Puget Sound Labor Agency

What Puget Sound Labor Agency does

Puget Sound Labor Agency (PSLA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization affiliated with the AFL-CIO, founded in 1975 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Originally established as the charitable division of the King County Labor Council at the Labor Temple in Belltown, PSLA provides food security and emergency assistance services primarily to union members and low-income individuals in the Puget Sound region. After being forced to relocate when the Labor Temple was sold in 2020, the organization opened a permanent facility at 5300 4th Ave S in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle in April 2022. The organization operates with a lean staff of approximately 3-10 employees, supplemented by volunteers and AmeriCorps members.

PSLA's core programs include a client-choice food bank operating Mondays and Wednesdays from 10AM to 1PM, an emergency assistance program branded "Operation Shortfall" that covers rent, utilities, and phone services for union members in financial crisis, and a wheelchair ramp assistance program (RAMP). The food bank serves 400-500 individuals weekly, with the organization reporting more than 30,000 client visits in Q1 2022 alone and more than 275,000 total people served since inception. The client-choice distribution model allows recipients to select items matching their household needs, distinguishing the program from traditional pre-packed food pantry formats.

PSLA's funding model is diversified across multiple small streams: individual donors (including a recurring pledge program at $10/month or $120/year via PayPal), union affiliate contributions through the Union Good Works program, retail giving programs (Amazon Smile at 0.5% and Fred Meyer Community Rewards), government grants from the City of Seattle Human Services Department and USDA TEFAP, and in-kind food donations from partners including Food Lifeline, Northwest Harvest, and the Amazon Distribution Warehouse. Key personnel include Executive Director Sam Sim (appointed in 2020 following the death of predecessor Lynn Nishimura), Food Bank Supervisor and RAMP Coordinator Lauren Au-Yeung, and Controller Brandon Kim. The organization discontinued its pop-up grocery service in 2024 due to funding cuts, indicating ongoing budget sensitivity.

Name

Puget Sound Labor Agency

Legal name

Puget Sound Labor Agency (PSLA), AFL-CIO

Website

https://pugetsoundlaboragency.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Puget Sound Labor Agency is a 501(c)(3) AFL-CIO-affiliated non-profit operating a food bank and emergency assistance programs serving union members and low-income individuals in Seattle, Washington since 1975.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Food Bank and Emergency Assistance Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

Keywords

• Food bank services
• Emergency assistance
• Nonprofit community services
• Food distribution
• Union-affiliated charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals via PayPal, with a pledge program at $10/month or $120/year. Donors can contribute via the organization's website or mailing address.
2. Union Affiliate Contributions: Financial support from affiliated unions through the Union Good Works program, which includes union locals, union members, and charitable workplace campaigns.
3. Retail Rewards Programs: Amazon Smile (0.5% of eligible purchases) and Fred Meyer Community Rewards programs generate passive donations when customers designate PSLA as their charity.
4. Government Grants and Support: Funding from City of Seattle Human Services and participation in USDA food programs (TEFAP).
5. Corporate Food Partnerships: Food product donations and partnerships with organizations like Food Lifeline, Northwest Harvest, and Amazon distribution warehouse for grocery rescue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PSLA is a Seattle-based 501c3 nonprofit that operates a client-choice food bank distributing up to 30 pounds of groceries, produce, dairy, protein, and dry goods per visit on Mondays and Wednesdays. It also runs an Emergency Assistance Program (Operation Shortfall) for union members needing help with mortgage/rent, utilities, and phone bills, and a Wheelchair Ramp Assistance (RAMP) program providing accessibility ramps to community members.

Product overview

Puget Sound Labor Agency operates as a non-profit food bank and emergency assistance organization serving the Seattle community. The organization offers three main services: the PSLA Food Bank for food distribution, the Emergency Assistance Program (Operation Shortfall) for financial support with housing and utilities, and Wheelchair Ramp Assistance (RAMP) for disability access. Founded in 1975 by local labor unions, PSLA serves anyone in need regardless of income or area code, with distribution hours on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PSLA Food Bank Client-choice food distribution service providing up to 30 pounds of groceries, fresh produce, dairy, protein, grains, and dry goods to food-insecure individuals and families in Seattle every Monday and Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Georgetown location. Also distributes pet supplies and hygiene products.
• Emergency Assistance Program (Operation Shortfall) Program that helps union members with emergency mortgage/rent assistance, utilities support, and phone provider services to decrease living costs and provide opportunities for economic and personal independence.
• Wheelchair Ramp Assistance (RAMP) Program providing wheelchair ramp installation assistance to community members in need, coordinated by the RAMP Coordinator position.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30,000+ clients served in Q1 2022 alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Food LifelinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor food supplier partner providing bulk food products to PSLA on a weekly basis. One of the primary sources of food inventory for distribution.
• Northwest HarvestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey food supplier partner contributing to PSLA's weekly food inventory for distribution to clients in need.
• City of Seattle Human ServicescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment funder providing financial support for food bank operations and community services.
• United Way King CountycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor nonprofit partner providing funding and support for PSLA's food distribution programs.
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW46)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliated union providing ongoing financial and volunteer support to PSLA as part of Union Good Works program.
• International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC19)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliated union providing continued support to PSLA as part of Union Good Works initiative.
• WSDA The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDA program connecting surplus produce, meat, dairy, and dry goods with food banks like PSLA.
• Amazon Distribution WarehouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Amazon distribution warehouse partnership for grocery rescue, providing rescued food products to PSLA for distribution.
• Equinox StudioscoreOthersCommunity space provider in Georgetown where PSLA currently operates its food bank after relocating from Showbox SODO.
• Showbox SODOminorOthersTemporarily provided 10,000+ sq ft space for two months during PSLA's relocation after Labor Temple sale in late 2020.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ballard Food Bank: Seattle neighborhood-level food bank serving food-insecure residents. Directly comparable as a community-based food bank operating in the same metro area with similar client-choice distribution model.
• Hopelink: King County social services nonprofit providing food, housing, and emergency assistance. Directly comparable as a multi-service Seattle-area social assistance nonprofit offering emergency aid alongside food programs.
• Northwest Harvest: Washington state's largest hunger relief agency, operating food distribution across the state. Comparable to PSLA as a regional food bank partner and peer in the same food assistance supply chain.
• Food Lifeline: Seattle-based food bank and hunger-relief nonprofit that supplies and distributes food across Western Washington. Directly comparable as a community food assistance organization operating in the same Seattle geography and overlapping donor/supplier ecosystem.
• Solid Ground: King County anti-poverty nonprofit offering food, housing, and emergency assistance programs. Comparable as a Seattle-area direct social service peer providing food and financial assistance to vulnerable residents.

Regional players

• Mary's Place Seattle: Seattle nonprofit focused on emergency shelter and housing for families experiencing homelessness. Comparable as a regional social assistance organization addressing adjacent basic-needs services in the same geography.

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: National hunger-relief network supporting a vast network of food banks including Northwest Harvest. Comparable as the dominant broad-incumbent governing food bank operations at scale across the US.

Emerging players

• United Way King County: Regional funder and convening organization supporting basic-needs nonprofits in King County. Comparable as a funding and ecosystem partner for community food and emergency assistance programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PugetSoundLaborAgency
• Instagraminstagram.com/aseattlefoodbank
• Xx.com/psla_foodbank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/puget-sound-labor-agency-afl-cio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Puget Sound Labor Agency