Catalyst Miami

What Catalyst Miami does

Catalyst Miami is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1996 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, that operates an integrated portfolio of direct-service and community-organizing programs targeting low-income residents of Miami-Dade County. Its core offerings span Financial & Health Services (financial coaching, credit building, health insurance enrollment, income-support navigation), the Worker-Owned Business Program (cooperative incubator), Small Business Support (one-on-one technical assistance for micro and small businesses), Future Bound Miami (Florida's first universal Children's Savings Account program for all M-DCPS kindergarteners), free IRS-certified Tax Preparation, an Energy Savings Program (weatherization and utility rebates), and a Policy & Engagement stack (CLEAR/LIGHT/HEAL leadership trainings, Miami Climate Alliance convening, Catalyst to the Capital advocacy trips, Community Champions neighborhood organizing). The organization also extends capacity-building to peer nonprofits via the Florida Thrives program.

The business model is grant- and donation-funded rather than revenue-generating: services are free to income-qualifying residents, and funding streams include foundation and corporate grants (notably a $1M JPMorgan Chase grant in 2021 for community property cooperatives and Kresge Foundation support for climate-justice initiatives), Miami-Dade County contracts (including a $500,000 County Commission grant for universal CSAs), state-level healthcare policy coalitions, and individual donations via Catalysts for Change monthly giving and Give Miami Day. Catalyst Miami reaches its constituents through community-led GTM motion — grassroots organizing, direct service appointments, coalition referrals across 100+ partner organizations, and community events — rather than traditional advertising channels. Operational credibility is reinforced by Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, a Charity Navigator four-star rating, and a Citizens' 2026 Champions in Action award.

Technology infrastructure is intentionally light: a NationBuilder website platform, standard nonprofit CRM and data-management systems for client intake, and standard office productivity tools — with no proprietary AI/ML components or tech-product revenue lines. Leadership under CEO Zelalem Adefris (appointed April 2023) comprises a CFO, Chief Programs Officer, VP of Policy and Community Engagement, and senior directors across economic justice, grassroots leadership, policy & advocacy, advancement, climate, and small business verticals, supported by approximately 20 additional program staff.

Name

Catalyst Miami

Legal name

Catalyst Miami

Website

https://catalystmiami.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Catalyst Miami is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996 that delivers free financial coaching, health-coverage enrollment, worker-owned business incubation, small-business support, children's savings accounts (Future Bound Miami), tax preparation, and policy advocacy to low-income residents of Miami-Dade County, serving 19,105 community members in 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

Keywords

• Community economic development
• Financial coaching services
• Health insurance enrollment
• Worker cooperative development
• Policy advocacy organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

Homestead

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Catalyst Miami receives funding from foundations and corporations including JPMorgan Chase ($1 million grant for North Miami community property cooperative), The Kresge Foundation (climate justice initiatives), Citi Community Development (Future Bound Miami), and other institutional funders. These are typically multi-year grants supporting specific programs.
2. Government Contracts and Funding: Miami-Dade County funding for prosperity services, County Commission grants ($500k for universal Children's Savings Accounts), and state/federal program partnerships. Services are funded in part by Miami-Dade County.
3. Individual Donations: Give Miami Day fundraising, Catalysts for Change monthly giving program, and general donations. The organization has four-star rating from Charity Navigator.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Catalyst Miami is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization that provides free direct services and policy advocacy to low-income residents of Miami-Dade County. Its core offerings combine one-on-one financial coaching, health insurance enrollment, free tax preparation, small business technical assistance, worker cooperative development, children's savings accounts, energy savings support, and grassroots leadership training — all delivered free to income-qualifying community members.

Product overview

Catalyst Miami operates as a community economic justice organization offering an integrated suite of direct service and advocacy programs. The core offerings include Financial & Health Services (financial coaching, credit building, health enrollment), the Worker-Owned Business Program (cooperative incubator), Small Business Support (technical assistance), Future Bound Miami (children's savings accounts), Tax Preparation (VITA free tax filing), Energy Savings Program, and Policy & Engagement initiatives (leadership training, advocacy, coalition building). Florida Thrives extends capacity-building support to other nonprofits. These programs are designed to work synergistically — clients receiving direct services are also engaged in policy education and leadership development, creating pathways for collective action.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Future Bound Miami: Florida's first universal children's savings account program, providing CSAs to kindergarten students across Miami-Dade County Public Schools to help children prepare for college or postsecondary education.
• Worker-Owned Business Program

Products and services

• Financial & Health Services A high-touch direct service combining one-on-one financial coaching (budgeting, credit building, savings) with health coverage enrollment assistance (Medicaid, ACA, CHIP) and navigation of income supports (SNAP, TANF). Offered free to income-qualifying Miami-Dade residents. (Note: certain coaching services temporarily paused through May 2026.)
• Worker-Owned Business Program Technical assistance program that helps Miami-Dade residents learn about and create worker cooperatives, offering incubator services, education workshops, governance support, and loan/grant application assistance for cooperative businesses. Targets workers seeking decision-making power, shared profits, and community wealth-building opportunities.
• Small Business Support One-on-one coaching and technical assistance for early-stage small businesses and sole proprietors in Miami-Dade County, covering business modeling, loan applications, incorporation, marketing strategy, permits, and bookkeeping. Free to qualifying local entrepreneurs.
• Future Bound Miami (Children's Savings Accounts) Florida's first universal Children's Savings Account (CSA) program, providing free long-term savings accounts to kindergarten students across Miami-Dade County Public Schools to support postsecondary education; as of 2023, it reached scale to potentially be the largest CSA program of its kind in the country.
• Tax Preparation IRS-certified free tax preparation services for households earning $67,000 or less, persons with disabilities, and non-English speakers, offered during tax season via virtual appointments (Zoom, Wednesdays/Thursdays 12-9pm and biweekly Saturdays 10am-2:30pm), with in-person accommodations available upon request.
• Energy Savings Program Programs helping Miami-Dade residents reduce power bills and access rebates, including weatherization assistance, water rebates, My Safe FL home wind-mitigation grants, and FPL Care to Share emergency utility assistance.
• Policy & Engagement Community organizing and advocacy initiatives including leadership training programs (CLEAR for climate, LIGHT for health, HEAL for housing), Miami Our Way participatory processes, Catalyst to the Capital annual Tallahassee advocacy trips, Community Champions neighborhood organizing, and Miami Climate Alliance coalition building. Targets Miami-Dade frontline communities.
• Florida Thrives Capacity-building community of practice developed with the South Florida Community Development Coalition, coaching local community-based organizations in performance over planning to improve program quality, revenue, and operational efficiency in economic development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served 19,105 community members in 2025 (up from 16,532 in 2024)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Future Bound Miami PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Initial funding from Citi Community Development, The Children's Trust and United Way of Miami-Dade. Now has more than a dozen partners including Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center, and others. First universal Children's Savings Account program in Florida, potentially the largest CSA program in the country at scale.
• Miami Climate AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Convened by Catalyst Miami in 2015. Now comprises 100+ organizations, local residents, and nationwide experts. Dedicated to building urgency, power, and cohesion around climate change and sea level rise. Led to creation of County's Office of Resilience and first Chief Resilience Officer.
• Florida Voices for HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide coalition partner for Medicaid expansion advocacy. Consumer State Advocacy Project includes partners and community members from across the state, using national healthcare policy as benchmark for increasing access to care.
• South Florida Community Development CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated to develop Florida Thrives, a capacity-building program that coaches local community-based organizations in performance over planning, particularly related to economic development.
• Sant La Haitian Neighborhood CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Future Bound Miami and referral partner for prosperity services. Provides services to Haitian community in Miami.
• FIU Jorge M. Pérez Metro CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on civic engagement briefs and research projects including Miami's Wealth Gap oral history collection.
• Miami-Dade CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding for prosperity services. County Commission granted $500k for universal Children's Savings Accounts. Partner on resilience and climate initiatives including Office of Resilience.
• CLEO InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate justice partner. Staff member Bereatha Howard serves as Climate Equity Program Coordinator at CLEO Institute.
• Partners for Self-EmploymentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development partner supporting small business and cooperative development in Miami-Dade.
• Florida Policy InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level policy advocacy partner, particularly for Medicaid expansion and healthcare access campaigns.
• Self Help Credit UnionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner for financial coaching services. Provides safe banking alternatives and lending circles for credit building.
• Beyond the BarsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOptional referral partnership for clients with criminal records seeking employment support. 501c3 nonprofit building social and economic power of workers with criminal records.
• Hispanic UnitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner for public benefits, affordable health care navigation, and financial coaching services.
• BranchesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner for financial coaching and education services.
• Legal Services of Greater MiamimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner for legal assistance related to housing, immigration, and other issues affecting low-income communities.
• PACT - People Acting for Community TogethermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organizing coalition partner holding Miami's public officials accountable for fair policies and practices.
• Florida RisingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrassroots organizing partner for progressive policy advocacy in Florida.
• Florida Health Justice ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare advocacy partner for Medicaid expansion and health equity initiatives.
• Sierra ClubmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental advocacy partner for climate justice initiatives.
• Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater MiamimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing and community development partner.
• Overtown Children & Youth CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner for Overtown community engagement and youth development.
• Urban League of Greater MiamimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic justice and civil rights partner.
• University of Miami Office of Civic & Community EngagementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for civic engagement initiatives.
• KivaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMicro-lending platform partner for small business financing support.
• ProsperamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmall business development partner, part of national network supporting Hispanic business development.
• Dream in GreenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate and environmental education partner.
• GirlTrekminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth equity partner focusing on Black women's walking movements and advocacy.
• 305 Pink PackminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth services partner supporting individuals affected by breast cancer.
• Jessie Trice Community Health CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederally Qualified Health Center partner for healthcare access services.
• Black to the Future Action FundmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack organizing and political power-building partner.
• Engage MiamimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivic engagement and youth voting partner.
• Transit AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransportation equity advocacy partner.
• South Florida AFL-CIOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor movement partner for worker rights and economic justice.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Branches: Branches is a Miami-Dade nonprofit providing financial coaching, credit-building, small business development, and youth programs to working families. It is a direct referral partner for Catalyst Miami's financial coaching services and competes for the same foundation funding pools targeting asset-building in South Florida.
• Hispanic Unity of Florida: Hispanic Unity of Florida is an integrated services nonprofit in Broward County providing workforce development, immigration legal services, financial coaching, and civic engagement to immigrant families. It operates the same direct-services-plus-advocacy model as Catalyst Miami, targeting low-income immigrant communities in South Florida, and is a documented referral partner.
• Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center: Sant La is a Miami-based nonprofit serving the Haitian-American community with social services, workforce development, youth programs, and civic engagement. It co-leads the Future Bound Miami partnership with Catalyst Miami and operates the same integrated services-plus-advocacy model focused on a specific South Florida demographic.
• Engage Miami: Engage Miami is a Miami-based nonprofit focused on youth civic engagement and voter mobilization. It is a documented Catalyst Miami partner, shares target demographics (young people in Miami-Dade), and overlaps on the community engagement and civic participation programs.
• Urban League of Greater Miami: Urban League of Greater Miami delivers workforce development, entrepreneurship support, housing counseling, and civil rights advocacy for Black communities in Miami-Dade. It is a documented Catalyst Miami partner and competes for similar economic justice and civil rights foundation funding in the same geography.
• PACT (People Acting for Community Together): PACT is a Miami-Dade interfaith community organizing coalition that trains local leaders to hold public officials accountable through collective action. It is a documented Catalyst Miami partner and operates the same grassroots organizing and policy advocacy model in the same geography.
• Jessie Trice Community Health Center: Jessie Trice is a Federally Qualified Health Center serving low-income Miami-Dade residents with primary care, behavioral health, and health insurance enrollment. It is a documented referral partner for Catalyst Miami's healthcare access work and overlaps directly on health enrollment and community health navigation services.

Broad incumbents

• United Way of Miami-Dade: United Way of Miami-Dade is the largest community-based fundraising and grantmaking organization in the county. It was an initial funder of Future Bound Miami and partners with Catalyst Miami on community initiatives, but operates at a much larger scale as a broad intermediary rather than a direct service provider.
• Center for Popular Democracy: Center for Popular Democracy is a national network of progressive community organizing affiliates running state and local campaigns on economic, racial, and immigrant justice. It operates as a larger umbrella for community organizing work that Catalyst Miami and its Miami Climate Alliance coalition resemble at the local level.

Emerging players

• Make the Road New York: Make the Road is a nationally recognized integrated services + advocacy organization serving immigrant and working-class communities through direct legal and social services combined with policy campaigns. It operates the same member-led organizing model that Catalyst Miami is building in Miami-Dade but at larger scale and on the East Coast.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/catalystmiami
• Facebookfacebook.com/CatalystMiami

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Catalyst Miami