Serve Your City DC
Serve Your City DC is a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) mutual aid non-profit serving Black and Brown K-12 youth, families, unhoused individuals, and elderly residents through year-round food distribution, tutoring, enrichment programs, digital device distribution, and advocacy under a solidarity-not-charity model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Serve Your City DC does
Serve Your City DC (also operating as Serve Your City/Ward 6 Mutual Aid or SYC/W6MA) is a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) non-profit mutual aid organization founded in 2009 by Maurice Cook. The organization operates as the Ward 6 hub for DCMutualAid and runs a portfolio of community programs targeting Black and Brown K-12 youth, families earning under $50,000 annually, unhoused individuals, and elderly residents in DC. Its core programs include the #WeKeepUsSafe Back to School Bash & Youth Festival (annual backpack and digital device distribution), the Free School for Unlimited Youth (year-round K-12 tutoring and enrichment), the Digital Devices Training Program (teaching youth to refurbish and distribute devices), Food & Supplies Distribution (including $150,000+ of food delivered to 10,000+ families), the Chocolate City Free Diaper Blowout (1,300 diapers and 1,300 hygiene products monthly to 400 families), and Encampment Outreach (weekly supplies to approximately 150 unhoused individuals).
The organization's core technology is a custom internal delivery app developed by community members that coordinates the routing and tracking of food and supply distributions to identified individuals and families; this is not a public-facing product and the organization has no API, SDK, or disclosed integrations. Distribution is conducted through a physical supply pod at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (545 7th St. SE, headquarters), partner locations across multiple DC wards (Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, Christ United Methodist Church, ONE DC Black Workers & Wellness Center), and direct outreach to tent encampments.
Revenue is generated entirely through donations and grants, with no fees charged to beneficiaries. Funding streams include individual donations (one-time and recurring), tiered business sponsorships (Family Level at $1,000 up to Ward Level in-kind donations for 2,000 backpacks), and grants from foundations and Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (Capitol Hill Community Foundation, Foley Hoag Foundation, Sparkplug Foundation, ANC6C, ANC6B). The organization employs 11 people, is led by Executive Director Maurice Cook, and is governed by a board including Naa Sackeyfio (Chair), Moriam Animashaun (Secretary), and members Mike Coburn, Billy Mayfield, and Maddy Gitomer. Serve Your City DC reports having served 7,500+ students and 1,750+ families through the Back to School Bash since 2020 and 2,000+ individuals per week across all programs.
Serve Your City DC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Serve Your City DC
- Legal name
- Serve Your City
- Website
- https://serveyourcitydc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Serve Your City DC is a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) mutual aid non-profit serving Black and Brown K-12 youth, families, unhoused individuals, and elderly residents through year-round food distribution, tutoring, enrichment programs, digital device distribution, and advocacy under a solidarity-not-charity model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Serve Your City DC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Mutual Aid Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Food Services (624210), Community Housing Services (62422), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Volunteerism, Service-Learning & Community Service (EDALAHAG), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)
Keywords
Where Serve Your City DC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Serve Your City DC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters, forming the foundation of operational funding. The organization emphasizes recurring gifts as particularly impactful for sustainable programming.
- Business Sponsorships: Corporate and business sponsorships, particularly for the Back to School Bash event, with tiered sponsorship levels from Family Level ($1,000) to Ward Level (in-kind donations for 2,000 backpacks).
- Foundation and Grant Support: Funding from foundations and neighborhood commissions including Capitol Hill Community Foundation, Foley Hoag Foundation, Sparkplug Foundation, ANC6C, and ANC6B.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Serve Your City DC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Serve Your City DC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit mutual aid organization that delivers community-led programs for Black and Brown youth and families in Washington, DC. Its services include youth enrichment, tutoring, free school programs, food and supplies distribution, free diaper giveaways, digital equity programs (devices, internet, training), encampment outreach, and health and well-being initiatives. The organization operates as a Ward 6 hub for DC Mutual Aid, coordinating volunteers, donors, and partner organizations to provide direct aid and advocacy.
Product overview
Serve Your City/Ward 6 Mutual Aid is a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) non-profit mutual aid organization operating as the Ward 6 hub for DC Mutual Aid. Rather than a traditional tech product, the organization offers a portfolio of community programs focused on youth enrichment, food/supplies distribution, digital equity, and advocacy. Key programs include the #WeKeepUsSafe Back to School Bash (annual backpack distribution), the Free School for Unlimited Youth (year-round K-12 tutoring and enrichment), Digital Devices programs (distribution and training), Food & Supplies Distribution, Diaper Distribution (Chocolate City Free Diaper Blowout), Encampments' Outreach, and Health & Well-Being Initiatives. The organization operates under a "solidarity, not charity" model supporting Black and Brown communities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Free School for Unlimited Youth: Youth enrichment program offering free K-12 programs including tutoring, art, music, rowing, writing, and field trips.
- Digital Liberations Program
- Digital Devices Training Program
- Chocolate City Free Diaper Blowout
- #WeKeepUsSafe Back to School Bash & Youth Festival
Products and services
- #WeKeepUsSafe Back to School Bash & Youth Festival An annual back-to-school community event providing school supplies, enrichment activities, and a youth festival for Black and Brown children and families in Washington, DC.
- Free School for Unlimited Youth A free educational program offering learning opportunities for youth in Washington, DC, with a focus on Black and Brown youth.
- Tutoring Program A coordinated tutoring program providing academic support to Black and Brown youth in Washington, DC, created and run by the organization's tutoring coordinator.
- Youth Enrichment Classes Enrichment classes designed to support the social, educational, and developmental needs of Black and Brown youth served by the organization.
- Digital Devices & Internet Access Program A digital equity program that provides digital devices and internet access to community members to bridge the digital divide in Washington, DC.
- Digital Devices Training Program A training program that teaches community members how to use digital devices effectively, supporting digital literacy and self-sufficiency.
- Food & Supplies Distribution A mutual aid service that distributes food and essential supplies directly to community members experiencing need in Washington, DC.
- Chocolate City Free Diaper Blowout A recurring community event providing free diapers to families in need across Washington, DC.
- Encampments' Outreach A direct outreach service providing mutual aid to unhoused individuals living in encampments in Washington, DC.
- Health & Well-Being Initiatives Community programs supporting the health and well-being of Black and Brown residents in Washington, DC as part of the organization's broader mutual aid services.
Quantifiable outcome
- 7,500+ students and 1,750+ families supported through Back to School Bash since 2020
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Serve Your City DC
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Serve Your City DC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Serve Your City DC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Mt. Moriah Baptist ChurchcoreChurch partner location in Capitol Hill, DC providing operational space and support for Serve Your City/Ward 6 Mutual Aid programming
- Capitol Hill Arts WorkshopcoreHost location for Capitol Hill supply pod at 545 7th St. SE; partner for enrichment programming including art classes and creative activities for youth
- Christ United Methodist ChurchcorePartner location in Southwest DC providing operational space and support for community programming and diaper distribution events
- ONE DC Black Workers & Wellness CentercorePartner location in Southeast DC housing the Digital Devices Training Program; promotes racial and economic justice through sustainable employment and economic alternatives
- Always HopeminorPartner organization contributing to community support and wellness initiatives
- An Indivisible Arts CollectiveminorArts collective partner providing enrichment programming including art and creative activities for youth participants
- Unity Boat ClubminorPartner organization providing rowing enrichment opportunities for youth participants in the Free School for Unlimited Youth program
- Capitol City Circus SchoolminorPartner providing trapeze classes and circus arts enrichment for youth participants
- People for Fairness CoalitioncoreCore advocacy partner for ending criminalization of homelessness through Housing is a Human Right campaign; co-partner for Encampments Outreach Team serving unhoused neighbors
- DC Guaranteed Income CoalitionminorAdvocacy partner working to support guaranteed income initiatives through collaboration with Mother's Outreach Network
- Chi Born Free / DC Child Justice CoalitionminorAdvocacy partner working on disability and racial justice issues in District of Columbia Public Schools
- James Creek Resident CouncilminorPartner organization supporting Chocolate City Free Diaper Blowout distribution events and family wellness programs
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights10 records
Serve Your City DC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bread for the City: DC nonprofit providing food, clothing, medical care, and social services to low-income residents. Comparable geographic focus and combined direct-service plus social support model.
- People for Fairness Coalition: DC advocacy and mutual aid organization led by and for unhoused residents. SYC has a core partnership with them for Encampments Outreach, and they share housing-rights advocacy and direct outreach approaches.
- DC Mutual Aid Network: Citywide mutual aid network coordinating grassroots support across DC wards. Serve Your City DC operates as the Ward 6 hub within this network, making it a directly comparable peer in mission and operating model.
- Martha's Table: DC-based nonprofit providing food, clothing, education, and family support to underserved communities. Operates a similar mix of food distribution, youth enrichment, and family services in Washington, DC.
- Miriam's Kitchen: DC nonprofit focused on ending chronic homelessness through meals, housing, and advocacy. Comparable in serving unhoused DC residents and pairing direct service with policy advocacy.
- Thrive DC: DC nonprofit serving residents experiencing homelessness and poverty through meals, showers, laundry, and case management. Directly comparable in outreach to unhoused neighbors and direct-service delivery.
- Ward 8 Mutual Aid: Adjacent mutual aid hub operating in DC's Ward 8 under the same DCMutualAid umbrella that SYC anchors in Ward 6. Directly comparable in mutual aid organizing model and community-led service delivery.
Broad incumbents
- DC Central Kitchen: DC nonprofit that combats hunger through job training, healthy food distribution, and social enterprise. Shares food-security and workforce-development mission overlap with SYC.
- SOME (So Others Might Eat): DC-based organization providing food, housing, and workforce development to homeless and低收入 individuals. Overlaps with SYC's antihunger and unhoused-outreach work, though at a larger scale.
- Capital Area Food Bank: Regional food bank serving the DC metropolitan area. A larger, established food distribution player against which SYC's food and supply distribution operates as a neighborhood-level complement.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Serve Your City DC social profiles
Digital presenceServe Your City DC compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Serve Your City DC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Serve Your City DC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Serve Your City DC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Serve Your City DC 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 Serve Your City DC
What does Serve Your City DC do?
Serve Your City DC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit mutual aid organization that delivers community-led programs for Black and Brown youth and families in Washington, DC. Its services include youth enrichment, tutoring, free school programs, food and supplies distribution, free diaper giveaways, digital equity programs (devices, internet, training), encampment outreach, and health and well-being initiatives. The organization operates as a Ward 6 hub for DC Mutual Aid, coordinating volunteers, donors, and partner organizations to provide direct aid and advocacy.
Is Serve Your City DC a public or private company?
Serve Your City DC is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Serve Your City DC founded?
Serve Your City DC was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Serve Your City DC based?
Serve Your City DC is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Serve Your City DC make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are business Sponsorships and foundation and Grant Support.
Who are Serve Your City DC's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bread for the City, People for Fairness Coalition, DC Mutual Aid Network, Martha's Table, Miriam's Kitchen, Thrive DC and Ward 8 Mutual Aid. Broad incumbents are DC Central Kitchen, SOME (So Others Might Eat) and Capital Area Food Bank.
Does Serve Your City DC have an API?
No public API is recorded for Serve Your City DC.
What industry is Serve Your City DC in?
Serve Your City DC's product category is Community Mutual Aid Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAL, Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services, with a secondary code of EDALAHAG, Volunteerism, Service-Learning & Community Service. Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.