USC Race and Equity Center
The USC Race and Equity Center is a USC-based nonprofit research and professional learning organization that conducts racial equity research, administers the NACCC campus climate survey (1.4M+ undergraduates surveyed), and provides DEI consulting, professional learning, and pay equity analyses to 700+ educational institutions, corporations, government agencies, and sports organizations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What USC Race and Equity Center does
The USC Race and Equity Center is a university-based research and professional learning organization housed within the USC Rossier School of Education, operating as a nonprofit unit of the University of Southern California. Founded in 2011 at the University of Pennsylvania and relocated to USC in 2017, the center conducts rigorous interdisciplinary research on diversity, equity, and inclusion with an emphasis on racial equity in educational and workplace settings. It serves educational institutions (K-12 schools, districts, colleges, and universities), corporations, government agencies, and sports teams and leagues through consulting engagements, professional learning programs, leadership academies, and policy and pay equity analyses.
The center's core technology is the National Assessment of Collegiate Campus Climates (NACCC), a peer-reviewed, expert-validated quantitative survey instrument administered to more than 1.4 million undergraduates since 2019. It is developing a trio of quantitative workplace climate surveys targeting businesses, colleges and universities, and K-12 schools. Research produced by the center's scholars has been cited in over 20,000 published studies, and its work has been featured by The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, CNN, ESPN, and NPR, among others.
The center's revenue model combines grant funding from foundations and government agencies (including the Bill & Melinda Gates, Lumina, Ford, Kellogg, Sloan, Open Society, and Walmart Foundations, plus the U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation) with professional services revenue from consulting contracts and professional learning engagements. Over 700 institutions and organizations have engaged the center, generating more than $51 million in cumulative grants, contracts, and investments during founder Shaun Harper's 14-year tenure as executive director. The center is currently led by executive director Jessica DeCuir-Gunby, who succeeded Harper in October 2024.
USC Race and Equity Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- USC Race and Equity Center
- Legal name
- USC Race and Equity Center
- Website
- https://race.usc.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The USC Race and Equity Center is a USC-based nonprofit research and professional learning organization that conducts racial equity research, administers the NACCC campus climate survey (1.4M+ undergraduates surveyed), and provides DEI consulting, professional learning, and pay equity analyses to 700+ educational institutions, corporations, government agencies, and sports organizations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
USC Race and Equity Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- DEI Research and Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Equity, Inclusion & Civil Rights Reporting (Disparities, Access, Outcomes) (EDADAIAH)
Keywords
Where USC Race and Equity Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
USC Race and Equity Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Research Grants: Grants from foundations and government agencies funding research and programs
- Professional Services: Consulting, strategy advising, leadership coaching, and DEI professional learning experiences provided to organizations
- Contracts: Contracts with educational institutions, corporations, and government agencies for assessment and advisory services
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
USC Race and Equity Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The USC Race and Equity Center conducts applied research and delivers paid consulting, assessment, and professional learning services focused on racial equity. Its flagship product is the National Assessment of Collegiate Campus Climates (NACCC), a large-scale survey instrument deployed at more than 100 colleges and universities, complemented by customized campus and workplace climate assessments, DEI strategy advising, and executive education for institutional leaders in higher education, K-12, corporations, government, and professional sports.
Product overview
The USC Race and Equity Center is a university-based research and professional services organization that offers a portfolio of assessment tools, research reports, and professional learning programs. Its core offerings include the National Assessment of Collegiate Campus Climates (NACCC) survey instrument, workplace climate surveys, DEI strategy consulting services, and professional learning experiences including academies and institutes for K-12 and higher education institutions. The center also produces research reports on racial equity topics and provides consulting to businesses, government agencies, and sports organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- National Assessment of Collegiate Campus Climates (NACCC)
Quantifiable outcome
- NACCC survey administered to 1.4 million+ undergraduates
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use USC Race and Equity Center
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
USC Race and Equity Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
USC Race and Equity Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
USC Race and Equity Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Race Forward: National racial justice organization that produces research, publications, and training on structural racism. Directly comparable to the USC Race and Equity Center as a research-and-practice organization advancing racial equity across institutions and communities.
- National Equity Project: Education equity organization providing coaching, leadership development, and capacity-building for K-12 and higher education institutions. Closely comparable in mission, services (equity leadership academies, advising), and target customer base of schools and districts.
- The Winters Group: DEI strategy and leadership development firm working with corporations, governments, and nonprofits. Directly comparable in providing DEI professional learning, strategy advising, and leadership coaching to enterprise clients.
- Cook Ross Inc. DEI consulting firm serving Fortune 500 corporations and government agencies with leadership coaching, climate assessments, and inclusion strategy. Comparable as a commercial DEI professional services and assessment provider for businesses.
- The Education Trust: Education equity advocacy and research organization focused on closing opportunity gaps for students of color and low-income students in K-12 and higher education. Comparable as a research-driven equity organization serving educational institutions and policymakers.
- DiversityInc: DEI media, benchmarking, and consulting organization serving Fortune 500 companies with data-driven equity assessments and strategy. Comparable in providing workplace climate benchmarking and DEI strategy advising to enterprises.
- Aspen Institute Education & Society Program: Policy and research program focused on equity in education, producing reports and convening leaders. Comparable in producing influential education research and advising policymakers on equity issues.
- PERTS (Stanford University): Stanford-based research center that develops and administers quantitative surveys to assess educational environments and student experiences. Closely comparable as a university-based center producing validated campus climate and equity assessment instruments.
Broad incumbents
- Center for Creative Leadership: Established leadership development and research organization offering DEI, coaching, and executive education services globally. Comparable as a broader incumbent in leadership coaching and equity-oriented professional learning for organizations.
- RAND Corporation Education Division: Large, established research organization producing rigorous policy research on education equity and outcomes. Comparable as a research-driven organization conducting large-scale education equity studies for government and foundation clients.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
USC Race and Equity Center social profiles
Digital presenceUSC Race and Equity Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
USC Race and Equity Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
USC Race and Equity Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
USC Race and Equity Center 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 USC Race and Equity Center
What does USC Race and Equity Center do?
The USC Race and Equity Center conducts applied research and delivers paid consulting, assessment, and professional learning services focused on racial equity. Its flagship product is the National Assessment of Collegiate Campus Climates (NACCC), a large-scale survey instrument deployed at more than 100 colleges and universities, complemented by customized campus and workplace climate assessments, DEI strategy advising, and executive education for institutional leaders in higher education, K-12, corporations, government, and professional sports.
Is USC Race and Equity Center a public or private company?
USC Race and Equity Center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was USC Race and Equity Center founded?
USC Race and Equity Center was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is USC Race and Equity Center based?
USC Race and Equity Center is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does USC Race and Equity Center make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Research Grants are the primary driver. The others are professional Services and contracts.
Who are USC Race and Equity Center's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Race Forward, National Equity Project, The Winters Group, Cook Ross Inc., The Education Trust, DiversityInc, Aspen Institute Education & Society Program and PERTS (Stanford University). Broad incumbents are Center for Creative Leadership and RAND Corporation Education Division.
Does USC Race and Equity Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for USC Race and Equity Center.
What industry is USC Race and Equity Center in?
USC Race and Equity Center's product category is DEI Research and Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADAIAH, Equity, Inclusion & Civil Rights Reporting (Disparities, Access, Outcomes). Its NAICS code is 611710.