The Pico Union Project
The Pico Union Project is a Los Angeles nonprofit community center, founded in 2013 and housed in LA's oldest synagogue, offering free food, health, education, and cultural programs to Pico-Union neighborhood residents and funded by donations and venue rentals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, CA, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Pico Union Project does
The Pico Union Project is a Los Angeles–based nonprofit community center founded in 2013 by Craig and Louise Taubman, operating from what is described as LA's oldest synagogue building in the Pico-Union neighborhood. The organization delivers free programs to neighborhood residents, including Vida Sana (food distribution combined with health services), Cultura (free classes), a Monthly Resource Day that connects participants with social services, and High Holy Days events. Its service population is the local Pico-Union community, with programming oriented toward food insecurity, health access, education, and cultural/religious observance.
The organization's revenue model is a mix of charitable contributions and earned income. Donations and grants from individuals and institutional funders — including the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles — constitute the philanthropic base, while venue rentals of the historic synagogue space represent an emerging earned-revenue stream. The organization runs with a small staff of 1–10 employees and offers all direct programs to participants free of charge.
In March 2026 the organization underwent a leadership transition with the appointment of Serena Oberstein as Interim Executive Director, a change from prior founding-era executive direction. The organization's competitive position rests on its historic real estate asset, integrated multi-program service model, and established neighborhood and funder relationships, rather than on technology or proprietary intellectual property. No technology product, platform, or AI capability is disclosed or implied.
The Pico Union Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Pico Union Project
- Legal name
- Pico Union Project
- Website
- https://picounionproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Pico Union Project is a Los Angeles nonprofit community center, founded in 2013 and housed in LA's oldest synagogue, offering free food, health, education, and cultural programs to Pico-Union neighborhood residents and funded by donations and venue rentals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Pico Union Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Center and Social Services
- NAICS
- Religious Organizations (8131), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)
Keywords
Where The Pico Union Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles, CA
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Pico Union Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, foundations, and community members that directly fund community programs. The organization states that all donations are tax deductible and love affirming.
- Venue Rentals: Rental income from booking the historic Pico Union building for concerts, events, and community gatherings. The venue is described as a beautiful historic space available for events.
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
The Pico Union Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Pico Union Project runs free, in-person community programs from LA's oldest synagogue building, including weekly fresh produce distribution and health clinics (Vida Sana), weekly music and art classes (Cultura), and monthly resource distribution events. It supplements donations and grants by renting its restored sanctuary as a venue for concerts, events, and religious observances such as High Holy Days.
Product overview
The Pico Union Project is a community center nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of community programs and facility services. The core offerings include Vida Sana (weekly food distribution and health services), Cultura free weekly classes (piano, art, guitar), Monthly Resource Day events, and venue rentals of their historic Los Angeles building. Programs are free to community members and include health services, creative expression classes, and volunteer opportunities. The organization does not offer a unified technology product platform but provides in-person community services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cultura: Weekly free classes program including guitar, art, piano, and music instruction
- Vida Sana
- Monthly Resource Day
Products and services
- Vida Sana Weekly program distributing free fresh produce and offering nutrition education alongside a healthcare clinic with COVID-19 vaccines, boosters, and testing, targeted at neighbors in the Pico Union neighborhood.
- Cultura: Weekly Free Classes at PUP Weekly free educational classes in piano, organ, art, and guitar offered to community members of all ages at the Pico Union Project facility.
- Free Community Art Class Weekly free art instruction class taught by artist and teacher Angelica Garcia on Wednesdays, open to community members.
- Monthly Resource Day Monthly event held on the third Wednesday of each month that provides community resources and support services to neighborhood residents.
- Venue Rentals Rental of the historic Pico Union building, including the restored sanctuary with Star of David window, for concerts and events.
- High Holy Days Events Religious observance events for the Jewish High Holy Days at the Pico Union Project, with tickets sold through the Ticket Tailor platform.
Companies that use The Pico Union Project
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Pico Union Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Pico Union Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
The Pico Union Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hebrew Free Loan Association (LA): Hebrew Free Loan Association provides interest-free loans and emergency assistance to LA residents regardless of background. Comparable as a Jewish-roots community services organization operating inclusive support programming in LA.
- Netiya: Netiya is an LA-based Jewish food justice network supporting community gardens and food access in underserved neighborhoods. Directly comparable to Pico Union's combination of Jewish heritage, LA geography, and food-security programming.
- IKAR: IKAR is a progressive Jewish congregation in Los Angeles that pairs spiritual practice with social justice programming. Comparable as a faith-rooted LA-based organization operating at the intersection of Jewish heritage and inclusive community impact.
- Repair the World: Repair the World mobilizes Jewish volunteers around service to address poverty, education, and food insecurity. Comparable as a Jewish-values-driven service organization pairing volunteerism with community programs serving vulnerable populations.
- Avodah: Avodah mobilizes Jewish young adults into anti-poverty service and community organizing. Comparable as a Jewish-values-driven nonprofit running programming that combines service delivery with community building for underserved populations.
- JCC of Greater Los Angeles: The JCC of Greater LA operates Jewish-affiliated community centers across LA offering classes, cultural programs, and community gathering. Directly comparable in mission, faith-rooted positioning, and mixed programming/revenue model to Pico Union Project's synagogue-based community center.
- SOVA Community Food and Resource Program: Jewish Family Service LA's SOVA program runs a free pantry and resource services for LA residents facing food insecurity. Directly comparable to Pico Union's Vida Sana food distribution, including the Jewish-roots operating model and LA service footprint.
Emerging players
- Food Forward: Food Forward is an LA-based nonprofit that rescues surplus produce and distributes it to communities facing food insecurity. Directly comparable to Pico Union's Vida Sana free fresh-produce program in mission and LA geography.
- LA Regional Food Bank: LA Regional Food Bank is the largest food distribution nonprofit serving LA County. Comparable operating segment (food distribution to vulnerable populations) and overlapping LA geography with Pico Union's Vida Sana program.
Broad incumbents
- Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles: Jewish Federation of Greater LA is the regional umbrella philanthropy and community services organization serving Jewish LA. It is a broader incumbent that funds community programs like Pico Union Project and operates overlapping social/welfare programming across a wider portfolio.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Pico Union Project social profiles
Digital presenceThe Pico Union Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Pico Union Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
The Pico Union Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Pico Union Project 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 The Pico Union Project
What does The Pico Union Project do?
The Pico Union Project runs free, in-person community programs from LA's oldest synagogue building, including weekly fresh produce distribution and health clinics (Vida Sana), weekly music and art classes (Cultura), and monthly resource distribution events. It supplements donations and grants by renting its restored sanctuary as a venue for concerts, events, and religious observances such as High Holy Days.
Is The Pico Union Project a public or private company?
The Pico Union Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Pico Union Project founded?
The Pico Union Project was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Pico Union Project based?
The Pico Union Project is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Pico Union Project make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are venue Rentals.
Who are The Pico Union Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hebrew Free Loan Association (LA), Netiya, IKAR, Repair the World, Avodah, JCC of Greater Los Angeles and SOVA Community Food and Resource Program. Emerging players are Food Forward and LA Regional Food Bank. Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The Pico Union Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Pico Union Project.
What industry is The Pico Union Project in?
The Pico Union Project's product category is Community Center and Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAJAA, Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues). Its NAICS code is 8131 and its SIC code is 8600.