What LIT does

LIT (Latinos In Transit) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 and headquartered (mailing address) in Covina, California. Its mission is to support the advancement and development of all professionals in the U.S. transit industry through mentorship, training, and networking. The organization serves four core segments: individual transit professionals (primary), transit agencies seeking workforce development, small businesses pursuing transit procurement opportunities, and corporate members across four tiers (Diamante, Oro, Plata, Bronce). Its product surface consists of programs—the Ambassador Program, Workforce Development Task Force, Leadership Academy (LITLA), Mentorship Program, Scholarship Program, and Small Business Program—plus events including monthly virtual Café Con LIT sessions, regional academies (e.g., Procurement Series: Southwest Small Business Academy in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico), and the annual Leadership Summit (2026 held in Columbus, OH with COTA as host partner). The organization also operates a Job Board and accepts tax-deductible donations under Tax ID 36-4826809.

LIT generates revenue through four streams: recurring membership dues across individual, corporate, transit/transportation organization, and small business tiers; event registration fees (summit tickets $250–$895; LITLA $350–$671.25; golf event $40); corporate sponsorships anchored by a founding sponsor since 2019 and supplemented by event-level sponsorships; and LITLA participant/graduate fees. Delivery is operated by a lean staff of approximately 9 employees using Wild Apricot membership management software for the member portal, event registration, and website functionality; no proprietary AI/ML, app, or SDK layer is disclosed. The business model is community-led: growth depends on word-of-mouth within the transit industry, corporate sponsorships, and partnerships with transit agencies for technical tours and educational programming. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

LIT

Legal name

LIT (Latinos In Transit)

Website

https://latinosintransit.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LIT (Latinos In Transit) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2015, that supports U.S. transit professionals through mentorship, training, networking programs, leadership development (LITLA), and an annual Leadership Summit, funded primarily by tiered corporate memberships, event registrations, and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Covina, CA

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: LIT generates revenue through corporate membership tiers (Diamante, Oro, Plata, Bronce) as well as individual/transit organization and small business memberships. These annual memberships provide access to networking, mentorship programs, professional development resources, and member-exclusive events.
2. Event Registrations and Tickets: Revenue from the annual Leadership Summit (registration fees ranging from $250-$895 depending on membership status and ticket type), technical tours, golf events, and virtual Café Con LIT sessions. Special event tickets and add-ons (Gala, Opening Reception, etc.) contribute additional revenue.
3. Sponsorships and Donations: Corporate sponsors support the organization through founding sponsorships, collaborative partnerships, and event-specific sponsorships. The organization accepts donations and maintains 501(c)(3) nonprofit status (TAX ID 36-4826809) enabling tax-deductible contributions.
4. Leadership Academy (LITLA): The Leadership Academy generates revenue through participant registration fees ($350 for participants, $446.25-$671.25 for graduates depending on membership status) for its intensive leadership development program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LIT (Latinos In Transit) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports the advancement and development of all professionals in the transit industry through tiered corporate and individual memberships, leadership training via the Leadership Academy (LITLA), mentorship and scholarship programs, small business development support, virtual Café Con LIT sessions, and an annual Leadership Summit. Its primary deliverable is community-driven professional development and networking services for the U.S. public transit workforce.

Product overview

LIT (Latinos in Transit) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as a service-based membership organization rather than a technology company. The organization offers a portfolio of professional development programs including the Ambassador Program, Workforce Development Task Force, Leadership Academy (LITLA), Mentorship Program, Scholarship Program, and Small Business Program. These programs connect transit professionals to mentorship, training, and networking opportunities. Additionally, LIT hosts events such as Café Con LIT sessions, the annual Leadership Summit, technical tours of transit facilities, and regional procurement academies. The organization uses Wild Apricot membership management software to deliver its services. The portfolio is structured as a unified nonprofit service offering with programs, events, and membership tiers working together to advance professionals in the transit industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Café Con LIT: Monthly virtual networking session featuring discussions on transit industry topics
• LIT Leadership Academy (LITLA)
• LIT Leadership Summit

Products and services

• Membership (Individual, Transit Organization, Small Business, and Corporate Tiers)

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• COTA (Central Ohio Transit Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOTA is the host partner for the 2026 LIT Leadership Summit in Columbus, OH. The partnership includes exclusive technical tours of COTA facilities (McKinley Ave, Mobility Assessment Center, Mobility Center at Rickenbacker) and augmented reality tours of the LinkUS West Broad Street BRT corridor. COTA experts accompany tours to provide in-depth insights into infrastructure, accessibility, and sustainable mobility initiatives.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WTS International (Women's Transportation Seminar): Membership-based nonprofit fostering advancement of women in transportation through mentorship, leadership programs, and an annual conference. Mirrors LIT's model but with a different demographic focus.
• COMTO (Conference of Minority Transportation Officials): National nonprofit advancing minorities in transportation with similar professional development, scholarship, and leadership programming aimed at diversifying the transit workforce. Closest peer to LIT in mission, structure, and member base.

Broad incumbents

• Eno Transportation Foundation: Nonprofit focused on transportation leadership development through fellowships and policy programs. Competes for transit leadership pipeline attention and corporate sponsors.
• American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO): Represents state DOTs and transportation agencies on policy, workforce, and diversity initiatives. Overlaps with LIT on workforce development for the broader transportation sector.
• APTA (American Public Transportation Association): Largest US transit industry association serving agencies, businesses, and individuals with advocacy, conferences, and workforce programs. Far larger and broader in scope than LIT, but overlaps on workforce development.
• CTAA (Community Transportation Association of America): National association serving community and small urban/rural transit providers with conferences, training, and advocacy. Overlaps LIT on training and conference programming for transit professionals.

Others

• National Transit Institute (NTI): Federally funded center providing training and education for the transit workforce. Overlaps with LIT's Workforce Development Task Force and LITLA curricula.
• Latinos in Engineering (LNESC/PASEO-style STEM nonprofits): Hispanic-focused education/workforce nonprofits operating similar professional development and scholarship models. Adjacent in mission (latino advancement in a technical field) but different industry.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/latinos-in-transit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 LIT