Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation

What Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation does

Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation (AIISF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1983 that serves as the official community steward of the Angel Island Immigration Station, a National Historic Landmark located in San Francisco Bay. The foundation preserves and interprets the site of the largest immigration port on the West Coast (1910-1940), which processed approximately 500,000 immigrants from 80 countries and is commonly referred to as the "Ellis Island of the West." AIISF operates the Detention Barracks Museum and the Angel Island Immigration Museum (AIIM, opened 2022), and serves three primary constituencies: K-12 students and educators, descendants of past immigrants and the general public, and corporate/foundation donors. The foundation is led by Executive Director Edward Tepporn with a small staff of four key personnel plus a 10-member Board of Directors.

The foundation's product portfolio spans physical sites and digital assets. Physical offerings include the historic immigration station site, the Detention Barracks Museum (admission: $5 adults, $3 youth), the AIIM (free admission), and guided tours ($7 adults). Digital products include the Poetry Finder tool housing 150+ Chinese poems with audio recordings in multiple dialects, the PORTS distance learning video conferencing program aligned to Common Core standards, multiple virtual exhibitions (Voices of Resilience, Tastes of Home, Lighting the Darkness, Angel Island Mosaic), the CyArk 3D Barracks Tour, and the VAULT digital archive. Educational services include Immigrant Journeys Curriculum guides for Grades 3-12, virtual field trips, traveling exhibits available for rent, and field trip scholarships for Title 1 schools. Genealogical research resources integrate with FamilySearch, NARA, and Ancestry.com.

AIISF's revenue is generated through donations and charitable contributions (its primary revenue stream as a 501(c)(3) with Federal Tax ID 94-2909759), modest museum and field trip admission fees, corporate sponsorships, and competitive grants. The foundation has leveraged approximately $40 million since 1994 for site development, including a $15 million state bond measure approved by California voters in 2000, a $3.6 million California Cultural and Historical Endowment grant (2007), $3.35 million in federal appropriations (2008), and $2.952 million for museum construction (2017). Distribution occurs through Angel Island State Park ferry access (Golden Gate Ferry and Angel Island Tiburon Ferry), the California State Parks field trip booking system, the AIISF website, Google Arts & Culture, and the traveling exhibits program. The foundation was named to the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 2026 list of America's Most Endangered Historic Places.

Name

Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation

Legal name

Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation

Website

https://aiisf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves the Angel Island Immigration Station historic site and operates two museums, educational programs, digital archives, and field trips serving K-12 students, immigrant descendants, and the general public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage Preservation and Immigration History Education

NAICS

Historical Sites (71212), Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC), UNESCO & Protected Landmark Sites (THAJACAI)

Keywords

• Heritage preservation
• Immigration history education
• Museum operations
• Cultural site stewardship
• Historical archive access

Headquarters

HQ city

South San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: AIISF operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Federal Tax ID 94-2909759) relying on public donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants to fund site preservation, educational programs, and museum operations.
2. Museum Admission and Tour Fees: The Detention Barracks Museum charges admission ($5 adults, $3 youth, free for children 4 and under) and guided tour fees ($7 adults, $5 youth, $3 child). The Angel Island Immigration Museum (AIIM) offers free admission.
3. School Field Trip Revenue: School tours at $3 per person. Field trip scholarships funded by donor contributions are available for Title 1 public K-12 schools to cover transportation and ticket costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation preserves and interprets the historic Angel Island Immigration Station site through museum operations (Detention Barracks Museum and Angel Island Immigration Museum), educational programming (PORTS distance learning, K-12 field trips, curriculum guides), digital archives (Poetry Finder tool, The Vault), traveling exhibits, and community events including Story Circles and annual Immigrant Heritage Awards.

Product overview

Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation operates a portfolio of heritage preservation and educational offerings centered on the historic Angel Island Immigration Station. The core visitor experience includes the Detention Barracks Museum and the Angel Island Immigration Museum (AIIM), with complementary digital products including the Poetry Finder tool and Virtual Exhibits. Educational services include the PORTS Distance Learning Program, Immigrant Journeys Curriculum guides, and Virtual Field Trips for K-12 students. The Foundation also maintains The Vault digital archive, offers Family Records Research resources, runs Community Story Circles, and hosts the annual Immigrant Heritage Awards program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Detention Barracks Museum A museum housed in the historic detention barracks where visitors can walk through recreated living conditions and learn about immigrant detention and exclusion from 1910 to 1940. Admission is $5 adults, $3 youth, free for children 4 and under.
• Angel Island Immigration Museum (AIIM) A museum housed in the former immigration hospital that presents personal stories, public policies, and social issues from Angel Island's history through today. Free admission is offered to the public.
• AIIS Poetry Finder A digital tool that allows users to explore, read, listen to, and reflect on over 150 Chinese poems and inscriptions carved into the detention barracks walls by immigrants, with audio recordings in Cantonese, Dowmoon, Fah Yuen, Heungshan, and Toishanese dialects.
• PORTS Distance Learning Program A live, interactive video conferencing program that enables students to engage with the Angel Island Immigration Station, bridging distance and economic gaps. Designed as a four-lesson unit meeting Common Core standards for 11th graders.
• Immigrant Journeys Curriculum Curriculum guides for Grades 3-12 containing lessons, student worksheets, primary source documents, historical photographs, and resources to introduce students to the experience of immigrants on Angel Island.
• The Vault A digital archive exploring special topics related to the Angel Island Immigration Station's history, drawing upon historical records, immigration documents, and archival material.
• Immigrant Heritage Awards Annual awards program recognizing individuals whose work bears witness to the exceptional contributions of immigrants, especially those of Asian heritage.
• Virtual Exhibits Online exhibitions including Angel Island Mosaic, Lighting the Darkness, Taken From Their Families, Angel Island Immigration Museum Virtual Exhibition, Voices of Resilience, Tastes of Home, and CyArk 3D Barracks Tour for remote access to Angel Island's history.
• Community Story Circles Weekly community gatherings on Zoom where participants engage in storytelling about personal connections to belonging and immigrant experiences.
• Family Records Research Resources and guides to help descendants discover their ancestor's journey through Angel Island, providing access to immigration records and databases via partnerships with FamilySearch, NARA, Ancestry.com, and USCIS.
• Traveling Exhibits Rental Program Traveling exhibits including Taken From Their Families, A Cage Built of Jade, and Angel Island Mosaic available to rent for schools, museums, libraries, and galleries.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40 million visitors historically processed at Port of San Francisco during station operation (1910-1940)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California State ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIISF serves as the official nonprofit fundraising partner and community steward of the Angel Island Immigration Station site, working closely with California State Parks for site preservation, restoration, and visitor services.
• Golden Gate FerrycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFerry service departing from San Francisco Ferry Building (Gate B) providing access to Angel Island. Ferry ticket includes park admission. Preferred route for those wanting Golden Gate Bridge views.
• Angel Island Tiburon FerrycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFerry service departing from Tiburon (21 Main Street), crossing Raccoon Strait in 10 minutes. Offers affordable parking nearby and charming shops and restaurants.
• CyArkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCyArk created a 3D virtual tour of the Detention Barracks, enabling remote exploration of the site with 24 points of interest and exhibition content.
• Google Arts & CultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Google Arts & Culture to present 'An Immigrant's Journey' exhibit, enabling global digital access to Angel Island's history.
• FamilySearchcoreTechnology or IntegrationAIISF directs visitors to FamilySearch.org for San Francisco Passenger Lists (1893-1953) and Held for Special Inquiry Records (1910-1941) to support genealogical research.
• National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)coreTechnology or IntegrationNARA San Bruno holds over 76,000 immigrant files for those born before 1920. AIISF provides research guidance and request procedures for accessing these records.
• Facing History and OurselvesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIISF curriculum referenced and distributed through Facing History and Ourselves' platform for inquiry-based teaching about borders and belonging.
• KQEDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKQED developed lesson plan units and a video-short 'Discovering Angel Island' for classroom use alongside AIISF resources.
• AncestryClassroomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIISF provides a link to AncestryClassroom for educators to access historical record collections for student genealogy research.
• The Statue of Liberty – Ellis Island FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIISF President Thomas Tolentino serves as COO of The Statue of Liberty – Ellis Island Foundation, creating a natural partnership between the two premier U.S. immigration heritage sites.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tenement Museum: A New York-based nonprofit museum that interprets U.S. immigration history through preserved tenement buildings. Shares AIISF's focus on immigrant storytelling, K-12 educational programming, and site-based interpretation; comparable in mission, scale, and audience.
• Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation: The preeminent U.S. immigration heritage site on the East Coast. The most directly comparable peer: a 501(c)(3) that preserves and interprets an iconic immigration station, shares a board president (Thomas Tolentino), and operates a museum and educational programming on a parallel model to AIISF.
• Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA): A New York-based museum dedicated to Chinese American history and the broader Chinese diaspora experience. Comparable in focus on Chinese immigrant narratives, exclusion-era history, and community-based storytelling—directly overlapping with AIISF's core content library.
• Angel Island State Park: The California State Park that physically contains the Angel Island Immigration Station site. AIISF is the official nonprofit steward and fundraising partner for the immigration station within this park; not a competitor but the operational partner that controls physical site access and stewardship.
• Wing Luke Museum: A Seattle-based Asian American history museum that preserves immigrant and refugee stories. AIISF Program Coordinator Gabriel Lee previously worked here, demonstrating a direct pipeline between the two organizations. Compares on cultural-heritage focus, education programming, and Asian American narrative.
• Chinese American Museum: A Los Angeles-based museum housed in the historic Garnier Building, focused on Chinese American history and heritage in the American West. Highly comparable to AIISF in subject matter, West Coast focus, and historic-site museum model.
• Japanese American National Museum: A Los Angeles-based museum focused on Japanese American history and broader Asian Pacific American experiences. A directly comparable peer in size, scope, and audience, operating a museum, traveling exhibits, and educational programming around Asian American immigration and exclusionary policy.

Regional players

• Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy: A Bay Area nonprofit that supports several National Park Service sites in the San Francisco region. Comparable as a regional parks-supporting nonprofit that raises funds, operates programming, and partners with government entities, but focused on a different site portfolio.
• California Historical Society: A statewide nonprofit that preserves and interprets California history. Comparable as a peer California historical institution with similar grant-funding model, but operates more broadly across California history rather than focusing on a single immigration site.

Broad incumbents

• National Trust for Historic Preservation: The national nonprofit preservation organization that named Angel Island to America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2026. A broader incumbent in the historic preservation field, providing national-scale programming, advocacy, and grant funding that AIISF depends on.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AIISForg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aiisforg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation