SAN MATEO COUNTY SHERIFFS ACTIVITIES LEAGUE

What SAN MATEO COUNTY SHERIFFS ACTIVITIES LEAGUE does

San Mateo County Sheriff's Activities League (SAL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 45-0617342) founded in 1997 by former Sheriff Don Horsley to build relationships between law enforcement, youth, and communities in San Mateo County, California. Headquartered in Redwood City with a newer Coastside facility in Half Moon Bay (opened August 2025), SAL operates a portfolio of youth development programs serving ages 6-18, including STAR Camp (a summer outdoor adventure camp at YMCA Camp Loma Mar), After School Sports (soccer, flag football, volleyball, basketball delivered at partner schools KIPP, Connect, and Clifford), Teen Leadership Council, Camp DDDojo (with Afro Bushido Academy), Moonridge Reading, Jr Giants baseball, horseback riding, and signature community events such as Shop with a Hero, Cops and Cones, and the Toy and Book Drive. The organization also partners with the U.S. Marine Corps for a formal youth mentorship program.

SAL employs 1-10 staff members and reaches over 11,000 youth annually across the county, with stated outcomes of 86% of participants showing improved academic achievement and 100% matched with positive mentors. Its revenue model is donation-driven: individual donations (with suggested tiers from $5 to $5,000), event fundraising (most notably the annual Food, Wine & Heroes gala at Peninsula Golf Club, running 27+ years), corporate/private sponsorships, and nominal program participation fees (STAR Camp $250–$300, After School Sports $60). Program fees are heavily subsidized—STAR Camp's actual per-child cost is $750—and most programs are free with financial assistance available, so fee revenue is structurally a minor share of total funding. Governance combines a Board of Directors including Sheriff, Undersheriff, and Assistant Sheriff representation with operational leadership by Acting Executive Director Mason Lok (promoted August 2025).

Name

SAN MATEO COUNTY SHERIFFS ACTIVITIES LEAGUE

Legal name

San Mateo County Sheriff's Activities League

Website

https://sheriffsactivitiesleague.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

San Mateo County Sheriff's Activities League is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1997 that delivers youth development programs—after-school sports, summer camp, mentorship, and community events—to over 11,000 youth annually across San Mateo County, California, funded primarily through donations, sponsorships, and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth and Community Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Community law enforcement engagement
• After-school sports programs
• Youth mentoring services
• Nonprofit youth outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

REDWOOD CITY, California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: SAL relies primarily on individual donations from community members. The website provides a donation portal with preset amounts ($5, $10, $20, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000, $5,000). Donations are tax-deductible as the organization is a registered 501c3 nonprofit with EIN 45-0617342.
2. Event Fundraising: SAL hosts signature fundraising events including the annual Food, Wine & Heroes event at Peninsula Golf Club. For 27+ years this event has celebrated community partners and raised funds for youth programs. Additional community events like Cops and Cones, Toy and Book Drive, and Shop with a Hero also generate community support and donations.
3. Program Participation Fees: Some programs charge nominal fees: STAR Camp $250 (actual cost $750 per child), After School Sports $60. Financial assistance is available and no child is turned away due to financial need.
4. Corporate/Private Sponsorships: SAL acknowledges sponsors on their website who support programs. Private donors funded the Shop with a Hero program ($200 shopping sprees per youth).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

San Mateo County Sheriffs Activities League (SAL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers youth development programs and activities that build positive relationships between law enforcement, youth, and the community. It runs youth-focused programs such as STAR Camp, After School Sports, Teen Leadership Council, and mentoring, primarily serving youth ages 6 to 18 in San Mateo County, California. The organization partners with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office and community groups to deliver outreach and recreational services.

Product overview

SAN MATEO COUNTY SHERIFFS ACTIVITIES LEAGUE (SAL) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering a portfolio of youth development programs focused on building bonds between law enforcement, youth, and the community. The core offerings include: STAR Camp (summer outdoor adventure camp), After School Sports (soccer, flag football, volleyball, basketball), Teen Leadership Council (TLC), and various community events (Shop with a Hero, Cops and Cones, Toy and Book Drive). Supplementary programs include Camp DDDojo (youth wellness), Moonridge Reading, Jr Giants baseball, and Horseback Riding. The organization serves youth ages 6-18 across North Fair Oaks/Redwood City, Half Moon Bay, and Pescadero, reaching over 11,000 youth annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• STAR Camp Summer camp program for youth in San Mateo County, delivered with the Sheriff's Office to provide supervised recreation and law-enforcement-engaged activities.
• After School Sports Organized after-school sports programming for local children and teens, delivered in partnership with schools and community sites.
• Teen Leadership Council Leadership development program for teenagers that builds civic engagement, public-safety awareness, and peer leadership skills.
• Youth Mentoring Program Mentoring relationships pairing community mentors and sheriff-affiliated volunteers with local youth for ongoing support and guidance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% of program participants show improved academic achievement
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United States Marine CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2025SAL partners with U.S. Marine Corps to host youth mentorship programs featuring Marine Officer Candidates, veterans, and community leaders. The program connects youth with Marines from Stanford, UC Berkeley, and beyond. Marines share leadership lessons, history (Mameluke sword tradition, challenge coins), and provide mentorship. Supported by Marine Corps Recruiting Station San Francisco, Officer Selection Stations in San Jose and Berkeley, and Recruiting Sub-Station San Mateo. This partnership has run for 15 years through Wine Country Marines and was brought to San Mateo County by James Brown.
• YMCA Camp Loma MarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYMCA Camp Loma Mar (9900 Pescadero Creek Rd, Loma Mar) hosts STAR Camp each summer. The camp provides the outdoor setting for SAL's signature summer program offering horseback riding, zip-lining, rock climbing, archery, and hiking activities for underserved youth.
• Mounted Patrol FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership provides youth with weekend horseback riding opportunities through the Mounted Patrol Foundation.
• Chaparral RanchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Chaparral Ranch provides youth with weekend horseback riding opportunities.
• Afro Bushido AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership launched Camp DDDojo - a 3-week youth wellness camp (ages 10-18) running every Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 10 AM to 2 PM. Camp focuses on physical, social, and emotional wellness through self-defense, critical decision making, and creative arts.
• Wine Country MarinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilitary nonprofit led by Marine Corps veteran James Brown (also Chairman of SAL Board) that developed the mentorship model which has been hosted for 15 years. This program was brought to San Mateo County by Mr. Brown with board support.
• Community Alliance to Revitalize Our Neighborhoods (CARON)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARON focuses on bringing educational opportunities to adults in San Mateo County. SAL works closely with CARON to provide programs for parents and families.
• KIPP SchoolscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) schools partner with SAL for after school sports programs serving 4th-8th grade students. Programs include flag football, volleyball, basketball, and soccer.
• Connect SchoolscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConnect Schools partner with SAL for after school sports programs serving 4th-8th grade students.
• Clifford SchoolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClifford School serves as a SAL school partner for after school sports programs.
• Jr. GiantsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAL coordinates Jr. Giants baseball program in Half Moon Bay. The program teaches baseball fundamentals and character development including teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship with education emphasis.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• National Police Athletic League (National PAL): National umbrella organization of which SAL is an affiliate chapter; operates the same law-enforcement-affiliated youth development model across hundreds of U.S. cities, providing the closest network and programmatic peer.
• Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula: Operates after-school and summer youth programs serving the same San Mateo County geography and similar low-income youth population, making it a directly comparable youth-development nonprofit in the same catchment.
• California PAL: State-level PAL chapter that has formally recognized SAL's leadership; coordinates and supports California PAL chapters including SAL, making it the most direct regional peer.
• YMCA of Mid Peninsula: Provides after-school programming, summer camps, and youth sports in the same Redwood City / San Mateo County area and hosts SAL's STAR Camp at Camp Loma Mar, making it both a partner and a comparable youth-services provider.
• Boys & Girls Club of North San Mateo County: Another San Mateo County youth-services nonprofit delivering after-school and summer programming to school-age youth in overlapping communities; competes for the same grant pool and donor base.

Others

• San Francisco Giants Community Fund / Junior Giants: Operator of the Junior Giants youth baseball program that SAL runs locally; a current program partner that is also a comparable youth sports and character-development provider in adjacent geographies.
• San Mateo County Office of Education: Public-sector countywide education authority that channels after-school and youth-development funding; not a competitor, but a key funding/intermediary counterpart for SAL's school-based programs.

Broad incumbents

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area: Larger, established Bay Area mentoring organization focused on one-to-one youth mentorship; overlaps with SAL's mentoring and at-risk-youth mission but does not specialize in law-enforcement partnership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SMCSAL
• Instagraminstagram.com/sheriffsactivitiesleague
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/san-mateo-county-sheriffs-activities-league

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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