SERCAP

What SERCAP does

SERCAP (Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1969 in Roanoke, Virginia, originally as the Demonstration Water Project. It operates as the Southeast Regional Partner in the national RCAP (Rural Community Action Partnership) network, serving low-to-moderate income individuals and rural communities across seven contiguous states — Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Its core service lines span four areas: water and wastewater infrastructure (technical assistance, operator training, facilities development grants); housing rehabilitation (Indoor Plumbing & Rehabilitation Flex program, Lead Hazard Reduction, CDBG projects, housing counseling); community development loans and grants via a Certified CDFI loan fund; and small business / economic development services (ELI entrepreneurial mindset training, small business loans, Pathways for Prosperity CEDs planning).

Financially, SERCAP runs a grant-funded operating model with revenue drawn from at least nine distinct federal and state funding instruments — USDA Rural Development grants (10.761, 10.762), EPA grants (66.203, 66.424, 66.436, 66.446), HHS Office of Community Services (93.570), the CDFI Fund at Treasury (21.020), and Virginia General Assembly budget appropriations administered by DHCD — supplemented by individual and corporate donations and interest income from its certified loan portfolio (1% interest on household loans). Services are delivered directly through regional staff across the seven states via a sales-led, field-deployed GTM motion with referral channels through county governments, Department of Social Services, and DHCD. Pricing is needs-based, with grant amounts ranging from $1,000–$4,000+ and household loan products priced at 1% interest (e.g., $131.41/month on a $15,000 loan).

In FY2023, SERCAP invested $6.4 million directly into communities and LMI individuals, positively impacting 150,000+ residents across 240+ communities (alternate figures cite $2.8M invested and 550,000+ individuals impacted for the 2023/2024 Program Year). The organization maintains 11–50 employees, is governed by a board of directors, and is led by President & CEO Hope F. Cupit. No technology APIs, software products, or AI capabilities are documented; the underlying "technology" is operational domain expertise in water/wastewater engineering, HUD housing rehabilitation, and CDFI-compliant lending.

Name

SERCAP

Legal name

Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc.

Website

https://sercap.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SERCAP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1969, headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, that delivers water, wastewater, housing rehabilitation, and small business programs to low-to-moderate income individuals and rural communities across seven southeastern U.S. states under a federal grant-funded operating model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Community Development Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH)

Keywords

• Rural water infrastructure
• Wastewater technical assistance
• Affordable housing rehabilitation
• Community development loans
• Water operator training

Headquarters

HQ city

Roanoke

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Grant Funding: SERCAP operates as a nonprofit receiving federal grants from multiple agencies including OCS/HHS (Grant 93.570), USDA Rural Development (Grants 10.761, 10.762), EPA (Grants 66.203, 66.424, 66.436, 66.446), and CDFI/Treasury (Grant 21.020). These grants fund training, technical assistance, and financial assistance programs for communities and individuals.
2. State Budget Appropriation (Virginia): State funding from Virginia General Assembly Budget Appropriation administered by DHCD, supporting all Virginia programs including housing, water/wastewater, and community development services.
3. Individual and Corporate Donations: Donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, and foundations supporting the Annual Fund and Water Is Life! Fund, used to assist those outside eligibility requirements of other funders.
4. Loan Fund Program Income: Revenue generated from loan program income including interest payments on individual household loans, community development loans, and small business loans through the Certified CDFI Loan Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SERCAP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community development organization that delivers training, technical assistance, and financial assistance (grants and low-interest loans) to rural communities and low-to-moderate income (LMI) individuals across seven southeastern states. Its core programs cover drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, housing rehabilitation (including indoor plumbing and lead hazard reduction), small business lending, and continuing education for water/wastewater operators, funded primarily through federal and state grants, donations, and loan program income.

Product overview

SERCAP is a nonprofit community development organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services rather than a unified software product. The organization provides Training to Water/Wastewater Operators and Boards, Technical Assistance to Water and Wastewater Systems, and Facilities Development Grants for water/wastewater infrastructure projects. Financial services include Community Development Loans through a Certified CDFI Loan Fund, Individual Household Loans, and Essential & Critical Needs Program grants. Housing programs encompass the Indoor Plumbing & Rehabilitation Flex (IPR-Flex), Lead Hazard Reduction (LHR) Program, Housing Counseling Services, and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Projects. Economic development offerings include the Pathways for Prosperity planning program, ELI Entrepreneurial Mindset Training, Business Development Services, and Small Business Loan Products. These programs work together to provide holistic support to rural communities and low-to-moderate income individuals across the southeast United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Training to Water/Wastewater Operators and Boards Professional training programs for water/wastewater system operators and board members covering chemical dosage calculations, lead in drinking water, stormwater management, and continuing education to maintain compliance and operational excellence. Delivered free to participants in SERCAP's seven-state service region.
• Technical Assistance to Water and Wastewater Systems Expert technical guidance and support for community water and wastewater systems, including emergency response plans, security vulnerability assessments, well drilling, septic installation, and system maintenance, delivered to rural community water systems and local governments.
• Facilities Development Grants Grant funding for water and wastewater infrastructure projects supporting community facility development for rural communities and local government groups.
• Community Development Loans Affordable financing through SERCAP's Certified CDFI Loan Fund for water and wastewater community development projects, supporting rural communities and local government groups.
• Essential & Critical Needs Program Grant program providing financial assistance (from $1,000 to $4,000+) to low-to-moderate income homeowners for critical water and wastewater needs including well pump repairs and septic tank replacements.
• Individual Household Loans Affordable loan products for individuals to address household water and wastewater needs including well installation and septic system replacement. Interest rate of 1% with monthly payment of $131.41 for a $15,000 loan amount.
• Indoor Plumbing & Rehabilitation Flex (IPR-Flex) Housing rehabilitation program providing assistance for indoor plumbing repairs, substantial reconstruction, and home repairs for low-income homeowners with substandard housing conditions.
• Lead Hazard Reduction (LHR) Program Program addressing critical lead paint hazards in homes for low-to-moderate income households to ensure safe living conditions.
• Housing Counseling Services HUD-approved housing counseling services including credit improvement programs, homebuyer education, and financial literacy support delivered as a sub-grantee of Virginia Housing's housing counseling grant programs.
• SWAP (Septic and Well Assistance Program) Virginia-specific program providing assistance with septic system and well issues for eligible homeowners in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Projects Housing rehabilitation services delivered in partnership with Virginia DHCD through Community Development Block Grant funding for owner-occupied homes in rural Virginia communities.
• Pathways for Prosperity (OCS CEDs Planning Program) Economic development planning program supporting community-wide prosperity initiatives through comprehensive economic development strategies (CEDS), funded by HHS Office of Community Services.
• ELI Entrepreneurial Mindset Training Entrepreneurial mindset training program (Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative) designed to help entrepreneurs develop skills and attitudes necessary for business success.
• Business Development Services Comprehensive support services for small business owners including technical assistance and resources for business growth in rural areas.
• Small Business Loan Product Affordable financing options for small business owners and entrepreneurs to start or expand their businesses, provided through SERCAP's Certified CDFI Loan Fund.
• Environmental Finance Center EPA-funded program (Grant 66.203) providing environmental finance expertise and support to help communities develop sustainable water and wastewater financing strategies.

Quantifiable outcome

• $6.4 Million invested directly into communities in FY2023
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RCAP (Rural Community Action Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1969SERCAP is the Southeast Regional Partner for the national RCAP network, a network of six Nonprofit Regional Partners and a National Office. RCAP was founded based on the model originally created by SERCAP in 1969. Through this network, all 50 states and US territories benefit from the community development approach originally developed by SERCAP.
• Virginia HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Housing Counseling programs - SERCAP is an approved HUD Local Housing Counseling Agency and sub-grantee of Virginia Housing's housing counseling grant programs, including Credit Improvement Focus Area Grants.
• Southside Planning District CommissionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGrant administrator partner for CDBG projects, working with SERCAP as Housing Rehabilitation Specialist on community development projects in Virginia.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Rural LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation): National CDFI and community development intermediary supporting rural housing, economic development, and capacity building — broader portfolio but directly comparable LMI-focused financing and technical assistance model.
• Enterprise Community Partners: Major national CDFI and affordable housing nonprofit — overlaps with SERCAP's housing rehabilitation and counseling work but at significantly greater scale, with broader housing finance capabilities.
• NeighborWorks America: National network of 235+ affordable housing and community development nonprofits — comparable HUD-approved housing counseling and LMI services, but operates as a national umbrella versus SERCAP's regional direct-delivery model.
• WaterAid America: International WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) nonprofit with US programming — adjacent in water access mission and federal grant expertise but primarily focused on global rather than domestic rural communities.
• Habitat for Humanity International: National affordable housing nonprofit with rural affiliate network — comparable housing rehabilitation and LMI homeowner services but at vastly greater scale and with a homeownership-creation model rather than SERCAP's infrastructure-and-loan focus.

Direct peers

• RCAC (Rural Community Assistance Corporation): Western RCAP regional partner providing water/wastewater technical assistance, housing, and community development loans/grants to rural communities — same model, different geography, directly comparable programmatic stack and CDFI-style financing.
• Great Plains Institute for Sustainable Development: Sister RCAP regional partner serving rural communities across the Plains states with comparable water/wastewater technical assistance, housing, and small business development programs — same national network and federal funding access.
• National Rural Water Association: National membership association providing training, technical assistance, and advocacy for rural water/wastewater systems — directly overlaps SERCAP's operator training and technical assistance offerings at a national scale.

Emerging players

• DigDeep Right to Water Project: National nonprofit focused on closing the US water access gap — directly comparable mission (clean water for underserved communities) but emphasis on advocacy, data, and household-level water access versus SERCAP's infrastructure-heavy approach.

Others

• Opportunity Finance Network: National CDFI industry association and capacity builder — comparable CDFI loan fund model and federal CDFI Fund engagement but functions as a network/advocate rather than a direct service provider like SERCAP.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sercapwater
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SERCAPWater/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/SERCAPWater
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southeast-rural-community-assistance-project-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/sercapwaterislife

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 SERCAP