THE PALAPA SOCIETY OF TODOS SANTOS, A.C.

What THE PALAPA SOCIETY OF TODOS SANTOS, A.C. does

The Palapa Society of Todos Santos, A.C. is a Mexican non-profit educational organization (Asociación Civil) headquartered in Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, founded in 2003 and operating with roughly 18 employees. It runs an SEP-certified school (La Escuela de la Palapa, middle and high school) and the broader Palapa Learning Center, complemented by approximately 90 BECA scholarships per year, Bridge to English (Puente al Inglés) and Adult English courses reaching about 170 children and 90 adults, after-school art classes, summer swim-safety instruction, the Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska (over 9,000 volumes), and a children's library.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through donations, grants, and ticketed fundraising events rather than program fees; domestic and U.S. contributions are channeled through partners such as the International Community Foundation for tax-deductible U.S. giving, with marquee support from R.E.M. co-founder Peter Buck via the recurring Todos Santos Music Festival and ancillary events such as Baja Under the Stars (tickets $225-$275). Program fees are deliberately nominal (e.g., 130-150 MXN per month for English classes), and episodic appeals (including a Hurricane Odile campaign that raised $90,000+) demonstrate capacity for crisis-driven fundraising surges.

The organization sustains its model through a multi-stakeholder ecosystem of Rotary clubs (La Paz, Sunrise Todos Santos), the Denver Botanic Gardens, Hotel California, and local business sponsors such as Higgins Hopkins McLain & Roswell and Wells Fargo Advisers. Under President Erick Ochoa (since 2011) and School Director Diego Carranza (since September 2023), the operating model is structurally traditional: no proprietary technology platform is disclosed, instructional and library delivery is classroom- and print-based, and fundraising is event-led. The combination of SEP-accredited K-12 delivery, scholarship pipeline, English-language programming, and a community library creates a 17-year track record of embedded local presence, with the 2017 Palapa Learning Center opening representing the single largest physical-asset expansion in its history.

Name

THE PALAPA SOCIETY OF TODOS SANTOS, A.C.

Legal name

The Palapa Society of Todos Santos, A.C.

Website

https://palapasociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Palapa Society of Todos Santos, A.C. is a Mexican non-profit operating an SEP-certified K-12 school, English-language programs, ~90 annual scholarships, and a community library in Todos Santos, BCS, funded primarily through donations and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Education and Non-profit K-12 Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural, Multilingual & Immigrant Family Engagement Programs (EDACALAL), Family-School Collaboration & Inclusion Planning Support (EDAKABAK)

Keywords

• Community education programs
• English language classes
• Scholarship funding
• Community library services
• K-12 private school

Headquarters

HQ city

Todos Santos

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Primary revenue source comes from charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and organizations. The organization accepts US tax-deductible gifts through the International Community Foundation and direct donations. Major donors and sponsors support specific programs, facilities, and scholarships.
2. Program Fees: Modest program fees for Bridge to English classes ($130 MXN/month), Children's Art Program ($150 MXN bi-monthly), and library memberships ($500 new, $300 renewal) help offset program costs while keeping services accessible to the local community.
3. Event Revenue: Fundraising events including Baja Under the Stars gala ($225-$275 per person), Todos Santos Music Festival, Historic Home Tour, Tianguis (yard sale), and art auctions generate revenue while promoting the organization's mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Palapa Society operates an integrated educational ecosystem serving youth and adults in Todos Santos, Baja California Sur. Core offerings include an SEP-certified private middle and high school (The Palapa School) for over 120 students, a BECA scholarship program awarding approximately 90 scholarships annually to public-school and university students, after-school English language classes (Puente al Inglés/Bridge to English) for over 170 children and 90 adults, the Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska bilingual community library with over 9,000 items, a Children's Library, and enrichment programs including art, robotics, and summer swim safety. Programs are delivered directly on the Palapa Learning Center campus, with operations funded primarily through donations, grants, and fundraising events.

Product overview

The Palapa Society of Todos Santos, A.C. is a non-profit educational organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offering is The Palapa School, a private SEP-certified school providing middle and high school education. Supporting the school are the BECA Scholarship Program for additional students, Puente al Inglés for English language learning (children and adults), and the Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska bilingual library with its Children's Library branch. The organization also offers enrichment programs including a Summer Swim Safety Program, Children's After School Art Program, and operates from the Palapa Learning Center campus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Palapa School

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90 scholarships awarded annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Denver Botanic GardenscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 September 2017Venue partner for the annual Baja Under the Stars fundraising gala in Denver, Colorado. The event transforms lives through education and celebrates the opening of the Palapa Learning Center. Ticket holders receive free pass to the Gardens.
• Hotel CaliforniacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for the annual Todos Santos Music Festival. The legendary Hotel California hosts performances benefiting The Palapa Society.
• Vaso Loco, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany founded by Peter Buck to curate and present the Todos Santos Music Festival benefiting The Palapa Society. Handles festival organization, artist curation, and ticket sales.
• Elena PoniatowskacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned Mexican journalist and author. The community library is named Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska in her honor. Participated in the Palapa Learning Center Grand Opening in November 2017 with panel discussion and special evening events.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Proeducación: Mexico-based nonprofit focused on education quality and scholarships for low-income students; directly comparable to Palapa's BECA scholarship and school-quality mission.
• EDUCA (Educación y Desarrollo Comunitario): Mexico-based NGO focused on improving education quality and access in underserved communities; comparable to Palapa in serving semi-rural Mexican populations with donor-funded school-support programs.
• Fondo María: Mexico-based non-profit operating educational programs in semi-rural communities, with a similar mix of donor-funded scholarships, school programs, and English-language initiatives. Closely mirrors Palapa's community-school-plus-scholarship model.

Emerging players

• Teach for All: Global network of independent country-level education nonprofits; relevant because Palapa's School Director Diego Carranza is a Teach for All alumnus, signaling talent-flow and conceptual overlap in school-leadership models.
• International Youth Foundation: Global nonprofit supporting youth education, employability, and leadership programs; comparable in targeting youth education and leadership outcomes for underserved populations.

Others

• International Community Foundation (ICF): US-based fiscal sponsor that channels tax-deductible US donations to Mexican non-profits like Palapa; included as a structural peer given Palapa's reliance on ICF's US giving channel.

Regional players

• Los Cabos Children's Foundation: Regional Baja California Sur-focused children's charity funding education and welfare programs near Palapa's service area; comparable donor-base geography and beneficiary profile.

Broad incumbents

• Casa de la Amistad para Niños con Cáncer: Established Mexican nonprofit using donor-funded programs to serve vulnerable children; comparable as a donor-driven Mexican civil association (A.C.) operating community programs at a similar scale.
• Save the Children Mexico: Major international NGO operating education programs for underserved Mexican children and youth; broader scope and scale than Palapa but addresses the same education-access mission in Mexico.
• UNICEF Mexico: UN agency funding education, child welfare, and adolescent programs across Mexico; comparable in donor-supported mission targeting education access in semi-rural and underserved Mexican communities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkcxtarNS0d5EOG9jYyCcfA
• Facebookfacebook.com/palapasociety.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-palapa-society-of-todos-santos-a.c.
• Instagraminstagram.com/palapasocietyoftodossantos

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries5 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 THE PALAPA SOCIETY OF TODOS SANTOS, A.C.