SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
The Somali Bantu Association of America is a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009 that provides free legal, education, financial, food, health, and youth services to Somali Bantu, East African, and Afghan refugees across five sites in San Diego, Salt Lake City, and Indianapolis, funded primarily by government and foundation grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA does
The Somali Bantu Association of America (SBAOA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009 and headquartered in San Diego, California, that provides free comprehensive resettlement services to refugees and immigrants — primarily Somali Bantu and broader East African populations, with a growing Afghan newcomer program. Its service portfolio spans immigration legal services (citizenship, asylum, green card, family reunification, TPS), English language instruction at seven levels, vocational training (sewing, IT, job readiness), financial empowerment through the IDA/ASSET asset-building program, a weekly food pantry serving over 2,000 families, youth mentoring and substance-use prevention, mental health and disability support, and tax preparation via the VITA program. The organization operates five physical sites across San Diego (four locations), Salt Lake City, and Indianapolis, and reports touching more than 30,000 refugee families in 2024. Its business model is grant-funded: revenue derives from federal contracts (Office of Refugee Resettlement, California Department of Social Services), foundation grants (Conrad Prebys, Satterberg, Price Charities, San Diego Foundation), and corporate partnerships (San Diego Food Bank, SDG&E). All services are provided free to eligible refugees with less than five years U.S. residency, with low-cost options for longer-term residents. SBAOA's only disclosed technology asset is a proprietary in-house client intake system launched in February 2024, designed to manage sensitive refugee case files securely; the organization has no commercial products, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities.
SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
- Legal name
- Somali Bantu Association of America
- Website
- https://sbaoa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Somali Bantu Association of America is a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009 that provides free legal, education, financial, food, health, and youth services to Somali Bantu, East African, and Afghan refugees across five sites in San Diego, Salt Lake City, and Indianapolis, funded primarily by government and foundation grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Services
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Community Food Services (624210), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Immigrant & Refugee Community Education (Integration/Navigation) (EDAAAFAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Financial & Consumer Integration (Banking, Credit, Taxes) (EDAAADAG), Newcomer & Refugee Student Support Programs (EDAJAGAH), Meal Program Compliance & Administration (NSLP/SBP, Reimbursements) (EDAEAEAC), Community Health, Health Promotion & Behavior Change (SBCC) (BPADAIAL)
Keywords
Where SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Nonprofit Grant Funding: SBAOA operates as a nonprofit organization primarily funded through government grants (Office of Refugee Resettlement, California Department of Social Services), foundation grants (Conrad Prebys Foundation, Satterberg Foundation), and corporate partnerships. Services are provided free to eligible refugees with less than 5 years residency.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free tier for new refugees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SBAOA provides free legal, education, health, financial, food, and youth support services to refugees and immigrants, with a specialization in Somali Bantu and East African communities as well as Afghan newcomers. The organization runs ESL courses, immigration legal services, a weekly food pantry, youth and vocational programs, financial empowerment through the IDA/ASSET program, and case management — operating across walk-in centers, training facilities, and food pantry sites in San Diego, Salt Lake City, and Indianapolis.
Product overview
SBAOA is a nonprofit refugee services organization that offers a comprehensive portfolio of programs designed to help refugees and immigrants integrate into American society. The organization operates multiple interconnected service lines including: education services (ESL courses, digital literacy, IT training), legal services (immigration assistance, citizenship preparation), financial empowerment (Asset Program, IDA/ASSET), community support (Food Pantry serving 2,000+ families weekly, Youth Program), skills training (We Dream vocational courses, Sewing & Dressmaking certification), healthcare (Health Program for refugees with disabilities and mental health challenges), and mental health awareness (Tea & Talk program). The organization also operates specialized Afghan-focused programs including ANSP, ALSP, ARSI, and Clear Path Afghan. SBAOA is not a technology product company but rather a service nonprofit that developed an internal intake system for client management purposes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Afghan Newcomers Support Program (ANSP)
- Afghan Refugee School Impact (ARSI) – ARSI 2.0
- Afghan Legal Services Project (ALSP)
- Afghan Community Support
- ARSI—S2S (Support to Schools)
- Enhanced Services for Asylees and Vulnerable Noncitizens (ESAVN)
- Onward Travel Support Program
- ESL Courses
- Immigration Services
- Food Pantry
- Asset Program (IDA/ASSET)
- We Dream
- Youth Program
- Tea & Talk (Stop the Hate)
- Health Program
- Job Readiness
- Refugee Youth Substance Use Prevention Initiative
- VITA Tax Preparation
- IT & Computer Training
- Sewing & Dressmaking
- Digital Literacy for Refugees
- Clear Path ESCH
- Clear Path Afghan
- Rebirth: The Conrad Prebys Foundation
- Revolutionary Intake System
- Arts and Crafts Program
- IDA/ASSET (Individual Development Account)
- Stop the Hate
Quantifiable outcome
- 30,000+ refugee families served annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered moderate, core and minor.
- SDG&EmoderateEnergy Solutions Partner relationship, with SBAOA represented at SDG&E's 2024 Energy Solutions Partner Year-End Event.
- San Diego Food BankcorePartnership for food pantry operations, with SBAOA recognized at the Nonprofit Partner Recognition Luncheon for commitment to serving the community.
- EY CompanyminorCorporate volunteer program where 20 EY staff members volunteered at the food pantry, serving over 2,000 individuals.
- USCRI/USCIScorePartnership with U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for the citizenship program, providing essential support for immigrants navigating the citizenship process including detailed citizenship classes and procedural guidance.
- California Department of Social Services (CDSS)coreYouth Mentoring Program partnership providing mentorship and leadership development opportunities for refugee youth in City Heights.
- Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)corePartnership for IDA/ASSET program providing financial assistance to refugees in the U.S. less than five years, promoting opportunities for home and vehicle purchases, business starting, and education.
- ISUROONmoderatePartnership to bridge financial resources from the global stage to San Diego's minority refugee women. SBAOA CEO attends CDFI meetings with ISUROON leadership.
- Catalyst of San DiegomoderatePartnership for the Tea & Talk mental health awareness program, promoting mental wellness and encouraging open conversations about mental health.
- San Diego FoundationmoderateParticipation in San Diego Foundation Community Health Network convening, collaborating with community leaders and healthcare advocates to strengthen collective impact on community health.
- Asian Business Association San DiegominorCoffee meeting collaboration with Chief Wahls at the Asian Business Association to explore ways to better serve the community together.
- United Taxi Workers of San DiegomoderatePartnership for community events and mutual recognition, including hosting events together and award recognitions.
- California Department of Social Services (Afghan Programs)corePartnership for Afghan Community Support program helping recent arrivals obtain driver's licenses through Operation Allies Welcome support.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- International Rescue Committee (IRC): One of the largest refugee resettlement and humanitarian assistance organizations in the U.S. and globally. Comparable because it serves refugees with similar wraparound services (ESL, immigration legal, employment, health), but at far larger scale across 29+ U.S. cities.
- HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society): Jewish-founded refugee resettlement agency serving refugees of all backgrounds nationally. Provides similar legal, resettlement, and integration services and competes for the same federal/state refugee funding contracts.
- Catholic Charities USA: One of the largest U.S. social service networks operating refugee resettlement, immigration legal, and social services programs across hundreds of locations. Comparable service breadth but vastly larger scale and broader target population.
Direct peers
- USCRI (U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants): National refugee resettlement and immigration services organization that directly partners with SBAOA on the citizenship program. Offers similar services (resettlement, anti-trafficking, refugee health) and competes for similar federal refugee funding streams.
- Alliance for African Assistance: San Diego-based nonprofit serving African refugees and immigrants with resettlement, ESL, employment, and cultural orientation services. Competes with SBAOA for the same African refugee population in San Diego County.
- RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services): Texas-based nonprofit providing free and low-cost immigration legal services and refugee resettlement support. Comparable mission and services (legal aid, education, resettlement) but focused on Texas border regions.
- Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC): Nonprofit serving African refugees and immigrants with resettlement, employment, and case management services. Comparable focus on supporting African diaspora communities in the U.S. with similar program models.
Regional players
- Jewish Family Service of San Diego: San Diego-based social services organization running refugee resettlement, immigration legal, and senior services programs. Comparable service portfolio and same local market, though broader mandate beyond refugee services.
- San Diego Refugee Tutoring: San Diego-based volunteer organization providing free tutoring and educational support to refugees. Operates in the same geographic market with overlapping educational programs (ESL, digital literacy) but is much smaller in scope.
Others
- Refugee Food Assistance (various county programs): Network of food banks and emergency food providers serving refugee populations. SBAOA's food pantry program (2,000+ families weekly) is comparable in scope to these regional food assistance programs targeting refugee communities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA social profiles
Digital presenceSOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
What does SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA do?
SBAOA provides free legal, education, health, financial, food, and youth support services to refugees and immigrants, with a specialization in Somali Bantu and East African communities as well as Afghan newcomers. The organization runs ESL courses, immigration legal services, a weekly food pantry, youth and vocational programs, financial empowerment through the IDA/ASSET program, and case management — operating across walk-in centers, training facilities, and food pantry sites in San Diego, Salt Lake City, and Indianapolis.
Is SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA a public or private company?
SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA founded?
SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA based?
SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA make money?
One revenue line is on record: nonprofit Grant Funding.
Who are SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are International Rescue Committee (IRC), HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) and Catholic Charities USA. Direct peers are USCRI (U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants), Alliance for African Assistance, RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services) and Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC). Regional players are Jewish Family Service of San Diego and San Diego Refugee Tutoring. Refugee Food Assistance (various county programs) is listed as an others.
Does SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA have an API?
No public API is recorded for SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA.
What industry is SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA in?
SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA's product category is Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAFAH, Immigrant & Refugee Community Education (Integration/Navigation), with a secondary code of EDAAADAG, Financial & Consumer Integration (Banking, Credit, Taxes). Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.