The Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber Of Commerce

What The Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber Of Commerce does

The Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce (GLAAACC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit business membership organization founded in 1991 by Gene Hale (President of G&C Equipment Corporation) and the late Homer Broome, with initial funding from a $5,000 grant from Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Headquartered at 5120 W. Goldleaf Circle, Los Angeles, California, with a 1–10 person staff, it serves African American-owned small and mid-size businesses, women entrepreneurs, corporate and government members pursuing supplier diversity outcomes, students via a $60/year Student tier, and underserved high school students through scholarships. Its mission is delivered through programs that combine advocacy, capital access, networking, and education.

GLAAACC's core "products" are programmatic rather than technological: the Business Evolution Program (BEP, 25-member cohort per cycle) for socially and economically disadvantaged business owners; the Women in the C-Suite panel series drawing 200–300 attendees; the Ready, Set, Compete! initiative preparing suppliers for the 2026 NBA All Star Game, FIFA World Cup, and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics; US Black Chambers / By Black Business certification; the Annual Economic Awards Dinner (33rd edition); B2B mixers, Town Hall luncheons, and the GLAAACC in the A.M. virtual training series. The wholly-owned GLAAACC Education Fund & Foundation (501(c)(3), since 1999) has disbursed more than $1 million in $5,000 scholarships to inner-city high school seniors from Crenshaw, George Washington Preparatory, Hamilton, Jordan, and Susan Miller Dorsey high schools.

Revenue is generated from four streams: tiered annual membership dues ($60 Student, $150 Basic, $240 Executive, $360 Platinum, $600 Government, $1,800 Corporate); event ticketing and corporate sponsorships via Chairman's Circle and per-event packages; tax-deductible donations to the Operating, Education, and Phoenix Funds; and Education Fund scholarship sponsorships ($3,500 to $25,000 tiers). GTM is community-led via the Ambassador Program and event-driven via signature mixers, Town Halls, and the Economic Awards Dinner. The technology stack is intentionally minimal — a WordPress site (glaaacc.org) plus a member portal on business.glaaacc.org and Constant Contact newsletters — with no proprietary software product.

Name

The Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber Of Commerce

Legal name

Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce

Website

https://glaaacc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 that provides business advocacy, networking, supplier-diversity introductions, and education programs to African American-owned businesses, women entrepreneurs, corporate/government members, and underserved LA high school students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chamber of Commerce / Business Advocacy Services

NAICS

Business Associations (81391), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

Keywords

• Chamber of commerce
• Business advocacy services
• Supplier diversity programs
• Small business networking
• Scholarship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: GLAAACC generates revenue primarily through tiered membership dues ranging from $60 (Student) to $1,800 (Corporate). These dues provide access to networking events, referrals, training, and the membership directory.
2. Event Tickets and Sponsorships: Revenue is generated through ticket sales to signature events (Annual Economic Awards Dinner, Women in the C-Suite, B2B mixers, Town Halls) and through corporate sponsorship packages. Event sponsorship opportunities range from individual event sponsorships to multi-year partnerships at the Chairman's Circle level.
3. Donations and Philanthropic Contributions: GLAAACC accepts tax-deductible donations to its Operating Fund, Education Fund, and Phoenix Fund. The Education Fund (501(c)(3)) raises funds for scholarships for underserved high school students in the LA region.
4. Education Fund Scholarship Sponsorships: The Education Fund & Foundation generates revenue through scholarship sponsorship packages at various levels (College Preparation $3,500, Rising Scholar $10,000, Distinguished Scholar $15,000, Legacy $20,000, Transformational $25,000) and individual ticket purchases ($250) for its annual Scholarship Awards Reception.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

GLAAACC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit chamber of commerce that sells tiered annual memberships and event sponsorships to African American-owned businesses, corporate members, government agencies, students, and professionals in the Los Angeles region. Its core offering bundles advocacy on public-policy and supplier-diversity issues, networking events (B2B mixers, Town Halls, the Annual Economic Awards Dinner, Women in the C-Suite), business development programs (Business Evolution Program, Ready Set Compete!, By Black Business certification), and scholarship funding through its affiliated Education Fund & Foundation.

Product overview

GLAAACC operates as a chamber of commerce organization offering a portfolio of business development programs, advocacy services, networking events, and educational initiatives. The organization provides programs including the Business Evolution Program (BEP) for disadvantaged small businesses, the By Black Business platform for supplier certification, Women in the C-Suite panels, and Ready, Set, Compete! for event contract opportunities. Signature events include the Annual Economic Awards Dinner and Scholarship Awards Reception. The Education Fund & Foundation (501(c)(3)) offers scholarships and mentorship to underserved students. These offerings are not a unified software platform but rather a suite of membership-based programs, events, and advocacy services aimed at promoting economic growth and development of African American-owned businesses in the Los Angeles region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GLAAACC Education Fund & Foundation: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation dedicated to advancing educational equity by providing scholarships and financial support to underserved students in the Los Angeles region with special emphasis on STEM education.

Products and services

• GLAAACC Membership (Student, Individual/Basic, Executive, Platinum, Government, Corporate) Tiered annual memberships ($60 Student to $1,800 Corporate) granting access to networking events, business referrals, advocacy, member directory listing, training workshops, and MBE/WMBE/DBE subcontracting recommendations (Corporate tier).
• Business Evolution Program (BEP) An exclusive cohort program helping 25 GLAAACC members per cycle accelerate their businesses through training in business finance, marketing, human resources, and product development. Targeted at businesses owned and controlled at least 51% by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
• US Black Chambers / By Black Business Certification Certification platform promoted through GLAAACC that connects African American businesses with other businesses, consumers, and the federal government, enabling vetted supplier status for corporations committed to small-business spending.
• Ready, Set, Compete! Vendor-readiness program that identifies and prepares African American-owned suppliers to compete for major-event contracts in Los Angeles. Includes a self-apply vendor database via Google Form.
• Women in the C-Suite Panel-discussion program for women entrepreneurs and executives that combines leadership development with introductions to procurement managers. Gathers 200–300 attendees per event and creates a networking environment for women business owners.
• Annual Economic Awards Dinner Annual signature event acknowledging individuals and companies for their commitment to advocating for small business enterprise in the African American community, with networking between SMB owners and corporations.
• GLAAACC in the A.M. (Training Series) Virtual morning training program providing small businesses with expert instruction on certification, capability statements, navigating online contracts, and social media tactics, taught by subject matter experts.
• Town Hall Luncheons & Receptions Luncheon events featuring keynote speakers (elected officials and civic leaders) addressing issues, concerns, and opportunities for small business owners, with dialogue and stakeholder networking.
• B2B Networking Mixers Quarterly membership mixers (virtual and in-person) bringing together Chamber members and business professionals to develop contacts and socialize.
• GLAAACC Education Fund & Foundation Scholarships 501(c)(3) nonprofit scholarship and mentorship program awarding $5,000 scholarships annually to inner-city high school seniors from Crenshaw, George Washington Preparatory, Hamilton, Jordan, and Susan Miller Dorsey high schools, with emphasis on STEM education, financial literacy, and college preparation.
• Scholarship Awards Reception Annual signature event for the Education Fund & Foundation that distributes scholarship awards to high school seniors and provides sponsorship recognition packages to corporate and individual donors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1 million in scholarships awarded to students from at-risk communities through the Education Fund & Foundation since 1999
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Get In The Game LA (Supplier Resource Hub)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLAAACC partnered with Get In The Game LA and its Supplier Resource Hub, a regional initiative designed to help small business owners find customized support and the tools needed to be contract ready for exciting new opportunities headed to Los Angeles (major sporting events). GLAAACC promotes the program to its members as a pathway to contract readiness.
• US Black ChambersflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerGLAAACC works with US Black Chambers and the SBA to create opportunities for diverse businesses. Through this partnership, GLAAACC promotes the By Black Business certification platform — developed by Black engineers and supported by Black Chambers nationwide — to connect businesses with other businesses, consumers, and the federal government. GLAAACC received a Capacity Building grant from Wells Fargo at the USBC conference in July 2025.
• AABLI (African American Board Leadership Institute)coreOthersAABLI partners with GLAAACC to support leadership development and board placement for African American professionals in the Los Angeles area.
• California African American Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe California African American Chamber of Commerce is a partner of GLAAACC, collaborating on statewide initiatives to advance African American business enterprises and policy advocacy.
• Los Angeles Urban LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Los Angeles Urban League partners with GLAAACC on economic development and workforce initiatives serving the African American community in Los Angeles.
• Crenshaw Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Crenshaw Chamber of Commerce partners with GLAAACC on events and advocacy initiatives serving the Crenshaw/South LA business community.
• Vermont Slauson Business Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVermont Slauson Business Development Corporation (VSEDC) partners with GLAAACC to provide business development resources and referrals to the South LA community. GLAAACC refers prospective small business owners to VSEDC for additional support (contact: 323-753-2335).
• NAWBO-LA (National Association of Women Business Owners Los Angeles)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAWBO-LA partners with GLAAACC on the Women in the C-Suite program and other initiatives supporting women entrepreneurs in Los Angeles.
• BizFed (Los Angeles County Business Federation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBizFed is a partner of GLAAACC, collaborating on regional business advocacy and policy initiatives affecting Los Angeles County businesses.
• Los Angeles Area Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce partners with GLAAACC on policy advocacy and business development initiatives serving the broader LA business community.
• Los Angeles Business Journal (LABJ)minorOthersThe Los Angeles Business Journal is listed as a partner/media supporter of GLAAACC, providing media coverage and visibility for Chamber events and initiatives.
• Los Angeles Economic & Workforce Development Department (EWDD)coreOthersGLAAACC maintains a referral relationship with the LA EWDD, directing members to BusinessSource Centers for free one-on-one consultation, business support, and microenterprise grants and loans.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLAAACC works with the SBA in conjunction with US Black Chambers to create opportunities for diverse businesses, including promoting SBA resources and certification pathways through the By Black Business platform.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce: Los Angeles's largest broad-based business association, representing employers across LA County. Directly comparable to GLAAACC as a regional chamber offering membership tiers, networking events, advocacy, and policy engagement for the same Los Angeles business community, though spanning all ethnicities rather than African American-owned businesses specifically.
• US Black Chambers (USBC): A national network of African American chambers (the umbrella organization for chambers including GLAAACC). Direct peer providing advocacy, capacity-building grants, and the By Black Business certification platform that GLAAACC explicitly promotes to its members; comparison is on member services, certification, and corporate partnership model.
• Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce: A major metropolitan African American chamber serving the Houston region with a comparable program structure (membership tiers, B2B mixers, corporate sponsors, supplier-diversity matchmaking). Highly comparable as a peer chamber on geographic-specialty (regional African American business association), tiered revenue model, and event-driven programming.
• National Black Chamber of Commerce: National-level African American chamber organization focused on advocacy, supplier diversity, and small business development. Direct peer to GLAAACC in serving African American-owned businesses through advocacy and certification programs, but operating at national rather than regional scope.
• Vermont Slauson Business Development Corporation (VSEDC): South LA economic-development nonprofit explicitly partnered with GLAAACC for business development referrals. Comparable as a community-rooted organization providing business development, capital access, and supplier readiness to African American and minority-owned small businesses in the same South LA geography.
• National Association of Women Business Owners Los Angeles (NAWBO-LA): A direct partner of GLAAACC and co-host of the Women in the C-Suite program. Direct comparable as a regional business association offering tiered membership, advocacy, and programming for women business owners in the same LA market.
• California African American Chamber of Commerce: The statewide African American chamber and a stated strategic partner of GLAAACC. Directly comparable in mission (advocacy, networking, contracting access for African American-owned businesses) and product set (membership, policy advocacy, corporate partnerships), differing mainly in geographic scope (statewide vs. LA County) so much so that GLAAACC works directly with it on joint initiatives.

Regional players

• Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce: A Southern California regional chamber of commerce serving Long Beach and surrounding cities. Comparable as a regional chamber operating in adjacent territory to GLAAACC's LA footprint, offering membership tiers, advocacy, and events, but focused on the broader small-business community rather than African American-owned businesses.
• Asian Business Association of Los Angeles: Regional Asian-American chamber of commerce serving Los Angeles. Analogous as a regional, ethnic-specific business association offering advocacy, supplier-diversity programming, and corporate sponsorship in the same LA market where GLAAACC competes for corporate partner mindshare.

Emerging players

• Hispanic Association of Corporate Responsibility (HACR): A national Hispanic/Latino business advocacy organization with similar corporate-supplier-diversity intermediation model. Comparable as an ethnic-business advocacy peer offering corporate partnership programs, supplier diversity matchmaking, and scholarship pipelines analogous to GLAAACC's Education Fund.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/GLAAACC1991
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2oszzH-xvkh8lXruew-Wdg
• Facebookinstagram.com/glaaacc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/greater-los-angeles-african-american-chamber-of-commerce
• Instagraminstagram.com/glaaacc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 The Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber Of Commerce