Pico California Project
PICO California is a 501c(3) nonprofit operating a statewide federation of nine faith-based community organizing groups across California, serving working families, immigrant communities, renters, and justice-impacted populations through campaigns on economic, housing, immigrant, and restorative justice.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Pico California Project does
PICO California is a 501c(3) nonprofit (EIN 87-2249221) and the largest faith-based community organizing network in California, coordinating nine affiliated federations that span San Diego, the Inland Empire, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, East Bay, the Central Valley, Sacramento, the Central Coast, and San Jose. Founded in 1994 and operating for more than 30 years, the organization unites people of faith to build grassroots power across four integrated issue areas: a Moral Economy addressing economic exclusion and wealth extraction; Home is Sacred (housing justice); Restorative Justice (policing and incarceration reform); and Immigrant Justice. Its core methodology relies on house meetings, congregational networks, and relational organizing, supplemented by one of the largest Rapid Response Networks in the country for immigration enforcement defense.
The organization delivers services and campaigns through programs including the Faith in Housing affordable housing initiative, the Rapid Response Networks for immigrant accompaniment, the Restorative Justice advocacy portfolio, and a Learning Center that provides organizer training via courses, webinars, and the 'Organizing Essentials' five-article series. It does not develop proprietary technology products; its "platform" is the federated organizing infrastructure itself — clergy and lay leaders, volunteer networks, and physical presence across every major California region.
PICO California's revenue model is donation-based, raising funds through monthly recurring gifts and one-time contributions via the ActBlue platform and through its network of faith congregations. It charges no fees for services and has no programmatic revenue streams. Customer segments are not commercial buyers but rather faith congregations, working families, immigrant communities, renters, and communities affected by the criminal legal system. The organization is non-partisan, does not endorse candidates, and is governed by an executive director (Joseph Tomás McKellar) and a board.
Pico California Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pico California Project
- Legal name
- PICO California
- Website
- https://picocalifornia.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- PICO California is a 501c(3) nonprofit operating a statewide federation of nine faith-based community organizing groups across California, serving working families, immigrant communities, renters, and justice-impacted populations through campaigns on economic, housing, immigrant, and restorative justice.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pico California Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Organizing Services
- NAICS
- Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nonprofit & Cause Communications (BPAFADAK)
Keywords
Where Pico California Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Pico California Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: PICO California is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 87-2249221) that raises funds through individual donations, monthly giving, and one-time contributions from supporters. The organization solicits donations via its website (actblue platform) and through its network of faith congregations and community members. No fee-for-service or programmatic revenue streams are described.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Voluntary donation — no set tiers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Pico California Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PICO California is a 501(c)(3) faith-based community organizing network that mobilizes nine federations of congregations across California to pursue racial, economic, and immigrant justice. It delivers its work through grassroots community organizing, leadership training, policy advocacy campaigns, rapid-response accompaniment for immigrants, and an affordable-housing development program (Faith in Housing). The organization is funded primarily by donations from faith congregations, individual donors, and recurring contributors.
Product overview
PICO California is a movement of faith in action that operates as a network of nine federations across California, united to build power and fight for justice. The organization offers community organizing services as its core product, with specific programs including Rapid Response Networks for immigrant defense, a Learning Center with educational resources, a Faith in Housing Program for affordable housing development, a Moral Economy Initiative for economic justice, and Restorative Justice Advocacy for police reform. These programs work together to address issues of immigrant justice, housing, economic equity, and criminal justice reform across the state.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Rapid Response Networks: Trained volunteers who respond to immigration enforcement activity, provide accompaniment at court dates and check-ins, and mobilize community defense efforts
- Faith in Housing
- CRISES Act
- House Meetings
- Faith in Housing
Products and services
- Faith-Based Community Organizing Services Core organizing service through which PICO California mobilizes faith congregations and individual community members across nine federations to advocate for racial, economic, and immigrant justice. Intended for working families, immigrants, and communities of color in California.
- Rapid Response Networks Networked rapid-response accompaniment service that mobilizes trained volunteers to support immigrant community members facing immigration enforcement, detention, or deportation. Intended for immigrant families and communities across California.
- Faith in Housing Program Affordable-housing development and preservation program that engages faith congregations and community members in planning, developing, and preserving affordable housing in their neighborhoods. Intended for lower-income renters and communities of color in California.
- Learning Center Training and leadership-development program that equips congregation leaders and community members with organizing, civic engagement, and advocacy skills. Intended for faith-community leaders and volunteer organizers in PICO California's federations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Protected hundreds of thousands of families from eviction through California's COVID-19 Rent Relief Program and tenant protection expansions.
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Pico California Project
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Pico California Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Pico California Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Pico California Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA): CHIRLA is a California-based immigrant rights organization providing direct legal services, advocacy, and community organizing. It is the most direct peer for PICO California's immigrant justice work, including the Rapid Response Network's accompaniment and Know Your Rights activities.
- California Calls: California Calls is a statewide coalition of base-building community organizations working on equitable budget and tax policy. PICO California is a member organization, and the coalition competes for many of the same progressive donor dollars and policy campaigns on Moral Economy issues.
- Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE): LAANE is a Los Angeles-based advocacy and organizing organization that drives economic justice campaigns on wages, worker protections, and corporate accountability. Multiple PICO California federations (LA Voice, PACT) operate in the same LA geography on overlapping economic-justice issues.
- Faith in Action (formerly PICO National Network): Faith in Action is the national federation of which PICO California is a regional affiliate. It uses the identical house-meeting, clergy-led organizing methodology across dozens of state and local affiliates, making it the most direct methodological and structural peer for PICO California.
- Make the Road New York / Make the Road States: Make the Road is a multi-state community organizing network combining direct services, organizing, and policy advocacy on immigrant rights, housing, worker justice, and education. It is the closest large-scale peer to PICO California outside the West Coast, offering a useful comparison for federation design and impact.
- National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON): NDLON is a national network of day laborer and immigrant worker organizations actively involved in rapid response to immigration enforcement and worker justice campaigns. It is a direct peer for PICO California's Rapid Response Network and immigrant justice programs.
- InnerCity Struggle (ICS): InnerCity Struggle is a Los Angeles-based community organizing nonprofit that builds power among working-class residents of color on housing, education, criminal justice, and immigrant rights. It employs the same relational organizing model and shares PICO California's issue portfolio, with PACT being a sister federation.
Regional players
- Texas Organizing Project (TOP): Texas Organizing Project is a similarly structured, multi-issue grassroots organizing network that uses relational house-meeting methodology to build power among low-income communities of color. It is the closest state-level analogue to PICO California, operating in a different geography with comparable scale and issue mix.
Broad incumbents
- Center for Community Change (Community Change): Community Change is a national organizing and advocacy group supporting low-income communities of color, providing both direct organizing and infrastructure grants to state/local affiliates. It is a broader-incumbent peer that often funds or partners with community organizing networks like PICO California.
Emerging players
- Esperanza United: Esperanza United (formerly Hispanic Federation) is a national Hispanic advocacy organization with California operations, focused on immigrant rights, economic empowerment, and community organizing. It is an emerging peer with overlapping constituencies and an expanding California footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Pico California Project social profiles
Digital presencePico California Project compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Pico California Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pico California Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Pico California Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pico California Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pico California Project
What does Pico California Project do?
PICO California is a 501(c)(3) faith-based community organizing network that mobilizes nine federations of congregations across California to pursue racial, economic, and immigrant justice. It delivers its work through grassroots community organizing, leadership training, policy advocacy campaigns, rapid-response accompaniment for immigrants, and an affordable-housing development program (Faith in Housing). The organization is funded primarily by donations from faith congregations, individual donors, and recurring contributors.
Is Pico California Project a public or private company?
Pico California Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Pico California Project founded?
Pico California Project was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pico California Project based?
Pico California Project is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pico California Project make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are Pico California Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), California Calls, Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE), Faith in Action (formerly PICO National Network), Make the Road New York / Make the Road States, National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) and InnerCity Struggle (ICS). Texas Organizing Project (TOP) is listed as a regional player. Center for Community Change (Community Change) is listed as a broad incumbent. Esperanza United is listed as an emerging player.
Does Pico California Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pico California Project.
What industry is Pico California Project in?
Pico California Project's product category is Community Organizing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFADAK, Nonprofit & Cause Communications. Its NAICS code is 8133 and its SIC code is 8300.