San Antonio African American Community Archive & Museum (SAAACAM)

What San Antonio African American Community Archive & Museum (SAAACAM) does

SAAACAM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit archive and museum founded in 2017 to collect, preserve, and share African American history in the San Antonio region and the broader Southwest. The organization operates as a community-driven cultural institution with a staff of 11-50 and is currently headquartered in administrative offices at 3737 Broadway St. while running its exhibit space at the La Villita Historic Arts Village. Its programming is delivered through free and paid channels including permanent and rotating exhibitions, a Digital Collections archive accessible online 24/7, the monthly Black History Film Series, Story Time in the Park, a Free Lending Library, Church History Harvests, and the paid Negro Motorist Green Book Civil Rights Bus Tour ($55 per person). Educational outreach is supported by partnerships with Alamo Colleges District, the City of San Antonio, Humanities Texas, and the H.E. Butt Foundation.

The organization is in an active expansion phase, having invested more than $2.3 million into the historic Kress-Grant Buildings in downtown San Antonio as its planned future home. The new facility, targeted for 2026, will provide 103,000 square feet of space including 21,000 square feet of exhibition space, classrooms, a research library, and a 500-seat auditorium, positioning SAAACAM as one of the largest museums dedicated to African American history in the United States. A $10 million Phase 2 capital campaign is underway, with over $1 million raised to date including a $50,000 contribution from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

SAAACAM's business model is nonprofit and donation-driven, with revenue derived from individual donations, an annual membership program, foundation and government grants, corporate sponsorships (including flagship brand partnerships such as Hennessy and core partners H-E-B, Overland Partners, and Linbeck), and a small heritage tourism fee stream from bus and cemetery tours. Governance is provided by a community Board of Directors, with no private equity or venture capital backing.

Name

San Antonio African American Community Archive & Museum (SAAACAM)

Legal name

San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum

Website

https://saaacam.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SAAACAM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 that collects, preserves, and shares African American history in San Antonio and the Southwest through exhibitions, digital archives, heritage bus tours, and community programs serving local residents, students, and visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage Museum and Archive

NAICS

Museums (712110), Historical Sites (712120)

akta.pro primary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

Keywords

• Cultural heritage preservation
• Community archive services
• Historical museum exhibits
• Heritage tourism tours
• Educational film programming

Headquarters

HQ city

San Antonio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 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 Fundraising: Individual donations and spring fundraisers supporting operational costs and capital campaign. The organization has raised over $1 million toward its capital campaign.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership providing access to exhibitions and programs while supporting preservation and education work.
3. Tour and Event Fees: Fees charged for Green Book Civil Rights Bus Tours ($55 per person for 2026 tours). Film clubs are free but require pre-registration.
4. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate members and sponsors support preservation work while receiving benefits. Corporate partnership inquiries directed to [email protected].
5. Grants: Funding from foundations and government sources supporting operational needs and capital campaign investments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

SAAACAM operates a community-driven archive and museum that collects, preserves, and shares African American history and cultural heritage in the San Antonio region and Southwest. Its core offerings include a free-admission physical museum (currently at La Villita), online Digital Collections, paid heritage tourism bus tours, monthly film and story-time educational programs, and a free lending library. The organization is preparing to expand into a 103,000-square-foot cultural center in the historic Kress-Grant Buildings.

Product overview

SAAACAM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit museum and archive organization operating as a single integrated platform for collecting, preserving, and sharing African American cultural heritage in the San Antonio region. Its core offerings include physical museum exhibit spaces (currently at La Villita, with a planned 103,000-square-foot expansion at the Kress Building), a Digital Collections platform for digitized archives, and diverse community programs including the Black History Film Series, Story Time in the Park, Negro Motorist Green Book Civil Rights Bus Tours, a Free Lending Library, Church History Harvest initiatives, and an annual Legacy Awards Ball. The organization also offers membership and volunteer programs, with future plans for expanded exhibition and research facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digital Collections Online portal providing 24/7 access to digitized archival materials, photographs, documents, and audiovisual exhibits documenting African American history in the San Antonio region. Free to access and available to researchers, educators, and the general public.
• Museum Exhibit Space at La Villita Physical museum exhibit space at La Villita Historic Arts Village featuring rotating and permanent exhibitions on African American history and culture. Free admission; open Monday–Saturday 10am–6pm and Sunday 11am–4pm. Serves as the interim home while the Kress Building is being developed.
• Negro Motorist Green Book Civil Rights Bus Tour 2.5-hour guided bus tour exploring over 80 historic Negro Motorist Green Book sites in San Antonio's East Side neighborhoods including the downtown theater district, Dignowity Hills, Denver Heights, and St. Paul Square, covering African American entrepreneurship and civil rights history. Priced at $55 per person.
• Black History Film Series Monthly film club screening documentaries related to African American history, civil rights, and culture, followed by panel discussions and community resources. Free admission with pre-registration; held at The Little Carver venue.
• Story Time in the Park Monthly outdoor story time program for children held at Yanaguana Park (Hemisfair) on the first Tuesday of each month, featuring books that celebrate African American culture, leadership, and community values. Free of charge.
• Free Lending Library Community book exchange featuring Black voices and academic literature, operating on a 'take a book, leave a book' model to support literacy and cultural education among SAAACAM visitors and members.
• Legacy Awards Ball Annual fundraising gala celebrating Black excellence through awards recognizing community leaders in categories including Aviation, Community Care, Beauty Entrepreneurship, and Volunteerism. Sponsored by corporate partners including H-E-B (2026), Hennessy (2026 Heritage tier), Overland Partners, Linbeck, and TimeLooper.
• Church History Harvest Community outreach initiative in which SAAACAM coordinates with local churches to document their histories and present pop-up exhibits, allowing congregations to serve as stewards of their own cultural heritage.
• Membership Program Annual membership program offering special access to exhibitions and programs while supporting SAAACAM's preservation, education, and storytelling mission. Multiple tiered levels are available; pricing is provided on inquiry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of community members served annually through free programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Harrison Barnes (San Antonio Spurs)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 September 2024NBA player and social justice advocate visited SAAACAM, using his platform to elevate conversations on Black history and community engagement. Long history of activism including voter participation initiatives with When We All Vote.
• Alamo Colleges DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership supporting workforce development and community programming initiatives.
• City of San AntoniocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partnership including collaboration with Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Airport Advisory Commission, and Office of Historic Preservation. The city partnership supports heritage tourism and cultural preservation initiatives.
• Humanities TexascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState humanities council partner supporting educational programming and film series events.
• H.E. Butt (H-E-B)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for the 2026 Legacy Awards Ball, demonstrating commitment to community and cultural heritage.
• HennessyflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium spirits brand sponsor for the 2026 Legacy Awards Ball Heritage tier sponsorship.
• Overland PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture and design firm (LAB sponsor for Legacy Awards Ball) involved in Kress Building development.
• LinbeckcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction and building firm (Tribute sponsor for Legacy Awards Ball) supporting capital campaign.
• TimeLooperminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology partner providing immersive historical experiences, presented at the 2026 Legacy Awards Ball.
• R.O.O.T.S Mentoring, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit focused on youth and family development where Jeff May Jr. serves as Board Chair. Potential collaboration for programming.
• Museo del WestsideminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorian Cristal Mendez serves as exhibit consultant, bridging African American and Chicanx historical preservation efforts.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/saaacamtx
• Facebookfacebook.com/SAAACAM
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saaacam
• Instagraminstagram.com/saaacamtx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 San Antonio African American Community Archive & Museum (SAAACAM)