Somang Society

What Somang Society does

Somang Society is a California-based non-profit organization founded in June 2007 by Boon Ja Lee, focused on serving Asian American, predominantly Korean American, seniors and their families in Southern California through three programmatic pillars: Well Being, Well Aging, and Well Dying. Headquartered in Cypress, CA, the organization runs weekly dementia care programs (Somang Care Class) at two locations — Anaheim and Los Angeles — staffed by bilingual personnel and retired nurses, plus Korean-speaking caregiver support groups delivered in-person and via Zoom, including monthly meetings at the Leisure World Seal Beach senior community. The Well Dying pillar delivers education on advance healthcare directives (17,908 completed), hospice, body donation via a UCI Willed Body Program partnership (3,299 registrations, with Koreans representing over 50% of UCI's donations), grief support, and brain-health workshops.

Its products and underlying assets are service-based rather than technology-based: there is no proprietary software, app, or AI component — the platform is a community-distributed service model supported by a website, bilingual newsletters, a YouTube channel, and a biennial Senior Resource Guide. Ancillary revenue generators include newsletter advertising ($500-$2,000 per slot) and Resource Guide advertising ($400-$15,000 per slot). The Well Being pillar extends internationally through Chad, Africa, where 606 clean-water wells ($3,500 each, serving up to 4,000 residents) and 9 schools ($48,000 each) have been built and 50 students sponsored. Cumulative impact metrics include 191,360 people impacted annually and 350 educational seminars delivered.

The business model is a donation- and membership-driven non-profit. Revenue streams include tiered memberships (Monthly at $10, Annual at $120, Lifetime at $1,200, Premier at $10,000) totaling 915 members (466 lifetime, 449 general), unit-priced program donations for wells and schools, Care Class sponsorships at $150/month per student, designated gifts, and advertising. Financial figures are not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is community-led, event-driven, and direct-to-beneiciary, relying on Korean church partnerships (Anaheim Korean Presbyterian Church, Berendo Street Baptist Church), senior-community outreach, word-of-mouth, and research alliances with UCI MIND, UCSF, Alzheimer's Orange County, and Alzheimer's Los Angeles. Leadership comprises Founder/President Boon Ja Yoo Lee and Executive Director Dr. Hye-Won Shin Ph.D, supported by 77 active volunteers.

Name

Somang Society

Legal name

Somang Society

Website

https://somangsociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Somang Society is a California-based non-profit founded in 2007 that serves Korean American seniors in Southern California through Korean-language dementia care classes, caregiver support groups, end-of-life education, and international well-and-school construction in Chad, Africa, funded by memberships, donations, and program sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Senior Care and Community Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Caregiver Coaching, Education & Support (HSABAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Caregiver Support, Coaching & Training (HLADALAG), Senior Social Clubs & Community-Based Day Programs (Non-Clinical) (HSABANAK), Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

Keywords

• Dementia care services
• Caregiver support programs
• Senior wellness services
• Community-based nonprofit programs
• Multicultural aging services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cypress

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: General donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission of Well Being, Well Aging, and Well Dying programs. Donors can make one-time or recurring donations at various amount levels.
2. Membership Program: Monthly membership at $10 (converts to Lifetime after 10 years), Lifetime membership at $1,200 one-time, and Premier membership at $10,000 for major donors.
3. Program-Specific Donations: Designated donations for specific programs including well building ($3,500 per well in Chad, Africa), school building ($48,000 per school), student sponsorship, and Care Class support ($150/month per student).
4. Newsletter and Resource Guide Advertising: Revenue from selling ad space in quarterly Korean-language newsletter ($500-$2,000 per ad) and biennial Senior Resource Guide ($400-$15,000 per ad space).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Somang Society is a nonprofit organization that provides community-based programs to empower Asian American seniors through three pillars: Well Being (clean water wells and schools built in Chad, Africa), Well Aging (weekly Somang Care Class dementia care programs and Korean-language caregiver support groups in Southern California), and Well Dying (education on advance healthcare directives, hospice care, body donation registration, grief support, and end-of-life planning seminars). All programs are delivered in Korean and English by bilingual staff and volunteers, and the organization funds itself through donations and a tiered membership program.

Product overview

Somang Society is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs focused on 'Well Being, Well Aging, and Well Dying' for Asian American seniors. The core offerings include: (1) Somang Care Class - a dementia care program with weekly activities in Korean at two Southern California locations; (2) Dementia Family Caregiver Support Groups - Korean-speaking support available in-person and via Zoom; (3) International development programs including well construction, school building, and student sponsorship in Chad, Africa; (4) Well Dying education including advance healthcare directives, body donation registration, grief support, and end-of-life planning seminars; (5) Community events including the Somang Choir, brain health workshops, and caregiver support groups; (6) Research collaborations with universities including UCI MIND, UCSF, and NAPCA to advance AAPI inclusion in medical research. The organization operates primarily in Southern California with programs conducted in both English and Korean.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Somang Care Class Weekly dementia care program providing one-on-one and group activities (art, reading, music) for Korean American seniors with memory loss or early-stage dementia, conducted entirely in Korean by bilingual staff and experienced volunteers at two Southern California locations in Anaheim and Los Angeles. Care Class participation can be sponsored at $150 per month per student.
• Dementia Family Caregiver Support Group Korean-speaking support group for family caregivers of dementia patients, offered both in-person and virtually via ZOOM, providing opportunities to share experiences, learn from others, and access resources.
• ICP Caregiver Support Group Monthly caregiver support group meeting every third Friday at Leisure World Seal Beach, providing peer support for families caring for individuals with cognitive changes.
• Well Building Program Clean water well construction initiative in Chad, Africa, with wells costing $3,500 each (including five years of maintenance and repairs) and serving up to 4,000 residents. Over 600 wells have been built to date.
• Somang School School construction program in African communities providing educational opportunities to children, with each school costing $48,000. Nine schools have been built to date.
• Student Sponsorship Program Program providing sponsored students in African communities with education, uniforms, books, meals, safe drinking water, and school supplies, supporting both the students and their surrounding communities.
• Well Dying Education Seminars Educational seminars covering advanced healthcare directives, hospice care, body donation, dementia prevention, and funeral planning to help Korean American seniors prepare for end-of-life.
• Grief Support Group Support group for grieving family members providing comfort, hope, and empathy through shared experiences of loss.
• UCI Willed Body Program Partnership Partnership with UCI Willed Body Program to educate and register Korean community members for body donation, with over 50% of donations now coming from Koreans through this collaboration. Somang Society assists with the application process.
• Advance Healthcare Directives Legal documents providing guidance on healthcare decisions, organ donation, and funeral options to prevent family confusion during emergencies, with state-specific forms available in Korean.
• Emergency Cards Emergency contact cards distributed to seniors for use in crisis situations.
• Brain Health Workshops Educational workshops delivered in Korean covering brain health, cognitive aging, and dementia prevention topics for the senior community.
• Somang Choir Music program sharing hope through song and laughter, performing at memorials and community events to spread joy and healing for the Korean American senior community.
• Senior Resource Guide Biennial Korean-language publication providing essential information for Korean American seniors to navigate life challenges, with advertising tiers ranging from $400 (business card) to $15,000 (back full page).
• Membership Program Membership program with Monthly ($10/month), Annual ($120/year), Lifetime ($1,200 one-time), and Premier ($10,000 one-time) tiers supporting the organization's mission. Monthly members automatically convert to Lifetime status after 10 years of continuous monthly payments.
• Research Collaboration Programs Community-based research programs partnering with UCI MIND, UCSF, University of Texas Arlington, and NAPCA to facilitate AAPI inclusion in medical research, including the KIMCHI caregiver health study and the CARE Registry.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UCI Willed Body ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with UCI's Willed Body Program to educate and inform the Korean community about body donation for medical research. More than 50% of donation registrations are committed by Koreans through this partnership. Somang Society assists with the application process for those who wish to donate their bodies.
• UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for research collaboration and program grants. Working together for diversity recruitment in Alzheimer's research and dementia studies targeting AAPI communities.
• Alzheimer's Orange CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for dementia education and caregiver support. Co-hosting educational seminars and providing dementia information, prevention, and treatment resources to the Korean American community.
• Alzheimer's Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for dementia education and caregiver support. Collaborating to educate people on dementia information, prevention, and treatment.
• UCSF (Dr. Van Ta Park, PhD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration partner for AAPI caregiving and dementia research. Community-based research to facilitate diversity and AAPI inclusion in medical research.
• University of Texas Arlington (Dr. Kathy Lee, PhD, MSW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner for dementia caregiving research targeting Korean American communities.
• National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for AAPI aging research and community-based programs addressing diverse elders' needs.
• CARE Registry (UCSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative Approach For Asian American & Pacific Islanders Research & Education Registry, working toward meaningful inclusion of AAPI in clinical and caregiving research.
• KIMCHI Study (Koreans Invested in Making Caregivers Health Important)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive research project (2022-2024) focused on Korean American caregiver health and wellbeing.
• UCI AHEAD Study Diversity Recruitment ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive research project (2022-2023) focused on diversity recruitment for Alzheimer's and dementia research.
• Global Children FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for international development programs supporting children in need.
• Asian Women Leadership in Philanthropy FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPhilanthropic partner supporting Asian women leadership and community giving programs.
• Overseas Korean Nurses AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional nursing organization partner for healthcare education and volunteer support.
• KakDang Social Welfare FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial welfare foundation partner supporting Korean American community programs.
• Korea Family Legal Service CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal service partner providing family law resources and support to Korean American community.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alzheimer's Los Angeles: Regional dementia care and caregiver support organization serving Los Angeles County. Direct peer and current partner providing dementia education to Korean American communities through Somang; comparable scope and population overlap in LA.
• National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA): National AAPI-focused nonprofit addressing diverse elders' needs through programs, advocacy, and research. Active partner of Somang; comparable mission around AAPI aging and caregiver support, though operates at national scale rather than regional.
• Korean Community Services (KCS): Southern California-based nonprofit providing social services to Korean American communities including seniors. Comparable in serving the same Korean American demographic with wraparound social and aging services, representing the most direct Korean-American community service peer.
• Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC): Community development and social services nonprofit serving Japanese American and broader AAPI populations in Los Angeles with senior services. Comparable in providing culturally competent social and elder services to Asian American seniors in Southern California.
• Alzheimer's Orange County: Regional dementia care and caregiver support nonprofit serving Orange County. A current Somang partner that co-hosts dementia education seminars; directly comparable in dementia caregiver support mission and Orange County service area, but does not match Somang's Korean-language delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Alzheimer's Association: National nonprofit providing Alzheimer's care, support, and research across all U.S. communities. Comparable as the dominant incumbent in dementia caregiver support and research with whom Somang competes and partners for AAPI inclusion, though Somang is differentiated by its Korean-language specialization.
• Catholic Charities of Orange County: Large social services nonprofit providing senior services, caregiver support, and immigrant services in Orange County. Comparable as a broader-incumbent community-services competitor that also touches the Korean American senior population, though without Somang's Korean-language specialization.
• Hospice Foundation of America: National nonprofit providing end-of-life and hospice education. Comparable in the Well Dying program space (advance directives, hospice education, body donation), though without cultural-linguistic specialization for AAPI communities.

Regional players

• International Leadership Foundation (formerly Korean American Coalition): Korean American nonprofit providing civic engagement and community services. Comparable in serving Korean American communities with wraparound programming, though focused more broadly on civic and leadership development rather than senior care specifically.

Emerging players

• National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA): National nonprofit addressing AAPI mental health, including caregiver wellness. Partial overlap with Somang's KIMCHI study and caregiver support programs, but focused on mental health broadly rather than dementia and aging specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@somangsociety9750
• Facebookfacebook.com/somangsociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/somang-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/somangsociety

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Somang Society