Somali American Council Of Oregon (SACOO)

What Somali American Council Of Oregon (SACOO) does

Somali American Council of Oregon (SACOO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization founded in 2011 by Musse Olol and headquartered at 12409 NE Glisan St., Portland, Oregon. Its mission is to empower the Somali community in Oregon by facilitating connections with state and federal agencies and promoting cultural expression and diversity. The organization operates a portfolio of culturally responsive social service programs — healthcare navigation (Oregon Health Plan enrollment and a Providence-affiliated in-office clinic), housing and utility assistance, youth development (tutoring, crime prevention, Learn and Earn internship), transportation access (TriMet passes), unemployment navigation, refugee support, chronic disease and elder wellness workshops, tobacco prevention, and cultural programming such as Somali Independence Day and sewing classes. Programs are delivered free to community members through a ~18–20-person staff of bilingual program coordinators and case managers, supplemented by volunteers.

The underlying operating model is community-led: awareness and intake flow through word-of-mouth, cultural events, partner referrals, and a light digital footprint (WordPress website, Instagram, monthly newsletter). SACOO is not a technology company; its "platform" is the staffed facility, the case management workflow, and the relationships with municipal, county, state, healthcare, and foundation partners. Revenue is grant-dependent, drawn from City of Portland, Multnomah County, Washington County, Clackamas County, Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Department of Human Services, foundations (Collins, Meyer Trust, Spirit Mountain, Seeding Justice, Portland Children's Levy), health systems (CareOregon, Kaiser, Health Share, Providence, Trillium), and individual donations processed through Zeffy, with marginal facility-rental income from the community room.

2025 marked a period of significant scaling: 984 AC units installed under the Climate Resilience Program with the City of Portland, 310 new OHP applications processed, rental assistance to 179 households, $163,038 in Afghan refugee direct assistance, and the launch of multiple new programs (Afghan Refugee Support, Learn and Earn Internship, Fentanyl Prevention, Digital Literacy). Governance is provided by a board including a Board Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and members drawn from public safety, legal, civic, and consulting backgrounds, with a founder-led executive team.

Name

Somali American Council Of Oregon (SACOO)

Legal name

Somali American Council of Oregon

Website

https://sacoo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SACOO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2011 in Portland, Oregon, providing culturally responsive social services — healthcare navigation, housing assistance, youth programs, and cultural programming — to the Somali community and other refugees across Oregon through a bilingual, grant-funded staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Response & Search-and-Rescue (SAR) (BPAGAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Asylum & Refugee Status Determination (RSD) Support (BPADAHAB), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Immigrant and refugee support
• Health plan enrollment
• Housing assistance programs
• Youth education support

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland, Oregon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: SACOO receives donations from individual donors through its website (Zeffy platform) and direct mail campaigns to support its community programs and operations.
2. Donation-based Funding: SACOO uses Zeffy for donations with 100% of donations going to the organization's mission, indicating all funds collected from donors flow directly to programs.
3. Facility Rental Income: SACOO rents its community room to outside groups for events, meetings, celebrations, workshops, and classes. Rental fees are charged for use of the facility including tables, chairs, and optional equipment like microphones and projectors.
4. Grants and Government Contracts: SACOO receives funding from government agencies (City of Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Department of Human Services) and foundations to operate health, housing, youth, and refugee support programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SACOO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization that delivers free social services to the Somali community in Oregon, including Oregon Health Plan enrollment, housing and utility assistance, chronic disease self-management workshops, youth tutoring and crime prevention, transportation assistance, unemployment navigation, and refugee family support. The organization also operates a community room rental program and hosts cultural events such as the Somali Independence Day Celebration.

Product overview

The Somali American Council of Oregon (SACOO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization offering a portfolio of social services and community programs rather than a unified technology product. Its core offerings include healthcare navigation (Oregon Health Plan enrollment assistance), housing assistance, youth crime prevention, tobacco prevention, elder health classes, chronic disease management workshops, academic tutoring, transportation assistance, unemployment support, refugee assistance, and an in-office health clinic. Additional programs include youth development initiatives such as the Learn and Earn Internship, Homework Open Space, and Shop with Cop events, as well as cultural programs like the Somali Independence Day Celebration and Sewing Program. SACOO also operates a facility rental service for community room bookings and publishes a monthly newsletter. These programs are standalone community services rather than modules of an integrated platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Oregon Health Plan (OHP) & Health Resources Helps community members navigate Oregon Health Plan enrollment, access health resources, and connect with social determinants of health support. Free service for community members.
• Housing Assistance & Services Provides critical housing assistance, improves housing stability, and increases access to long-term housing opportunities for vulnerable households through rental and utility assistance referrals.
• Youth Crime Prevention Provides education, achievement support, mentorship, and case management to young people in the community to prevent youth involvement in crime.
• Tobacco Prevention Engages youth and community members through education campaigns, outreach events, and awareness activities to reduce tobacco use.
• Healthy Heart Community wellness initiative with blood pressure monitoring, nutrition workshops, group walks, and weekly fresh produce distribution.
• Diabetes & Chronic Disease Self-Management Workshops Six-week evidence-based workshop series to help adults manage chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, with a culturally adapted Somali version offered.
• Academic Support & Tutoring Partners with Urban League and DDOA to provide tutoring services to students in grades 2-12 with wraparound support including FAFSA assistance and family support.
• TriMet / Transportation Assistance Supports community members in accessing public transportation through the HOP Fastpass program with pass registration and distribution.
• Unemployment Assistance Provides unemployment navigation services including filing initial unemployment claims, Oregon Paid Leave applications, and follow-up requests.
• Afghan Refugee & Family Support Provides emergency assistance including gift cards, food boxes, and housing assistance to Afghan refugees and families.
• Providence Clinic (In-Office Health Clinic) Partners with Providence Medical Group to host a health clinic twice a month providing direct healthcare services to community members.
• AC / Climate Resilience Program In partnership with the City of Portland, installs air conditioning units in households to support families during extreme heat events.
• Learn and Earn Internship 5-week paid internship program for youth providing work experience while building confidence and preparing for future careers.
• Homework Open Space Open space for students to do homework, study, and get extra support every Friday, expanded to Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• Shop with Cop Event where kids shop for back-to-school clothes and essentials while building positive connections with police, in partnership with Portland Police Bureau.
• Somali Independence Day Celebration Annual celebration of Somalia's Independence Day bringing together families, youth, elders, and friends for culture and celebration.
• Spring Sewing Program Partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation's Multnomah Arts Center offering sewing skills classes to youth and elders.
• Community Room Rentals Spacious and versatile community room available for rent for meetings, celebrations, workshops, or special events, with capacity up to 135 guests. Includes tables, chairs, restrooms, kitchen access, and optional equipment such as microphone, speaker, projector, Smart Board, and 85" TV.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served 237 Afghan refugees with $163,038 in direct assistance (2025)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Portland Parks & Recreation - Multnomah Arts Center (MAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-sponsored Spring Sewing Program with 24 participants (12 youth, 12 elders). Plans to continue offering sewing classes every term.
• BienestarminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community partner organization listed as a supporting partner of SACOO.
• CareOregoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Healthcare organization partner supporting health programs and OHP enrollment assistance.
• City of PortlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Primary government partner providing funding for housing, climate resilience (AC units), and general community programs.
• Clackamas CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025County government partner providing funding and support for community services.
• Health SharecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Health organization partner supporting health programs and community wellness initiatives.
• KaiserminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Healthcare provider partner supporting health programs.
• Multnomah CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025County government partner providing funding and support for community services.
• Oregon Health Authority (OHA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025State health agency partner supporting OHP enrollment and health programs.
• Oregon Employment DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025State agency partner supporting unemployment assistance services.
• Oregon Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Food bank partner supporting food assistance programs.
• POIC (Portland Impact on Crime)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Youth services partner supporting youth programs.
• ProvidencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Healthcare partner operating an in-office clinic twice monthly at SACOO, serving approximately 96 clients in 2025.
• Sunshine DivisionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner supporting Shop with Cop event and community assistance.
• Trillium HealthminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Health organization partner supporting community health programs.
• TriMetminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Transit authority partner for transportation assistance, helping distribute Hop Cards and transit passes.
• Washington CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025County government partner providing funding and support for community services.
• Work SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Workforce development partner supporting employment services.
• Oregon Department of Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025State agency partner supporting SNAP benefits and human services programs.
• Portland Parks & RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Government partner providing facility access and co-sponsoring programs including the Multnomah Arts Center sewing program.
• Urban LeagueminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner for tutoring services to students grades 2-12.
• DDOAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner for tutoring services and academic support.
• Portland Police BureauminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner for Shop with Cop event helping kids shop for back-to-school clothes.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Africa House (Portland): Portland-based nonprofit serving African immigrant and refugee communities with cultural, educational, and integration services. Closest ethnic-community peer to SACOO within the African diaspora space.
• El Programa Hispano Católico: Gresham/Portland-based nonprofit providing education, housing, and health navigation to Latino immigrants. Directly comparable to SACOO's service model and target demographic (immigrants needing bilingual case management).
• Catholic Charities of Oregon: Statewide faith-based nonprofit offering refugee resettlement, housing assistance, immigration legal services, and health navigation. Comparable to SACOO in service breadth and reliance on government contracts.
• APANO (Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon): Statewide equity-focused coalition serving Asian and Pacific Islander communities with civic engagement, health access, and youth programs. Strongly comparable to SACOO as an ethnic-community-based nonprofit serving immigrants in Oregon.
• Centro Cultural de Washington County: Cornelius, Oregon-based Latino community organization offering workforce, education, housing, and health programs. Comparable to SACOO on county-coverage, immigrant community focus, and reliance on state/county grants.
• Lutheran Community Services Northwest: Regional nonprofit delivering refugee resettlement, mental health, and senior services across Oregon and Washington. Compares to SACOO on refugee case management and culturally responsive programming.
• Urban League of Portland: Portland affiliate of the National Urban League providing workforce development, youth education, and housing stability services to communities of color. Direct partner with SACOO on K-12 tutoring, comparable on youth-ed and case management.
• NAYA (Native American Youth and Family Center): Portland-based culturally specific nonprofit serving Native American/Alaska Native families with youth, education, housing, and health programs. Strong analog to SACOO on culturally-rooted service model and grant funding mix.
• Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO): Portland-based nonprofit providing resettlement, case management, employment, and youth services to immigrants and refugees. Most direct peer to SACOO given overlapping geography, population (refugees/immigrants), and service mix.

Broad incumbents

• Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon: Interfaith Oregon nonprofit addressing poverty, housing, and refugee integration through multiple programs. Comparable to SACOO on refugee and housing services, but broader and more established.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/sacoo.pdx
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/somali-american-council-of-oregon-sacoo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Somali American Council Of Oregon (SACOO)