Makahakama Foundation

Name

Makahakama Foundation

Legal name

Makahakama Foundation

Website

https://makahakama.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Makahakama Foundation is a Bay Area private foundation operating three programs: multi-year grantmaking to nonprofits in community resilience, environment, and entrepreneurship; impact investments in funds supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs; and LaunchPad, a 4-month 1:1 bookkeeping mentorship program for under-resourced U.S. entrepreneurs that distributes a $500 completion grant.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Philanthropic grantmaking
• Impact investing
• Bookkeeping mentorship
• Community resilience funding
• Entrepreneurship support

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Foundation Endowment/Investments: As a private foundation, Makahakama generates revenue through its endowment and investment portfolio. The foundation deploys this capital in the form of grants to nonprofit organizations and impact investments in ventures aligned with its mission.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Makahakama Foundation operates as a private foundation that funds nonprofit organizations through multi-year general operating grants across community resilience, environment, and entrepreneurship pillars; deploys capital via impact investments into mission-aligned venture funds; and runs the LaunchPad program providing four-month, one-on-one bookkeeping mentorship to under-resourced entrepreneurs nationwide. The foundation's revenue is generated through its endowment and investment portfolio rather than product or service sales.

Product overview

Makahakama Foundation is a Bay Area philanthropic organization operating three core programs: Grantmaking (traditional multi-year grants to non-profits in community resilience, environment, and entrepreneurship), Impact Investments (portfolio in underrepresented entrepreneurs), and LaunchPad (the flagship bookkeeping mentorship program). LaunchPad is the primary service offering, a 4-month 1:1 mentorship program pairing under-resourced entrepreneurs with bookkeeper mentors to build financial foundations. The program includes the LaunchPad Partner Program for 501(c)(3) referral organizations and a Corporate Sponsorship Program for funding support. Entrepreneurs receive a $500 grant upon completion, and mentors receive a $1,000 stipend per entrepreneur supported.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LaunchPad: Flagship bookkeeping mentorship program for under-resourced entrepreneurs that provides 4 months of 1:1 support from bookkeeper mentors, practical accounting tools, and a $500 grant upon completion. Launched in 2024 in partnership with The Acceleration Project.

Products and services

• LaunchPad Bookkeeping Mentorship Program A 4-month, 1:1 bookkeeping mentorship program for under-resourced entrepreneurs in the United States. Participants receive personalized guidance from trained bookkeeper mentors to set up accounting software, build charts of accounts, reconcile accounts, and interpret financial statements. Entrepreneurs who complete program milestones receive a $500 grant.
• Grantmaking Traditional philanthropic grantmaking focused on three pillars: community resilience and empowerment, environment, and entrepreneurship. Grants are typically multi-year, general operating support awarded to non-profit organizations in Hawai'i, San Mateo County, and Santa Clara County.
• Impact Investments Impact investing portfolio supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs and innovative solutions promoting economic, social, and environmental justice. Current investees include Earthshot Ventures, MoCaFi, TXV Partners, and Zeal Capital Partners.
• LaunchPad Partner Program A referral program for 501(c)(3) organizations to refer qualified entrepreneurs to LaunchPad. Partners receive a $250 grant per referred entrepreneur who successfully completes the 4-month mentorship program, quarterly partner spotlights, and listing in the partner directory.
• LaunchPad Corporate Sponsorship Program Corporate sponsorship tiers enabling organizations to support LaunchPad entrepreneurs. Tier 1 ($7,500) sponsors 5 entrepreneurs with logo placement and quarterly spotlights. Tier 2 ($30,000) sponsors 20 entrepreneurs with priority marketing placement and strategic collaboration opportunities.

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• The Acceleration Project (TAP)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024LaunchPad program was created in partnership with The Acceleration Project, a national mentorship network for under-resourced entrepreneurs. TAP provides strategic 1:1 business advising and support that complements LaunchPad's bookkeeping mentorship.
• La CocinacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSan Francisco-based nonprofit supporting low-income food entrepreneurs through business incubation. Serves as a referral partner for the LaunchPad program.
• Pacific Community VenturescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNon-profit impact investor and CDFI providing small business advising and loans. Made connections that enabled mentor-mentee matches in LaunchPad program.
• Main Street LaunchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner that referred Bay Area entrepreneurs to the LaunchPad program.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• La Cocina: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing business incubation for low-income food entrepreneurs. Direct referral partner for Makahakama's LaunchPad and shares the same target beneficiary population of under-resourced entrepreneurs.
• Pacific Community Ventures: Nonprofit impact investor and CDFI providing small business advising and loans to under-resourced entrepreneurs in the Bay Area. Direct referral partner for LaunchPad and operates at the intersection of impact investing and entrepreneur support that defines Makahakama's pillars.
• Silicon Valley Community Foundation: Large Bay Area community foundation focused on grantmaking and donor engagement. Directly comparable to Makahakama in geography and foundation model; Makahakama advisor Joyce Song previously served as Director of Donor Engagement here.
• Tipping Point Community: Bay Area nonprofit fighting poverty through grantmaking, capacity building, and direct programs for low-income communities. Operates with similar geographic focus and multi-program philanthropic model to Makahakama.
• Main Street Launch: Bay Area-based CDFI and small business support organization providing lending and advising to under-resourced entrepreneurs. Direct referral partner for Makahakama's LaunchPad with overlapping target population.
• Heron Foundation: Private foundation focused on investing in communities and the environment using both grants and impact investments. Closely comparable model to Makahakama's integrated grantmaking-and-impact-investing approach.
• The Acceleration Project (TAP): National mentorship network providing 1:1 business advising for under-resourced entrepreneurs. Direct strategic co-development partner for Makahakama's LaunchPad program and the operational backbone of its entrepreneur services.

Broad incumbents

• Kapor Capital: Impact investment fund backing diverse founders solving problems of inequity. Overlaps with Makahakama's mission of equitable entrepreneurship and shares Bay Area roots, but is an investment fund rather than a grantmaking foundation.
• Ford Foundation: Large global private foundation deploying grants and mission-aligned investments across inequality, environment, and democratic participation. Operates at much larger scale but shares the integrated philanthropic-capital model Makahakama is building toward.
• Annenberg Foundation: Large private foundation supporting nonprofit organizations across education, environment, arts, and community development. Comparable as a multi-pillar grantmaking private foundation, though at substantially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/makahakama-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Makahakama Foundation