asa foundation

What asa foundation does

ASA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization (EIN# 82-2930616) headquartered in Moss Beach, California, founded by Asa Mathat, a 30-plus-year photo industry veteran. The foundation operates four distinct photography-driven programs: Camp Enlightenment, a 12-month residential immersion program for at-risk, disadvantaged youth (including homeless, runaway, foster, and LGBTQ youth) delivered at a 100-acre ranch with an 11-element graduation curriculum; Big Pink Ribbon™, a trademarked global empowerment project offering complimentary photography sessions to breast cancer survivors; Phoenix Photo Project, which provides free family portraits to natural-disaster victims; and Reach Across America, which delivers child portraits to US military parents deployed overseas. A fifth program, Frequently Forgotten, serves senior citizens in retirement homes. All programs are delivered free of charge to participants, with photography training and execution performed by a roster of world-class volunteer photographers including Pulitzer Prize winner Carol Guzy, Frans Lanting, David Hume Kennerly, Greg Gorman, Doug Menuez, and Russell Brown.

The foundation operates on a donation-based, multi-stream revenue model combining corporate sponsorship (in-kind and cash from Adobe, SanDisk, Manfrotto, FujiFilm, SmugMug, Kroger, HINT water, Walmart, and HomeDepot), individual donations via a website portal and mailed checks, and limited photo sales (such as through the "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" project). There is no pricing for beneficiaries — all programs are free. Distribution is event-driven and community-led: programs are delivered on-site at the ranch, at US military bases, in disaster-affected communities, and globally for Big Pink Ribbon sessions. Marketing relies on earned media (e.g., KRON4 coverage), corporate sponsor amplification, and a Squarespace-hosted website. Leadership consists of Founder Asa Mathat, an Executive Director (Gisela Bushey) with 15-plus years of nonprofit and corporate philanthropy experience, and President Chris Shipley, a former DEMO conference executive producer. Advisory support spans education (Esther Wojcicki), marketing, business development, nonprofit oversight, etiquette, and legal (Lisa Greenwald-Swire, Principal at Fish & Richardson P.C.). Five pipeline partnerships with youth-serving NGOs (Covenant House, BuildOn, YouthCare, TeamChild, Ever Forward) are under development to expand Camp Enlightenment participant sourcing.

Name

asa foundation

Legal name

ASA Foundation

Website

https://asa.foundation

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

ASA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free photography and visual arts programs — including Camp Enlightenment for at-risk youth, Big Pink Ribbon for cancer survivors, Phoenix Photo Project for disaster victims, and Reach Across America for military families — funded by corporate sponsors and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Photography and Visual Arts Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

Keywords

• Youth photography programs
• Nonprofit visual arts
• Charitable photography services
• Breast cancer survivor portraits
• Community portrait services

Headquarters

HQ city

Moss Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors provide financial and product support including software (Adobe), hardware (SanDisk, Manfrotto, FujiFilm), and operational support (SmugMug, Walmart, HomeDepot, Kroger, HINT water).
2. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute via digital donations through the website or by mailing checks to the foundation's P.O. Box in Moss Beach, CA.
3. Photo Sales: Photos captured during daily activities (such as the 'It's Five O'Clock Somewhere' project at Camp Enlightenment) are made available for sale, with proceeds supporting program operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ASA Foundation operates four photography-based charitable programs — Big Pink Ribbon (portraits for breast cancer survivors), Camp Enlightenment (photography for at-risk youth), Phoenix Photo Project (portraiture for natural-disaster victims), and Reach Across America (portraiture for military families) — plus an extended senior-focused initiative called Frequently Forgotten. Programs are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries through a network of elite volunteer photographers and corporate sponsors.

Product overview

ASA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates four distinct photography-based programs focused on youth empowerment, community service, and disaster relief. The core programs include Big Pink Ribbon (breast cancer survivor empowerment), Camp Enlightenment (12-month immersive photography training for at-risk youth), Phoenix Photo Project (free portraits for natural disaster victims), and Reach Across America (military family portraiture). All programs leverage photography and visual arts as tools for inspiration, healing, and community building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Big Pink Ribbon
• Camp Enlightenment
• Phoenix Photo Project
• Reach Across America
• Frequently Forgotten

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Adobe SoftwarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor providing software support for foundation programs and Camp Enlightenment training. Adobe's creative software tools enable youth participants to develop digital photography and design skills.
• SanDiskcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor providing storage hardware for Camp Enlightenment program. Supports youth photography education by ensuring adequate digital storage capacity for student work.
• ManfrottocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor providing professional photography equipment including tripods and support gear for Camp Enlightenment and other foundation programs.
• FujiFilmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor providing camera equipment and photographic supplies for foundation programs and youth photography education.
• SmugMugcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor providing photography hosting and portfolio platform for foundation programs, enabling students to showcase and sell their work.
• KrogerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrocery sponsor providing food and provisions for Camp Enlightenment ranch operations and foundation events.
• HINT waterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeverage sponsor providing hydration products for Camp Enlightenment and foundation program events.
• WalmartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetail sponsor providing general merchandise and supplies for Camp Enlightenment ranch and foundation operations.
• HomeDepotminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetail sponsor providing home improvement supplies and materials for Camp Enlightenment ranch facilities and program infrastructure.
• Covenant HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuture partnership under development. Covenant House serves homeless and runaway youth, aligning with ASA Foundation's focus on at-risk youth empowerment.
• BuildOnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuture partnership under development. BuildOn focuses on youth education and community service, complementing ASA Foundation's service-learning approach.
• YouthCareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuture partnership under development. YouthCare provides services to homeless youth, aligning with ASA Foundation's target demographic for Camp Enlightenment.
• TeamChildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuture partnership under development. TeamChild supports at-risk youth through legal advocacy, potentially extending foundation's reach to youth needing additional services.
• Ever ForwardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuture partnership under development. Ever Forward club supports youth who have aged out of foster care, aligning with ASA Foundation's mission for disadvantaged youth.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aperture Foundation: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to photography as a medium, publishing, exhibitions, and education. Directly comparable as a photography-focused nonprofit that uses the art form to advance cultural and educational missions similar to ASA Foundation's programs.
• International Center of Photography (ICP): A nonprofit school and museum devoted to photography and visual culture, offering educational programs and community outreach. Comparable as a photography-education nonprofit that combines learning with public-facing programming analogous to Camp Enlightenment.
• National YoungArts Foundation: A nonprofit that identifies and supports exceptional young artists across disciplines, including photography, with mentorship and grants. Comparable as a youth-arts nonprofit using mentorship and creative development pathways analogous to Camp Enlightenment's immersive photography program.
• DoSomething.org: A youth-focused nonprofit driving social impact campaigns among young people. Comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit engaging youth through community service and cause-driven projects similar to ASA Foundation's service-learning components.
• Points of Light: A nonprofit that mobilizes volunteers and civic action to address community needs. Comparable in the volunteer-driven service model that powers ASA Foundation's photography programs and the use of community-led empowerment frameworks.
• PhotoVoice: A UK-based nonprofit using photography for social change, empowering marginalized communities through visual storytelling. Closely comparable as a photography-for-impact nonprofit employing visual arts as an empowerment and advocacy tool similar to ASA Foundation's programs.
• Santa Fe Photographic Workshops: A nonprofit educational organization offering immersive photography workshops taught by leading photographers. Comparable in the deep-immersion educational model, world-class photographer faculty, and structured curriculum that mirror Camp Enlightenment's design.
• Creative Capital: A nonprofit arts foundation providing grants and advisory support to innovative artists. Comparable as an arts-focused nonprofit advancing creative careers through funding and mentorship, paralleling the way ASA Foundation channels photography talent and resources to youth beneficiaries.

Broad incumbents

• National Geographic Society: A large established nonprofit advancing exploration, science, and storytelling through photography and visual media. Comparable at a much larger scale as a photography-and-storytelling nonprofit that uses imagery for education and impact, similar to ASA Foundation's mission-driven visual arts programming.

Emerging players

• Covenant House: A nonprofit serving homeless and trafficked youth with housing, education, and supportive services. Comparable in target demographic - at-risk, runaway, and homeless youth - that Camp Enlightenment serves, and is also listed as a future ASA Foundation partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 asa foundation