Harambee Ministries

What Harambee Ministries does

Harambee Ministries is a Pasadena, California-based 501(c)-style non-profit Christian ministry, founded in 1982 by Dr. John Perkins and Vera Mae Perkins, that delivers faith-based youth development programming to underserved children and families in Northwest Pasadena. Its service portfolio is organized around three stated pillars — Discipleship, Scholarship, and Leadership — and spans tuition-free academic enrichment (the B.E.E. Program), after-school programming (After The Bell), performing arts education (Harambee Performing Arts and the Harambee Arts Academy), high-school leadership training (BUILD University), and social-emotional learning (Power Talk), alongside seasonal offerings including a Performing Arts Summer Academy and the licensed CDF Freedom Schools program. The organization operates its own Harambee Community Center at 1609 Navarro Avenue and, through a formal partnership with Pasadena Unified School District, delivers programs directly on three PUSD campuses including McKinley School and the Eliot & Altadena Arts Magnet Schools.

Program delivery is in-person and community-driven; marketing is word-of-mouth plus school referrals and event-based outreach, with no digital product, app, or proprietary technology platform. Revenue is a blend of charitable donations (processed via qgiv), Amazon wishlist in-kind contributions, modest program subscription fees (the Arts Academy charges $50 registration plus $150 per child per month), and ticket sales from original productions such as 'Bethlehem: An Original Hip Hop Musical,' which has been performed at John Muir High School. Operational technology is limited to standard nonprofit tooling (Squarespace website, qgiv donations, Zeffy/TicketSpice for ticketing, 6Crickets provider directory); there is no disclosed AI/ML capability, no app, and no API surface.

Leadership is small (1-10 employees) and includes Executive Director Brandon Lamar, Program Director Courtney Linsey, Program Coordinator Terrané Peterson, and Operations Manager Kim Kirui. The organization is independent, with no parent company, institutional investors, or private equity backing identified. Its competitive position rests on four decades of community trust, formal PUSD access, and proprietary original content, rather than on technology differentiation or scale.

Name

Harambee Ministries

Legal name

Harambee Ministries

Website

https://harambeeministries.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Harambee Ministries is a Pasadena-based nonprofit Christian ministry, founded in 1982, that provides faith-based youth development programs — including academic enrichment, performing arts, and leadership training — to underserved children and families in Northwest Pasadena through its community center and three Pasadena Unified School District campuses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Religious Organizations (8131), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGADAD

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGADAJ

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYEDALAHAI

Campus Spiritual & Religious Life

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Student Activities, Clubs & Campus Life

SECONDARYEDAMALAK

Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Summer & Holiday Enrichment Camps (Multi-Activity, Academic)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• After-school education
• Performing arts education
• Faith-based ministry
• Academic enrichment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Pasadena

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. Donations: Charitable contributions from individuals and organizations through online donation portal (qgiv.com)
2. Program Registration Fees: Fees for programs such as Harambee Arts Academy ($50 registration + $150/month per child)
3. Ticket Sales: Revenue from performing arts events and productions such as Bethlehem musical
4. Amazon Wishlist Support: In-kind donations through Amazon gift registry

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Harambee Ministries is a faith-based nonprofit that delivers Christian-centered youth development programs for underserved youth ages 6-17 in Northwest Pasadena, CA. Its offerings include tuition-free academic enrichment (B.E.E. Program), after-school programming (After The Bell), performing arts training and original productions (Harambee Performing Arts / Bethlehem musical), social-emotional learning (Power Talk), high school leadership (BUILD University), a twice-weekly Harambee Arts Academy, and summer academies including CDF Freedom Schools and Performing Arts Summer Academy.

Product overview

Harambee Ministries operates a suite of youth development programs organized around three pillars: Community Engagement, Community Impact, and Community Sustainability, with three core goals of Discipleship, Scholarship, and Leadership. The programs include BUILD University for high school students, After The Bell after-school programming, Harambee Performing Arts (HPA), the B.E.E. tutoring program, Power Talk social-emotional learning, and seasonal offerings including Performing Arts Summer Academy, CDF Freedom Schools, Harambee Arts Academy, and original productions like Bethlehem. These programs work as a funnel, with Performing Arts serving as the primary engagement mechanism that draws students into the broader ecosystem of academic support, leadership development, and faith-based discipleship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Harambee Performing Arts (HPA): A creative arts branch of Harambee Ministries that produces passionate artists through mentorship in music, dance, visual arts, theater training and performance. Provides creative outlets through summer programs, after school enrichment, and community outreach.
• B.E.E. Program
• Build University (B.U.)
• After The Bell
• Power Talk
• Harambee Arts Academy

Products and services

• B.E.E. Program (Bridging the Gap) Tuition-free academic enrichment program for underserved youth ages 6-17 in Pasadena, providing rigorous tutoring, accountability, and culturally responsive curriculum in partnership with PUSD.
• After The Bell After-school program providing a safe space for students with team building, athletics, performing arts enrichment, games, and academic support, currently offered at Harambee Ministries headquarters.
• Harambee Performing Arts (HPA) Creative arts program producing passionate artists through mentorship in music, dance, visual arts, theater training, and performance, delivered via summer programs, after-school enrichment, and community outreach.
• Power Talk Conversations with PUSD students addressing social-emotional needs from a culturally relevant perspective, focusing on vision, growth mindset, discipline, courage, and empathy.
• BUILD University (B.U.) High school scholars program focused on music, film, fashion, and entrepreneurship, providing leadership and life skills through experienced instructors, hands-on projects, and 10 sessions of training.
• Performing Arts Summer Academy Six-week summer experience for scholars completing TK through 8th grade, featuring music production, vocals, poetry/songwriting, art, dance, drama, and film production, concluding with a showcase.
• CDF Freedom Schools Culturally responsive summer enrichment program supporting K-5 scholars with literacy-focused learning, leadership development, character-building enrichment, parent and family involvement, and civic engagement.
• Bethlehem: An Original Hip Hop Musical Original production reimagining the Nativity story through hip-hop music and culture, featuring dance, vocal, and theatre performances showcasing student talent, performed at John Muir High School theater.
• Harambee Arts Academy Twice-weekly arts program at Harambee Center offering tutoring and coaching in specific arts disciplines for scholars to develop their talents, with a $50 registration fee and $150 per child per month.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves scholars ages 6-17 with tuition-free academic enrichment
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership with PUSD to deliver programs on school campuses. Harambee operates performing arts programs on three PUSD campuses and provides culturally responsive curriculum for designated schools.
• CDF Freedom SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensed operator of CDF Freedom Schools® Summer Program, a culturally responsive summer enrichment program supporting academic growth and whole-child development through literacy-focused learning and leadership development.
• McKinley SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with McKinley School for music program and RIZE performance events showcasing student talent from the McKinley Scholars.
• John Muir High SchoolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for Bethlehem musical performances, hosting events at John Muir High School theater facility.
• Eliot & Altadena Arts Magnet SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides culturally responsive curriculum that empowers scholastic improvement, character development, and intergenerational leadership for students at these magnet schools.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Young Life: Faith-based nonprofit delivering youth development, mentoring, and leadership programs through local chapters. Comparable to Harambee in mission (Christian youth discipleship), community-rooted delivery model, and reliance on volunteer-driven engagement.
• Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena: Direct local peer operating youth development, after-school, and arts/enrichment programs for underserved Pasadena youth. Closely comparable in target population, geographic focus, after-school + performing arts mix, and school-district-adjacent delivery.
• YMCA of Greater San Gabriel Valley: Regional YMCA serving Pasadena with after-school, youth leadership, and family programming. Comparable in community-based youth enrichment model, school-campus delivery, and mix of tuition-free and fee-based programs.

Peers

• After-School All-Stars Los Angeles:

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/harambee.ministries
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harambee-christian-family-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Harambee Ministries