Organizations

 

 Introduction: Preserving a Living Legacy

The story of Italians in California is not only found in old photographs, churches, or historic neighborhoods—it lives on through the organizations, clubs, and institutions that have carried that heritage forward for generations.

From national groups like the National Italian American Foundation and UNICO National to local societies such as the Italian Heritage Society of the Monterey Peninsula and the Italian American Heritage Society of San Diego, these institutions were often founded by immigrants and their descendants who wanted to preserve their language, traditions, faith, and sense of community in a new land.

Over time, their role has expanded. Today, they are not just guardians of history—they are active cultural centers, hosting festivals, supporting education, promoting business networks, advocating for Italian American representation, and creating spaces where heritage can be experienced in real, everyday life.

Joining or supporting these organizations matters because it keeps that legacy alive. It ensures that the stories of Italian fishermen in San Diego, farmers in the Central Valley, and families in neighborhoods like North Beach and San Pedro are not forgotten—but shared, celebrated, and passed on.

In a state as vast and diverse as California, these groups remind us of something simple but powerful:

Italian culture here is not just something to remember—it is something still being lived.

Italian California Institutions Guide

This master directory brings together the national, statewide, regional, religious, museum, heritage, business, and community organizations that help preserve and promote Italian and Italian American life in California.

Sections: National Organizations • California Statewide Institutions • San Diego • Los Angeles • Monterey & Central Coast • San Jose & Santa Clara Valley • Sacramento • Fresno & Central Valley • San Francisco & Bay Area • Business & Professional Networks

National Italian American Organizations

National Italian American Foundation (NIAF)
Website: https://www.niaf.org
Address: 1860 19th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Phone: (202) 939-3100

Italian American Congressional Delegation
Info: https://www.niaf.org/programs/government-relations/

Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO)
Website: https://copomiao.org

Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA)
Website: https://www.osdia.org
Address: 219 E St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 547-2900

UNICO National
Website: https://www.unico.org
Address: 271 US-46 W, Suite F-209, Fairfield, NJ 07004
Phone: (973) 808-0310

Italian American Future Leaders (IAFL)
Website: https://www.iafuture.org
About: https://www.iafuture.org/about
Convention / application info: https://iafuture.org/apply-info

National Organization of Italian American Women (NOIAW)
Website: https://www.noiaw.org

California Statewide Institutions

Italian Caucus of California
California Legislature: https://www.legislature.ca.gov
Legislators & Districts: https://www.legislature.ca.gov/legislators_and_districts.html
Location: California State Capitol, Sacramento, CA
General Capitol Phone: (916) 324-0333

Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles
Website: https://iiclosangeles.esteri.it
Address: 1023 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, CA

Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco
Website: https://iicsanfrancisco.esteri.it
Address: 710 Sansome St, San Francisco, CA

San Diego Institutions, Clubs, and Heritage Organizations

Little Italy Association of San Diego
Website: https://www.littleitalysd.com
Contact: https://www.littleitalysd.com/about/contact-us
Address: 2210 Columbia Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 233-3898

Convivio Society / Amici House
Website: https://conviviosociety.org
Heritage page: https://conviviosociety.org/heritage/
Address: 221 W Date St, San Diego, CA 92101

Italian American Heritage Society of San Diego
Website: https://italianamericanhs.org/

Italian Archives of San Diego
Website: https://italianarchives.org

Italian Cultural Center of San Diego
Website: https://icc-sd.org
Contact: https://icc-sd.org/contact/
Neighborhood listing: 1629 Columbia St, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 237-0601
Email: info@icc-sd.org

House of Italy, Balboa Park
Website: https://houseofitalysandiego.org
Contact: https://houseofitalysandiego.org/home/contact-us/
Address: 2191 Pan American Rd W, San Diego, CA 92101
Email: houseofitaly@houseofitalysandiego.org

Italian American Business Professionals of San Diego
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/italianamericanbusinesssd

San Diego Italian Festa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sditalianfesta

United Italian American Association
Website: https://uiaasd.com/

American Italian Club of Vista
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/American-Italian-Club-of-Vista-California-100064873950488/

Fratellanza Garibaldina Lodge #1627 (OSDIA / Sons and Daughters of Italy)
Website: https://sonsofitalysandiego.org/

Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church
Website: https://olrsd.org
Contact: https://olrsd.org/our-history/contact-us/
Address: 1629 Columbia St, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 234-4820
Email: parish@olrsd.org

Los Angeles Area

Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA)
Website: https://www.iamla.org
Contact: https://www.iamla.org/contact-museum/
Address: 644 N Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 485-8432
Email: info@italianhall.org

St. Peter’s Italian Catholic Church
Website: https://stpeteritalianchurchla.org
Contact: https://stpeteritalianchurchla.org/contact-us
Address: 1039 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (323) 225-8119

Little Italy of Los Angeles Association (LILAA)
Website: https://lilaa.org
Address: 638 S Beacon St, San Pedro, CA
Phone: (310) 896-5204
Email: info@lilaa.org

Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles
Website: https://conslosangeles.esteri.it

Monterey & the Central Coast

Italian Heritage Society of the Monterey Peninsula
Website: https://www.italianheritagemonterey.org/
Contact / mailing info: https://www.italianheritagemonterey.org/copy-of-about
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 367, Monterey, CA 93942
Email: italianheritagesocietymonterey@gmail.com

San Jose & Santa Clara Valley

Italian American Heritage Foundation
Website: https://www.iahfsj.org/
Address: 425 N 4th St, San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: (408) 293-7122
Email: iahfsj@iahfsj.org

Italian Family Festa
Website: https://www.italianfamilyfestasj.org/
Organizer: Italian American Heritage Foundation

Little Italy San Jose
Website: https://www.littleitalysj.com/
Events: https://www.littleitalysj.com/events
Address: 323 W Saint John St, San Jose, CA 95110
Email: joshua@littleitalysj.com

Italian Catholic Federation — San Jose Branch 191
Parish page: https://sfcabrini.org/parish-life/italian-catholic-federation/
Parish: St. Frances Cabrini
Contact: Robert Basuino
Phone: (408) 439-1758

Italian Catholic Federation — San Jose Branch 368
Parish page: https://santateresachurch.com/icf/
Parish: Santa Teresa
Contacts: Mary Ridi and Kathy Schroeder
Phones: (408) 892-1588 / (408) 313-6740

Sacramento Region

Italian Cultural Society of Northern California / Italian Center
Website: https://www.italiancenter.net/
Address: 6821 Fair Oaks Blvd, Carmichael, CA 95608
Phone: (916) 482-5900
Email: italy@italiancenter.net

Italian Catholic Federation — Sacramento Branch 45
Website: https://www.icf.org/sacramento/
Main branch directory: https://www.icf.org/membership/branches/list/
Parish: St. Mary
Contact: Janine Orsi
Phone: (916) 508-1199

Fresno & the Central Valley

Italian Heritage Museum Exhibit
Exhibit page: https://www.fresnofair.com/p/education/museums/italian-heritage-museum-exhibit
Main fair site: https://www.fresnofair.com/
Location: Fresno County Historical Museum, 1121 S Chance Ave, Fresno, CA 93702
Phone: (559) 650-3247

Italian Catholic Federation — Fresno Branch 185
Directory: https://www.icf.org/membership/branches/list/
Parish: Sacred Heart
Contact: Michael Caglia
Phone: (559) 360-8332

Italian Catholic Federation — Fresno Branch 308
Directory: https://www.icf.org/membership/branches/list/
Parish: St. Anthony of Padua
Contact: Russell Renna
Phone: (559) 355-4050

Italian Catholic Federation — Fresno Branch 417
Directory: https://www.icf.org/membership/branches/list/
Parish: Holy Spirit
Contact: Frank Parisi
Phone: (559) 840-2644

Honorary Vice Consulate of Italy in Fresno
Consular network: https://conssanfrancisco.esteri.it/en/chi-siamo/la-rete-consolare/
Address: 2125 Merced St, Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (559) 268-8776
Email: fresno.onorario@esteri.it

San Francisco & Bay Area

Museo ItaloAmericano
Website: https://sfmuseo.org
Contact: https://sfmuseo.org/contact-us/
Address: Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd, Building C, San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: (415) 673-2200
Email: info@sfmuseo.org

Coalition of Italian American Organizations of the Bay Area (CIAO Bay Area)
Website: https://www.ciaobayarea.com

Italian Community Services
Website: https://www.italiancs.org

San Francisco Italian Heritage Parade
Website: https://sfitalianheritage.org

San Francisco Italian Athletic Club
Website: https://www.sfiac.org

South San Francisco Italian American Citizens Club
Website: https://ssfiacc.org
Location: 783 Tennis Dr, Orange Memorial Park, South San Francisco, CA 94080
Mailing Address: PO Box 5674, South San Francisco, CA 94083-5674
Email: iacc.ssf@yahoo.com

Italian American Club of Rossmoor
Website: https://italianamericanclub.org

Business & Professional Networks

Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West
Website: https://www.iaccw.net

Business Association Italy America (BAIA)
Website: https://baia.org