TRI Cap

What TRI Cap does

Tri-County Action Program, Inc. (TRI Cap / Tri-CAP) is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) Community Action Agency founded in 1965 and headquartered at 1210 23rd Ave S, Waite Park, Minnesota. The organization delivers a comprehensive suite of social services to low-income individuals, families, seniors, and people with disabilities across central Minnesota, organized into three programmatic pillars: Basic Needs (energy assistance, weatherization, food resources, housing, public transportation, volunteer driver program), Self-Sufficiency (DRIVE vehicle program, money management, Rebuilding Lives, free tax preparation/VITA, Child Care Access), and Building Stability (FAIM asset-building, home ownership, weatherization). Service delivery combines direct assistance, volunteer labor, and a network of community partnerships, with transportation supported through demand-response transit, volunteer drivers, and the Token Transit mobile app across four transit garages (Elk River, Little Falls, Milaca, Sauk Centre) in addition to the Waite Park headquarters.

The organization operates a hybrid nonprofit revenue model anchored by government grants, with secondary funding from foundation grants, individual donations, and limited client fees. Primary funding sources include the Minnesota Community Action Grant and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) administered through the Office of Economic Opportunity, as well as pass-through funds from the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families for Child Care Access. Notable foundation and corporate funding includes a $4.7 million ARRA weatherization grant (2011), a $55,000 Otto Bremer Trust grant (2019), and a $25,000 donation from Stearns Bank and the Norman C. Skalicky Foundation (2019). Services are provided free or at reduced cost based on income eligibility; the organization's own disclosure acknowledges that 'government aid and foundation grants are not enough to cover the growing needs of people in crisis.'

TRI Cap is governed by an 18-member volunteer Board of Directors structured as a tripartite body with six elected officials, six consumer representatives, and six public-at-large representatives. Executive Director Colleen Orne oversees grant contracts and operations. The organization is operationally stable but lightly digitized: the disclosed technology footprint consists of Token Transit for ride scheduling, SurveyMonkey for feedback collection, and a WordPress-based website, with no API, mobile application, or AI/ML capabilities evidenced. Strategic activity is focused on a 2024 rebranding, ADA compliance formalization (October 2024), geographic expansion to additional counties, and execution of a published 2026-2030 Strategic Plan.

Name

TRI Cap

Legal name

Tri-County Action Program, Inc.

Website

https://tricap.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

TRI Cap is a 1965-founded nonprofit Community Action Agency delivering energy assistance, weatherization, transportation, housing, food, tax preparation, and self-sufficiency programs to low-income individuals, families, seniors, and people with disabilities across central Minnesota.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Action Social Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLADALAK

Community Resources, Social Services & Transportation Coordination

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Elder Care & Long-Term Care/Senior Care Coordination & Case Management (Geriatric Care Management)

SECONDARYTLAFAKAH

Volunteer Driver & Community Transportation Programs

Transportation & Logistics/Passenger Transportation (Air, Rail, Bus, Taxi/Rideshare)/Paratransit & Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)

SECONDARYTLAFAKAJ

School-Age Special Needs Transportation (IEP/504)

Transportation & Logistics/Passenger Transportation (Air, Rail, Bus, Taxi/Rideshare)/Paratransit & Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)

Keywords

• Community action services
• Energy assistance program
• Weatherization services
• Public transportation services
• Social services nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Waite Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Tri-CAP receives Minnesota Community Action Grant and Community Services Block Grant funds from the Office of Economic Opportunity, as well as funding from the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families for Child Care Access programs.
2. Foundation Grants: Received $25,000 donation from Stearns Bank and Norman C. Skalicky Foundation; received $55,000 grant from Otto Bremer Trust to support the Tax Program.
3. Donations: Individual donations are tax deductible and support crisis situations where government aid and foundation grants are insufficient.
4. Client Fees: Some programs like transportation services involve fees charged to clients.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

TRI Cap is a private nonprofit Community Action Program that delivers antipoverty social services to low-income residents of central Minnesota. It provides energy bill assistance and home weatherization, demand-response public transportation and volunteer driver services, food resource coordination, housing assistance, free tax preparation (VITA), child care access for homeless families, money management counseling, the DRIVE vehicle donation/repair/sales program, and the FAIM matched asset-building program. Services are delivered directly through offices in Waite Park and satellite transit garages across Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and surrounding counties.

Product overview

TRI Cap (Tri-County Action Program) is a private, non-profit Community Action Agency that provides a comprehensive suite of social services to low-income residents in central Minnesota. The organization operates multiple interconnected programs across three core areas: Basic Needs (energy assistance, food resources, housing, transportation), Self-Sufficiency (DRIVE vehicle program, money management, tax preparation, child care access), and Building Stability (FAIM asset-building, weatherization, home ownership). Services are delivered through a combination of direct assistance, volunteer programs, and community partnerships, with transportation services available through demand-response transit, volunteer drivers, and the Token Transit mobile app. The organization serves Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and surrounding counties, funded through government grants, foundation support, and individual donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Energy Assistance Program Provides energy bill assistance and weatherization services to help low-income households reduce energy costs and maintain adequate heating.
• Weatherization Assistance Program Home weatherization services that improve energy efficiency and reduce heating costs for qualifying households.
• Public Transportation Services Demand-response and public transportation services providing rides for residents in central Minnesota counties.
• Volunteer Driver Program Volunteer drivers provide transportation using personal or agency vehicles for medical appointments and other essential trips.
• DRIVE Vehicle Program Vehicle program helping low-income individuals and families gain access to reliable transportation through vehicle donations, repairs, and sales.
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program Free tax preparation services for low-income individuals and families to help maximize tax refunds and access credits.
• Child Care Access Assists families experiencing homelessness in obtaining and maintaining county childcare assistance, providing supplies like diapers and car seats.
• FAIM (Family Assets for Independence in MN) Asset-building program offering 3:1 matching funds up to $16,000 for vehicle purchases, homeownership, small business development, or higher education.
• Money Management Services Financial counseling and money management assistance to help families achieve economic stability.
• Home Ownership Program Resources and support to help low-income families achieve homeownership.
• Food Resources Connects residents with food assistance programs and community meal resources.
• Housing Assistance Housing support services to help families find and maintain stable housing.
• Rebuilding Lives Program Support program for individuals and families facing challenging life transitions, providing resources and assistance.
• Vehicle Donation Program Accepts donated vehicles which are then refurbished and sold at affordable prices to low-income individuals, or sold with proceeds supporting transportation programs.
• Student Transportation Services Transportation services for students including token-based rides to educational programs.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Family Assets for Independence Minnesota (FAIM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAIM is an asset building program that provides 3:1 match opportunities for participants to receive up to $16,000 for vehicle purchase, homeownership, small business development, or higher education costs.
• Minnesota Department of Human ServicescoreOthersState government agency providing funding and oversight for various social service programs administered by Tri-CAP.
• Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and FamiliescoreOthersFunds the Child Care Access program that helps families experiencing homelessness obtain and maintain county childcare assistance.
• United Way of Central MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing support and referrals for families in need of social services across central Minnesota.
• Central MN Housing PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for housing-related services and resources.
• St. Cloud HRAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing and Redevelopment Authority partner for housing assistance programs.
• MinnCAPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide association of Community Action Programs that provides networking, advocacy, and support for Minnesota CAP agencies.
• MN Community ActioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide association providing support and coordination for Community Action Programs in Minnesota.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mahube-Otwa Community Action Partnership: A Minnesota Community Action Agency serving low-income households across multiple central and west-central Minnesota counties. Closest direct peer in mission, funding structure, and program mix (energy assistance, weatherization, transportation, housing, self-sufficiency).
• 360 Communities: Minnesota-based nonprofit providing crisis services, housing support, food resources, and violence intervention across Dakota County. Comparable in delivering grant-funded wraparound social services to low-income residents.
• ITN America (Independent Transportation Network): National nonprofit pioneering volunteer-driver-based transportation for seniors and people with visual impairment. Highly comparable business model to TRI Cap's Volunteer Driver Program and demand-response public transportation services.
• Stearns County Housing and Redevelopment Authority: Local government housing agency operating in TRI Cap's primary service county. Comparable in administering HUD- and state-funded housing assistance programs for low-income households in the same geographic footprint.
• Central Minnesota Housing Partnership: Regional nonprofit serving the same central Minnesota geography as TRI Cap, focused on affordable housing development and support. Comparable in serving overlapping client populations and partnering with the same local government and foundation ecosystem.

Regional players

• St. Cloud Metro Bus (St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission): Regional public transit agency operating in the St. Cloud metro area that overlaps TRI Cap's core service geography. Comparable in delivering demand-response and fixed-route transportation in central Minnesota, but with a more transit-focused mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota: A large Minnesota nonprofit delivering a comparable wraparound portfolio including housing, refugee services, aging services, and transportation. Operates statewide with a much broader footprint and larger budget than TRI Cap, making it a scaled incumbent peer.
• Volunteers of America Minnesota: Statewide nonprofit providing housing, recovery, mental health, and senior services across Minnesota. Comparable mission of serving vulnerable populations with government-grant-supported programming.
• Goodwill Industries of the Heartland: Regional Goodwill operating across Iowa and southern Minnesota providing workforce development, financial coaching, and transportation programs. Comparable in the workforce-development and financial-coaching service lines that overlap with TRI Cap's self-sufficiency portfolio.

Others

• National Community Action Partnership: National membership and advocacy association for the 1,000+ Community Action Agencies in the U.S. Not a direct competitor, but the institutional peer representing the entire CAP sector that TRI Cap operates within and is affiliated with through MinnCAP.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tricapcentralmn
• Facebookfacebook.com/mntricap
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tri-county-action-program

Compliance2 records

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

Investments10 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TRI Cap