councils. Direct peers are SisterWeb, Ancient Song Doula Services, HealthConnect One and Mamatoto Village. Broad incumbents are Black Mamas Matter Alliance, National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC) and Black Women's Blueprint. Roots of Birth Justice is listed as a regional player.
Does FIERCE Advocates have an API?
No public API is recorded for FIERCE Advocates.
What industry is FIERCE Advocates in?
FIERCE Advocates's product category is Community Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAB, Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations, with a secondary code of BPAGADAN, Education Policy, Research & Advocacy Organizations (Nonprofit). Its NAICS code is 813311 and its SIC code is 8300.