True Circle Organization
True Circle Organization is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit that assembles and hand-distributes Go Bags (food, water, clothing, toiletries, essentials) to people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County, funded by individual donations, corporate giving, retail affiliate programs, and community fundraising events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersPalos Verdes Estates, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What True Circle Organization does
True Circle Organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity (EIN #81-2100443) that assembles and distributes Go Bags — pre-packed backpacks, totes, or duffle bags loaded with food, water, clothing, toiletries, hygiene items, and daily essentials — directly to people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County. The organization was founded by Carolyn Armitage around the concept of doing something for others on one's birthday instead of self-celebration. Its sole core product is the Go Bag, with a sub-program called the True Circle Birthday Club that lets individuals sponsor a Go Bag in honor of someone's birthday, optionally displayed on the organization's website and accompanied by a card sent to the recipient.
Operationally, True Circle is an all-volunteer organization with no paid staff, and it claims administrative costs below 5% of donations. Activities are coordinated by a named volunteer board and functional leads (founder/Board Chair Carolyn Armitage, VP/Secretary David Armitage, Treasurer Ashley Merda, plus roles for marketing, events, donations, outreach, and strategy). Distribution is entirely physical and direct — volunteers hand-deliver Go Bags to unhoused individuals on the streets of Los Angeles County, sometimes offering interview assistance and employer connections alongside the bag. The organization reports having distributed over 3,167 Go Bags cumulatively.
The business model is donation-funded across multiple channels: individual donations (including Birthday Club sponsorships), corporate contributions and employer matching, retail affiliate percentages (Ralphs/Kroger, eBay, AmazonSmile, Marriott Rewards points, eScrip), and third-party fundraising events (wine tastings, comedy shows, garage sales) where a portion of sales or proceeds benefit the organization. Strategic partners include Kroger/Ralphs, Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District PTSA, St John Fisher School & Church, Off the Vine Wine Shop, and The Comedy & Magic Club. The organization is registered in California (with a Palos Verdes Estates business license) and is currently in the process of re-registering to Colorado. No technology products, apps, or proprietary digital assets are part of the offering.
True Circle Organization firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- True Circle Organization
- Legal name
- True Circle Organization
- Website
- https://truecircle.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- True Circle Organization is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit that assembles and hand-distributes Go Bags (food, water, clothing, toiletries, essentials) to people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County, funded by individual donations, corporate giving, retail affiliate programs, and community fundraising events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where True Circle Organization is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Palos Verdes Estates
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
True Circle Organization business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Direct contributions from individuals, including Birthday Club sponsorships where donors sponsor Go Bags in honor of someone's birthday
- Corporate Contributions & Matching: Corporate donations, CSR programs, employer matching programs, and corporate event partnerships
- Retail Affiliate Programs: Percentage donations from retail partners including Ralphs (Kroger), eBay sales, AmazonSmile, and Marriott points donations
- Third-Party Fundraising Events: Events hosted by third parties (wine tastings, comedy shows, garage sales) where a percentage of sales or proceeds benefit the organization
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
True Circle Organization product offering
Product offeringCore offering
True Circle Organization assembles and distributes Go Bags — backpacks, totes, or duffle bags pre-loaded with food, water, clothing, toiletries, hygiene products, blankets, and safety items — directly to people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County. Volunteers also engage recipients in conversation and, when possible, assist with job interview preparation and employment connections. A Birthday Club sub-program enables donors to sponsor Go Bags in honor of a loved one's birthday.
Product overview
True Circle Organization operates as a single-product nonprofit that creates and distributes Go Bags — pre-packed backpacks, totes, or duffle bags containing food, water, clothing, toiletries, hygiene items, and daily essentials — to people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles. The organization also runs a Birthday Club sub-program where individuals can sponsor Go Bags in someone's honor. The Go Bag is the sole core offering; all activities and programs center on assembling and distributing these bags to unhoused individuals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Go Bags
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 3,167 Go Bags distributed to homeless individuals
Companies that use True Circle Organization
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
True Circle Organization technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
True Circle Organization partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Kroger/RalphscoreRalph's card program #KR411 donates a percentage of purchases to True Circle Organization; Kroger also listed as contributor and corporate supporter
- eBaycoreeBay sellers can donate a percentage of sales; eBay buyers can make donations with purchases; listed in Honor Circle of contributors
- AmazonSmilecoreAmazonSmile donates percentage of eligible purchases to True Circle Organization
- MarriottminorMarriott Rewards members can donate points to True Circle Organization
- PayPalcoreListed as contributor; PayPal giving mechanisms available for donations
- Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD PTSA)corePTSA sponsored Back to School Registration & Recycling Backpack Drive 2017; coordinated with PVHS, PVIS, Silver Spur Elementary, and Soleado Elementary for Go Bag drives
- St John Fisher School & ChurchcoreCoordinated 'Helping the Homeless for the Holidays' Go Bag Drive November-December 2017 to collect donations of food, water, socks, underwear, hats, shirts, blankets, and toiletries
- Off the Vine Wine ShopminorHosted Grateful GiveBack Wine Tasting Event November 19, 2017 with 20% of sales donated to True Circle; located at 491 West 6th Street #103, San Pedro, CA 90731
- The Comedy & Magic ClubminorHosted first TCO fundraiser August 8, 2017 in Hermosa Beach, CA with headliner Orny Adams; club staff contributed to successful evening
- eScripminoreScrip group #500825665 enables percentage donations from participating businesses
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
True Circle Organization competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- PATH (People Assisting The Homeless): LA-based nonprofit providing housing, supportive services, and outreach to people experiencing homelessness. Operates in the same LA market with a focus on direct aid and homeless stabilization, comparable donor base.
- Union Rescue Mission: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing shelter, meals, and direct aid to homeless individuals in Skid Row. Comparable donor-funded model and focus on immediate survival needs in the same geographic market.
- Food on Foot: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing meals, case management, and work-force development to people experiencing homelessness. Closely comparable volunteer-driven direct-aid model in the same LA geography.
- My Friend's Place: LA-based nonprofit providing comprehensive services to homeless youth including basic needs (food, clothing), case management, and education support. Comparable volunteer-driven model serving LA's unhoused population with supplies and direct aid.
- Chrysalis: Los Angeles nonprofit helping homeless and low-income individuals through employment, job training, and transitional work. Same LA geographic focus and donor-supported direct-service model serving the unhoused population.
- Midnight Mission: Historic LA Skid Row nonprofit serving homeless and low-income individuals with meals, shelter, clothing, and recovery services. Direct geographic and mission overlap with True Circle's LA-based homeless outreach.
- LA Family Housing: LA-based nonprofit providing housing, supportive services, and outreach across LA County. Directly comparable mission serving the same unhoused population in the same geographic market.
- Los Angeles Mission: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing direct services and supplies to people experiencing homelessness, including food, clothing, and recovery programs. Operates in the same LA County geography with similar donor-supported, direct-aid mission.
Broad incumbents
- Volunteers of America Los Angeles: Large LA-based nonprofit serving homeless individuals, veterans, and families with housing, recovery, and outreach services. Comparable donor-supported LA service model but at substantially larger scale and broader scope.
Regional players
- Skid Row Housing Trust: Los Angeles nonprofit providing permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness in LA's Skid Row. Same LA geography and homeless-population focus, though with a housing-asset model rather than supply distribution.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
True Circle Organization social profiles
Digital presenceTrue Circle Organization compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
True Circle Organization financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
True Circle Organization leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
True Circle Organization funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
True Circle Organization 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 True Circle Organization
What does True Circle Organization do?
True Circle Organization assembles and distributes Go Bags — backpacks, totes, or duffle bags pre-loaded with food, water, clothing, toiletries, hygiene products, blankets, and safety items — directly to people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County. Volunteers also engage recipients in conversation and, when possible, assist with job interview preparation and employment connections. A Birthday Club sub-program enables donors to sponsor Go Bags in honor of a loved one's birthday.
Is True Circle Organization a public or private company?
True Circle Organization is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was True Circle Organization founded?
True Circle Organization was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is True Circle Organization based?
True Circle Organization is headquartered in Palos Verdes Estates, United States, in the North America region.
How does True Circle Organization make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Contributions & Matching, retail Affiliate Programs and third-Party Fundraising Events.
Who are True Circle Organization's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are PATH (People Assisting The Homeless), Union Rescue Mission, Food on Foot, My Friend's Place, Chrysalis, Midnight Mission, LA Family Housing and Los Angeles Mission. Volunteers of America Los Angeles is listed as a broad incumbent. Skid Row Housing Trust is listed as a regional player.
Does True Circle Organization have an API?
No public API is recorded for True Circle Organization.