El Centro
El Centro is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in New Orleans providing free financial literacy, business development, and tax preparation services in Spanish to Latino individuals and small business owners in Southeast Louisiana through cohort programs, workshops, and one-on-one coaching.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersNew Orleans, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What El Centro does
El Centro Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2018 and headquartered at 901 Convention Center Blvd. in New Orleans, Louisiana, that delivers financial literacy, business development, and free tax preparation services exclusively in Spanish to Latino individuals and small business owners in Southeast Louisiana. Its program portfolio is a suite of cohort-based and workshop-based services rather than a unified software product: Camino Financiero (8-week financial wellness cohort), IMPÚLSATE (6–7 week construction and janitorial business accelerator funded by Capital One), Atrevete (4-week aspiring-entrepreneur accelerator), Las Musas (monthly women entrepreneur gatherings), VITA Latinx (free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), a physical business incubator, the annual Cumbre Empresarial summit, and biweekly Empoderate NOLA workshops. A newer add-on is an AI-powered website creation tool offered through a partnership with Webneed.
The organization operates with a lean team of 1–10 employees and serves participants entirely free of charge. Funding flows from three streams: individual donations (tax-deductible under 501(c)(3) status), government and foundation grants (notably a $450,000 City of New Orleans American Rescue Plan Act grant awarded in January 2024), and corporate sponsorships (Capital One, United Way of Southeast Louisiana). Its go-to-market motion is community-led: outreach runs through the Mexican Consulate in New Orleans, partner referrals from community organizations, social media (Instagram, Facebook), email newsletters, and media appearances on Telemundo 42, CNN, Fox 8 Live, and in VIVA NOLA Magazine. El Centro is the only Latinx-focused VITA site within 90 miles of Greater New Orleans, and it has reported outcomes including 11,800+ individuals served, 1,500+ consultations, 400+ tax returns filed since 2020, and 150+ Camino Financiero graduates since launch.
El Centro firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- El Centro
- Legal name
- El Centro Inc
- Website
- https://elcentrola.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- El Centro is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in New Orleans providing free financial literacy, business development, and tax preparation services in Spanish to Latino individuals and small business owners in Southeast Louisiana through cohort programs, workshops, and one-on-one coaching.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
El Centro industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Financial Education and Nonprofit Small Business Support Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (6117), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Financial Literacy, Budgeting & Personal Finance (EDAMAHAE), Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA), Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM)
Keywords
Where El Centro is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Orleans
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
El Centro business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: El Centro relies on donations from the community to support operations and keep services free for participants. Donations are tax-deductible as it is a 501(c)(3) organization.
- Government Grants and Funding: El Centro received $450,000 from the City of New Orleans as part of the Economic Mobility in Motion project funded by American Rescue Plan Act money.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Programs like IMPÚLSATE are supported by corporate sponsors such as Capital One.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Free | Free Programs - All services are provided at no cost |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
El Centro product offering
Product offeringCore offering
El Centro is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free, culturally competent financial literacy education and entrepreneurial training exclusively in Spanish to Latino individuals and small business owners in Louisiana. Its portfolio includes cohort-style financial wellness and business accelerator programs (Camino Financiero, IMPÚLSATE, Atrevete), free tax preparation through the VITA Latinx site, monthly empowerment workshops (Las Musas, Como Iniciar una Empresa), a physical business incubator, and the annual Cumbre Empresarial business summit. All services are provided at no cost to participants, funded by donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.
Product overview
El Centro is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization based in Louisiana that provides culturally competent financial literacy and entrepreneurial training programs exclusively in Spanish. Its portfolio is organized as a suite of programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include: Camino Financiero (8-week financial wellness cohort program), IMPÚLSATE (6-7 week accelerator for construction/janitorial businesses), Atrevete (4-week accelerator for aspiring entrepreneurs), Las Musas (monthly women's empowerment workshops), and VITA Latinx (free tax preparation). These are supplemented by the annual Cumbre Empresarial business summit, physical business incubator space, Empoderate NOLA biweekly workshops, and monthly Como Iniciar una Empresa sessions delivered in partnership with Louisiana SBDC. A recent addition is an AI-powered website creation tool via a Webneed partnership. Programs are delivered free of charge in Spanish and target the Latino community in south Louisiana.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- IMPÚLSATE Intensive 6-7 week accelerator program in Spanish combining classes and one-on-one business coaching for entrepreneurs in construction and janitorial industries. Covers business registration, digital marketing, accounting, access to capital, legal requirements, and insurance. Supported by Capital One.
- Camino Financiero 8-week cohort-style financial wellness program in Spanish covering credit, credit scores, debt management, personal budgeting, and building savings. Each cycle includes 4 workshops and 2-3 personalized coaching sessions; offered twice yearly to Spanish-speaking individuals in Louisiana.
- VITA Latinx Free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program exclusively serving Spanish-speaking taxpayers with household incomes of $69,000 or less. Tax returns are prepared by IRS-certified volunteers; El Centro is the only Latinx-focused VITA site within 90 miles of the Greater New Orleans area, operated in partnership with United Way of Southeast Louisiana.
- Atrevete 4-week accelerator program for aspiring entrepreneurs, addressing the lean canvas model, the 4 Ps of marketing, startup budgeting, and legal and licensing steps to form a business. Delivered in Spanish.
- Las Musas Monthly workshop series for Latina women entrepreneurs featuring stories from empowered professional women, networking opportunities, and tools for personal and professional success. Delivered in Spanish.
- Como Iniciar una Empresa Monthly workshop hosted in partnership with the Louisiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC), covering how to start a business, business feasibility, planning, registration, licensing, and common entrepreneurial pitfalls. Delivered in Spanish.
- Incubadora (Business Incubator) Physical co-working and office incubator space providing private offices, receptionist services, transferable phone lines, furnished offices, internet, printer access, conference rooms, and 2 hours of monthly advisory coaching. Designed to accelerate growth of early-stage Latino-owned businesses.
- Cumbre Empresarial Annual Spanish-language business summit bringing together Latino entrepreneurs, guest speakers, and community partners for plenary sessions, breakout sessions, and leadership development workshops.
- Empoderate NOLA Ongoing biweekly workshops and individual coaching sessions covering how to start and register a business, obtain business licenses and permits, strategic planning, marketing, accounting, accessing commercial capital, personal credit, financial counseling for home buying, saving, and debt management. Delivered in Spanish.
Quantifiable outcome
- 11,800+ individuals served since 2018
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use El Centro
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
El Centro technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
El Centro partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered key, supporting and core.
- SBDC (Louisiana Small Business Development Center)keyKey community partner for the 4th annual Cumbre Empresarial. SBDC provides expertise and resources for the Latino Business Summit.
- Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana FoundationkeyKey community partner supporting the Cumbre Empresarial business summit. The chamber supports El Centro's mission to empower Latino entrepreneurs.
- ECCO Community CentersupportingCommunity partner for the 2025 Cumbre Empresarial summit, helping build a future full of opportunities for the Latino community.
- Families United in ActionsupportingCommunity partner providing support during immigration sweeps and helping provide food to families most in need.
- La Voz NOLAsupportingCommunity partner for the 2025 Cumbre Empresarial summit.
- Dress for SuccesssupportingCommunity partner for the 2025 Cumbre Empresarial summit.
- Mexican Consulate in New OrleanscoreInitial founding partnership to launch El Centro services. The consulate provides office hours, informational meetings, and a series of summits at their Convention Center Blvd. location, enabling El Centro to reach the Latino community through consulate services.
- United Way of Southeast LouisianacorePartnership with United Way of Southeast Louisiana to deliver VITA Latinx tax preparation services. El Centro serves as the only volunteer income tax assistance site dedicated solely to serving the Spanish-speaking community within 90 miles of the Greater New Orleans Area.
- Credit Builders AlliancecoreEl Centro is a member of the Credit Builders Alliance, which supports its financial literacy and credit building programs.
- Broad Community ConnectionskeyPartnered with El Centro to go directly to local businesses during immigration sweeps, providing handouts and signage in Spanish and English about rights.
- PuentessupportingCommunity partner that provides resources and support for immigrant communities, including through their L.U.N.A. initiative that collaborated with El Centro on social media coverage of events.
- WebneedsupportingAI-powered website creation platform that El Centro partnered with to offer website building services to the Latino business community.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
El Centro competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Accion: National nonprofit microfinance and small business support organization providing capital and education to underserved entrepreneurs - operates at significantly greater scale than El Centro.
- Grameen America: National nonprofit microlender providing small-dollar business loans and financial education to low-income women entrepreneurs - adjacent mission serving a similar target population.
- LiftFund: Large multi-state CDFI providing microloans and small business training - comparable mission and El Centro founder Lindsey Navarro spent 8 years at LiftFund before founding El Centro.
- National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB): National membership network of Latino-focused CDFIs and asset-building nonprofits; El Centro's founder sits on NALCAB's board, indicating direct ecosystem overlap.
- UnidosUS: Largest U.S. Latino civil rights and community development organization running financial empowerment and small business programs nationally - much larger scale, but operates in the same asset-building space.
Direct peers
- Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC): Washington DC-area nonprofit providing bilingual small business technical assistance, microlending, and workforce training to Latino entrepreneurs - functionally analogous to El Centro's IMPÚLSATE and Atrevete programs.
- Mi Casa Resource Center: Denver-based nonprofit delivering bilingual small business development, adult education, and workforce training to Latino families - directly comparable in target population and service design.
- The Resurrection Project: Chicago-based Latino community development nonprofit offering asset-building, small business support, and financial education programs - comparable to El Centro's community-led economic mobility model.
- Hispanic Unity of America: Florida-based nonprofit providing small business development, financial literacy, and tax assistance to immigrant communities - similar services, though serving a different region.
- Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA): San Francisco-based Latino-serving nonprofit providing bilingual business development, microlending, and financial education to Latino entrepreneurs - a closely comparable mission and service mix to El Centro.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
El Centro social profiles
Digital presenceEl Centro financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
El Centro leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
El Centro funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
El Centro 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 El Centro
What does El Centro do?
El Centro is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free, culturally competent financial literacy education and entrepreneurial training exclusively in Spanish to Latino individuals and small business owners in Louisiana. Its portfolio includes cohort-style financial wellness and business accelerator programs (Camino Financiero, IMPÚLSATE, Atrevete), free tax preparation through the VITA Latinx site, monthly empowerment workshops (Las Musas, Como Iniciar una Empresa), a physical business incubator, and the annual Cumbre Empresarial business summit. All services are provided at no cost to participants, funded by donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.
Is El Centro a public or private company?
El Centro is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was El Centro founded?
El Centro was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is El Centro based?
El Centro is headquartered in New Orleans, United States, in the North America region.
How does El Centro make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are government Grants and Funding and corporate Sponsorships.
Who are El Centro's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Accion, Grameen America, LiftFund, National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB) and UnidosUS. Direct peers are Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), Mi Casa Resource Center, The Resurrection Project, Hispanic Unity of America and Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA).
Does El Centro have an API?
No public API is recorded for El Centro.
What industry is El Centro in?
El Centro's product category is Community Financial Education and Nonprofit Small Business Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAFAK, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education, with a secondary code of EDAMAHAE, Financial Literacy, Budgeting & Personal Finance. Its NAICS code is 6117 and its SIC code is 8200.