Southside Organizing Committee

What Southside Organizing Committee does

Southside Organizing Committee (SOC), also doing business as Southside Organizing Center, is a 501(c)(3) neighborhood-based nonprofit founded approximately 1992 and headquartered at 1300 S Layton Blvd, 2nd Floor, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The organization serves roughly 90,000 residents of Milwaukee's near south side within defined boundaries from Menomonee Valley (south) to Oklahoma Avenue (north) and 1st Street (east) to Miller Park Way (west) — the most densely populated and diverse neighborhoods in Wisconsin, with over 60% Hispanic/Latino population and the largest concentration of non-English speaking residents in the state. SOC runs a portfolio of community programs including civic engagement/voter support, bilingual interpretation and translation services, housing resources (including administration of the City of Milwaukee's Targeted Investment Neighborhood home-repair loan program in Clarke Square), the development and support of six active resident-led neighborhood associations, neighborhood safety coordination via its role as Community Prosecution Unit coordinator for Milwaukee Police Districts 2 and 6, neighborhood clean-ups under Project Clean and Green, and issue-based initiatives covering immigrant rights, sex offender residency, and street prostitution diversion.

SOC delivers services through a community-led go-to-market motion combining door-to-door canvassing, in-office and off-site meetings, community events, phone/email, and digital channels (website, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, and the bilingual SOC Video Series). The organization is led by Executive Director Tammy Rivera, a 25-year nonprofit veteran, with a small paid staff of 11–50 supplemented by volunteers, student interns, and community stakeholders. There is no proprietary technology product; SOC's operational backbone is its human relationships and its bilingual English-Spanish capacity.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit funding mix: individual donations (online via PayPal, mail, and in-person), business/corporate donations, service contracts for community programs, foundation grants (including Zilber Family Foundation, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, and Catholic Campaign for Human Development), public/government funding (Community Development Block Grants), and fundraising events including an annual Legacy Awards Retro Ball and grassroots organizing conference. There are no products or services with disclosed pricing; bilingual interpretation is offered to the community at below-market rates on a contact basis.

Name

Southside Organizing Committee

Legal name

Southside Organizing Committee

Website

https://socmilwaukee.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Southside Organizing Committee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded circa 1992 in Milwaukee, serving roughly 90,000 near south-side residents through bilingual organizing, civic engagement, housing resources, resident associations, and Community Prosecution Unit coordination with Milwaukee Police Districts 2 and 6.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Organizing Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (81331)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Democracy, Voting Rights & Civic Participation Advocacy (BPAGAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE), Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health (BPAGAGAL)

Keywords

• Community organizing services
• Neighborhood safety programs
• Civic engagement support
• Bilingual interpretation services
• Housing resource assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: SOC receives contributions from individual donors via online payment (PayPal), mail-in checks, and in-person donations at office
2. Business/Corporate Donations: SOC receives contributions from business and corporate donors
3. Service Contracts: SOC receives funding through service contracts for community programs
4. Foundation Grants: SOC receives funding from foundations including Zilber Family Foundation, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, and Catholic Campaign for Human Development
5. Public/Government Funding: SOC receives funding from public sources like Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
6. Fundraising Events: SOC raises funds through events including annual Legacy Awards Retro Ball and grassroots organizing conference

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Southside Organizing Committee is a neighborhood-based community organizing nonprofit that organizes Milwaukee's near south side residents around civic engagement, neighborhood safety, housing resources, and bilingual support services. It delivers direct community programs (Civic Engagement/Voting, Bilingual Services, Housing Resources, Resident Associations, Neighborhood Safety, Neighborhood Clean Ups, Issues and Initiatives), coordinates the Community Prosecution Unit for Milwaukee Police Districts 2 and 6, and supports six active resident-led neighborhood associations under its GO BLUE framework.

Product overview

Southside Organizing Committee (SOC) is a neighborhood-based community organization offering a portfolio of interconnected community programs and services rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include Civic Engagement (Voting) support, Bilingual Services (interpretation/translation), Housing Resources administration (TIN and STRONG programs), Resident Associations development, Neighborhood Safety coordination through Community Prosecution Units, Neighborhood Clean Ups, Issues and Initiatives advocacy, COVID Information resources, SOC Video Series multimedia content, and Volunteer Program coordination. The GO BLUE (Grassroots Organizing Building Leadership, Unity, and Engagement) campaign serves as the unifying framework for all programming, which is delivered through direct community engagement, partnerships with city/county agencies, and online/digital resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GO BLUE: Grassroots Organizing Building Leadership, Unity, and Engagement - SOC's core campaign philosophy and organizing framework

Products and services

• Civic Engagement (Voting) Provides voter information services including polling place lookup, absentee ballot requests, voter registration assistance, and free ID support for voting through partnerships with VoterRiders. Aimed at South Side Milwaukee residents.
• Bilingual Services Live interpretation and document translation services in English and Spanish for community members and organizations at below-market rates, supporting the predominantly Spanish-speaking South Side population.
• Housing Resources Administers the Targeted Investment Neighborhood (TIN) program in Clarke Square and provides information on the STRONG Home Loan Program, plus additional housing improvement resources for homeowners and tenants.
• Resident Associations Initiates, develops, and supports resident-led neighborhood associations including KK River Neighbors in Action, Layton Park South Neighbors, South of the Tracks, Walker's Point Association, Walker Square Neighborhood Association, and South 5th Place Neighbors.
• Neighborhood Safety Community Prosecution Unit coordination for Milwaukee Police Districts 2 and 6, addressing crime issues through partnerships with the District Attorney's Office, City Attorney, and Department of Neighborhood Services.
• Neighborhood Clean Ups Coordinates neighborhood cleanup initiatives including the City of Milwaukee Project Clean and Green, helping residents organize block cleanups with equipment, supplies, and volunteer coordination.
• Issues and Initiatives Addresses key community issues including Driver's Card and Immigrant Community Initiative, Sex Offender Residency Initiative, and Street Prostitution Diversion Program through strategic partnerships with Mexican Consulate, Benedict Center, and Milwaukee Community Justice Council.
• COVID Information Provides comprehensive COVID-19 resources including health information, testing locations, vaccine registration, food resources, housing assistance, business support, and government guidance in multiple languages.
• SOC Video Series Video content series providing community information and resources available in English and Spanish versions through socvideoseries.com.
• Volunteer Program Engages volunteers for various tasks including mailings, events, cleanups, surveys, office work, translations, and program support across grassroots organizing and community development areas.

Quantifiable outcome

• Calls to police were down 20% in neighborhoods where clean ups were conducted (University of Washington College of Environment research)

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Sixteenth Street Community Health CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Collaborated with SOC and local residents to form KK River Neighbors in Action (KKRNIA) in 2007, working on KK River, environmental preservation, and public health projects
• Milwaukee Community Justice CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOC collaborated with the Council and elected officials on sex offender residency initiative, convening public forums to inform and give voice to South Side residents
• Mexican ConsulatemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulate participated in SOC-hosted community orientations; SOC continues to work with consulate for benefit of residents
• Benedict CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership on Street Prostitution Diversion Program, bringing Sisters and Women's Harm Reduction programs to South Side - harm reduction model providing alternatives to women involved in street prostitution
• Milwaukee County District Attorney's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Community Prosecution Unit (CPU) - goal is to solve problems, improve public safety, and enhance quality of life in community
• Milwaukee Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Community Prosecution Unit for Districts 2 and 6; SOC serves as CPU coordinators
• Milwaukee City Attorney / Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Community Prosecution Unit addressing crime and nuisance issues affecting South Side neighborhoods
• Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based coalition for community advocacy; SOC's roots connect to MICAH which spun off from Hunger Task Force organizing efforts
• City of MilwaukeemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Earn & Learn summer youth employment program initiated by Mayor Tom Barrett; SOC serves as connecting organization with local businesses and community groups
• City of Milwaukee (TIN Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOC assists in administering the Targeted Investment Neighborhood (TIN) program in Clarke Square neighborhood, helping residents access partially forgivable, low-interest loans for home repairs

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH): Faith-based community organizing coalition in Milwaukee from which SOC's roots trace; highly comparable in structure (broad-based organizing, leadership development, civic action) and geography.
• Hunger Task Force: Milwaukee anti-hunger nonprofit with historical organizing roots connected to MICAH and SOC; similar scale, broad-based community organizing model, and Milwaukee focus.
• Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers: Milwaukee south-side community health center and explicit SOC partner (co-founded KKRNIA in 2007); overlaps with SOC on bilingual health equity, environmental justice, and resident organizing in the same service area.
• United Community Center (UCC): Milwaukee-based Latino community center providing bilingual social services, housing support, and youth programming on the south side; comparable in scope, demographics served, and service mix to SOC.
• Voces de la Frontera: Wisconsin-based immigrant worker rights organization with overlapping Milwaukee south-side focus on civic engagement, immigrant advocacy, and bilingual community organizing; mirrors SOC's grassroots organizing model and bilingual constituency.
• La Casa de Esperanza: Latino community services organization in the greater Milwaukee/Waukesha area offering bilingual programs in housing, civic engagement, and youth development; directly comparable mission and target population.
• Benedict Center: Milwaukee community justice organization partnering with SOC on the Street Prostitution Diversion Program; comparable in advocacy-driven, harm-reduction approach and Milwaukee footprint.

Emerging players

• Center for Popular Democracy: National progressive community organizing network supporting affiliate groups doing grassroots base-building similar to SOC's resident association model; not a direct geographic competitor but a peer in organizing methodology.

Broad incumbents

• ACLU of Wisconsin: Statewide civil rights and civil liberties advocacy organization; broader portfolio but overlapping focus on immigrant rights, voting access, and Know Your Rights education relevant to SOC's advocacy agenda.

Others

• Impact 211: Greater Milwaukee community resource referral service linked directly from SOC's website; functions as an enabling infrastructure partner for resident referrals rather than a direct organizing competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-CBtESahWSLeOnsqvLbVfQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/socmke
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southside-organizing-committee
• Instagraminstagram.com/socmilwaukee

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Southside Organizing Committee