Ahla Foundation, Inc.

Name

Ahla Foundation, Inc.

Legal name

AHLA Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://www.ahlafoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality Workforce Development

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH)

Keywords

• Hospitality workforce development
• Industry scholarship programs
• Anti-trafficking training
• Hospitality apprenticeship programs
• Professional certification funding

Headquarters

HQ city

S Central Washington Co

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AHLA Foundation is a nonprofit foundation that delivers workforce development, education, and social impact programs for the U.S. hotel and lodging industry. Its core offerings include academic and professional development scholarships, Department of Labor-funded apprenticeship programs, the Empowering Youth Program, the FORWARD women's leadership initiative, the No Room for Trafficking (NRFT) initiative with free online training modules, Leadership Academy DE&I training, mentorship programs, and a DEI Best Practices Resource Center. All programs are offered free of charge to recipients and funded entirely by charitable donations from hospitality industry donors.

Product overview

AHLA Foundation is a non-profit educational foundation dedicated to helping people build careers, improve their lives, and strengthen the lodging industry. The organization operates a portfolio of workforce development programs including academic scholarships (offering $1M+ annually to hospitality students), apprenticeship programs (Department of Labor-funded 9-12 month training in lodging management, hotel cooking, and maintenance), the Empowering Youth Program for entry-level recruitment, Professional Development Scholarships for certifications including CHA®, and the FORWARD women’s leadership initiative with annual conferences and BUILD & ELEVATE year-long development programs. Additional programs include mentorship, Leadership Academy for DE&I executive training, the No Room for Trafficking (NRFT) initiative with free ECPAT-USA training modules and survivor fund grants, and a DEI Best Practices Resource Center with Korn Ferry diagnostic tools. The foundation also invests $5M in DEI programs, $370K annually in Opportunity Youth training, and has facilitated 2.2M+ specialized anti-trafficking trainings since 2020.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• No Room for Trafficking (NRFT): Initiative to combat human trafficking in the hospitality industry, including survivor fund grants, training, and awareness programs.
• FORWARD
• Leadership Academy
• Apprenticeship Program

Products and services

• Academic Scholarships More than $1 million in academic scholarship funds available annually to students attending 2-year and 4-year institutions offering hospitality degrees. Students apply through an online scholarship application portal.
• Apprenticeship Program Department of Labor-funded 9-12 month apprenticeship program combining on-the-job learning with online learning and mentoring. Three apprenticeship pathways: lodging manager, hotel cook, and maintenance employee. Apprentices earn industry certifications upon completion.
• Empowering Youth Program Recruits young adults for entry-level positions, providing training, tools, and support leading to permanent careers in hospitality. Invests $370,000 annually in Opportunity Youth training.
• FORWARD Women's Leadership Initiative Women's leadership initiative with annual conferences, BUILD & ELEVATE year-long leadership development programs, and networking community for women in hospitality. Addresses underrepresentation in hospitality leadership.
• Mentorship Program Fosters personal and professional connections and develops leaders at all levels of the hospitality industry through structured mentorship pairings.
• Professional Development Scholarships Covers cost of certification study guides, examination fees, and certification fees for professional certifications in 20+ hospitality industry positions, including the CHA-Certified Hotel Administrator.
• No Room for Trafficking (NRFT) Initiative Comprehensive initiative providing free online anti-trafficking training modules through ECPAT-USA, signage, sample policies, and survivor fund grants to community-based organizations serving human trafficking survivors. Has delivered 2.2M+ training completions since 2020.
• Leadership Academy Executive-level DE&I training program for hospitality industry leaders. Comprised of 10 interactive learning hours over five months including kickoff session and online sustainment sessions. Curriculum developed with Korn Ferry.
• DEI Best Practices Guide & Resource Center Comprehensive resource hub providing guidance on starting and accelerating DE&I journeys for brands, owners, and management companies. Includes Korn Ferry diagnostic tools and topics ranging from setting strategy to inclusive hiring processes.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• ECPAT-USAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 August 2026Partnership to provide free online training modules for hotel industry employees on human trafficking awareness, prevention, and survivor identification. The training is part of the No Room for Trafficking initiative.
• Korn FerrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for DEI diagnostic tool to help organizations assess how their behaviors promote a diverse and inclusive workplace, along with Leadership Academy curriculum development.
• U.S. Department of LaborcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAHLA Foundation serves as intermediary for Department of Labor apprenticeship contract to expand registered apprenticeship programs in hospitality. The program combines on-the-job learning with online learning and mentoring.
• PearsoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Pearson's AcceleratED Pathways program to offer hotel employees access to debt-free associate degrees and low-cost bachelor's degrees. Pilot program launched in 2018 with 10 hotel companies across 1,500 properties.
• Grads of LifesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit partner for Empowering Youth Project, committing $500,000 in grants for local community organizations to train opportunity youth for hospitality careers.
• Jobs for the FuturesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in $1.8 million Department of Labor award to create new career opportunities through hospitality sector registered apprenticeships.
• National Restaurant Association (NRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership combining AHLA and NRA educational institutes to enhance hospitality training, certification capabilities, and educational products. Includes $400,000 contribution to Opening Doors to Opportunity campaign.
• American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization and primary partner. AHLA Foundation is the not-for-profit affiliate of AHLA, working in tandem to educate the future hospitality workforce, research industry trends, and empower the industry.
• American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization providing hospitality certification and training programs. Combined with AHLA through partnership with National Restaurant Association.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA): The parent trade association of AHLA Foundation. AHLA is the sole national association representing all U.S. lodging segments; the foundation is its nonprofit charitable affiliate. Closely aligned mission, leadership, and donor base.
• UNITE HERE: Labor union representing hotel and food service workers. Broader incumbent with overlapping target population (hotel workers) and complementary workforce/advocacy mission.

Direct peers

• American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI): Sister organization providing hospitality certification and training. AHLEI was combined with the National Restaurant Association's educational institute, creating parallel training/certification capabilities to AHLA Foundation's scholarship and apprenticeship work.
• National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation: Direct workforce development peer in the adjacent restaurant industry. Runs the ProStart and Restaurant Ready programs; partners with AHLA Foundation on the Opening Doors to Opportunity campaign ($400K contribution).
• Castell Project: Nonprofit advancing women in hospitality leadership. Merged into AHLA Foundation in 2022 to form the FORWARD initiative — directly comparable in mission and target audience.
• American Culinary Federation Education Foundation: Provides culinary scholarships, certification, and apprenticeship pathways. Direct peer for hospitality workforce education, certification, and scholarship administration.
• Tourism Cares: Nonprofit foundation serving the broader travel and tourism industry through grants, scholarships, and workforce programs. Comparable scope (industry-supported, donor-funded, US-focused).
• ECPAT-USA: Anti-trafficking nonprofit that co-developed the AHLA Foundation's NRFT training modules. Operates the adjacent anti-human-trafficking awareness program in the same industry.

Emerging players

• Jobs for the Future: National nonprofit focused on workforce development and equitable career pathways. Co-recipient of a $1.8M DOL apprenticeship grant with AHLA Foundation; comparable in apprenticeship program design.
• Year Up: Workforce development nonprofit serving opportunity youth — directly comparable to AHLA Foundation's Empowering Youth Program and Opportunity Youth initiatives ($370K annual investment).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ahlafoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/AHLAfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-hotel-&-lodging-educational-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/ahlafoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Ahla Foundation, Inc.