SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

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.

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

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

• Refugee resettlement services
• Immigration legal services
• English language instruction
• Workforce development programs
• Community food assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered moderate, core and minor.

• SDG&EmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2024Energy Solutions Partner relationship, with SBAOA represented at SDG&E's 2024 Energy Solutions Partner Year-End Event.
• San Diego Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Partnership for food pantry operations, with SBAOA recognized at the Nonprofit Partner Recognition Luncheon for commitment to serving the community.
• EY CompanyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 April 2024Corporate volunteer program where 20 EY staff members volunteered at the food pantry, serving over 2,000 individuals.
• USCRI/USCIScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth Mentoring Program partnership providing mentorship and leadership development opportunities for refugee youth in City Heights.
• Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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.
• ISUROONmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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 DiegomoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Tea & Talk mental health awareness program, promoting mental wellness and encouraging open conversations about mental health.
• San Diego FoundationmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation 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 DiegominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoffee meeting collaboration with Chief Wahls at the Asian Business Association to explore ways to better serve the community together.
• United Taxi Workers of San DiegomoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for community events and mutual recognition, including hosting events together and award recognitions.
• California Department of Social Services (Afghan Programs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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

Broad 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

• Facebookfacebook.com/SomaliBantuAssociationofAmerica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/somali-bantu-association-of-america

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SOMALI BANTU ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA