United Community Action Partnership

What United Community Action Partnership does

UCAP operates a distributed delivery model through 11 office locations, 5 food shelves, multiple VITA tax clinic sites, and a mobile bus fleet, supported by 647 community partnerships and 99,000+ volunteer hours. The organization is funded primarily through federal grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Head Start), LIHEAP, the Minnesota Department of Commerce (Weatherization), the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (rehab loans up to $37,500), and MnDOT (transit), supplemented by charitable donations, thrift-store proceeds, vehicle donations, and utility Conservation Improvement Program funding from 18 utility partners. Governance is via a 27-member Tri-Partite Board mandated by Community Action partnership requirements (one-third low-income consumer representatives, one-third elected public officials, one-third private-sector representatives). UCAP employs 251-500 staff and has no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is human-staffed and relationship-driven, with technology limited to standard web properties and the ChildPlus enrollment application.

Name

United Community Action Partnership

Legal name

United Community Action Partnership, Inc.

Website

https://unitedcapmn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

United Community Action Partnership is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community action agency headquartered in Marshall, Minnesota, delivering free anti-poverty, early-childhood, housing, and transportation programs to 21,989 low-income residents across 13 counties in southwest Minnesota.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Assistive Technology (AT) & AAC Services (EDAJAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Residential Special Education Programs (EDAKAAAH), Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB), Off-Campus Purpose-Built Student Housing (PBSA) Management (BPAJAJAB)

Keywords

• Community action services
• Early childhood education
• Housing assistance programs
• Public transportation services
• Anti-poverty nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Marshall

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants & Federal Funding: UCAP receives grant funding from federal, state, and local government sources including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Head Start, Minnesota Department of Commerce Weatherization Assistance Program, LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), and Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. These grants fund core programs.
2. Donations & Charitable Contributions: UCAP accepts monetary donations from individuals and organizations. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, all donations are tax-deductible. Donations support program operations and community assistance.
3. Thrift Store Proceeds: Proceeds from Threads of Hope (Litchfield) and Bridge Street Bargains (Redwood Falls) thrift stores support local UCAP communities.
4. Vehicle Donation Program: The 'Helping People Get There' vehicle donation program accepts used vehicles; those that cannot be repaired are sold for recycling with funds supporting the repair fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

United Community Action Partnership (UCAP) is a community-based nonprofit delivering free social services across 13 counties in southwest Minnesota. Its core offerings include Head Start/Early Head Start early childhood education, housing and energy assistance programs (including weatherization and emergency shelter), Community Transit public bus service, food assistance through food shelves and SNAP outreach, free VITA tax preparation, refugee resettlement support, and youth development programs.

Product overview

United Community Action Partnership (UCAP) operates as a community-based nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of social service programs organized into four core areas: Community & Family Services (including childcare assistance, food assistance, health care enrollment, refugee services, tax clinics, thrift stores, vehicle donation, and youth development), Head Start (early childhood education for children 0-5 and pregnant mothers), Housing Services (emergency shelter, energy assistance, weatherization, home ownership, repairs, and community solar), and Transportation (Community Transit public bus service across eight counties). These programs are delivered through a network of 10+ local offices and serve 13 counties in southwest Minnesota, with the organization funded primarily through federal grants, state programs, and community partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community & Family Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Served 21,989 unduplicated people and 9,502 households across 13 counties in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• US SolarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCAP partners with US Solar, a Minneapolis-based solar provider, to offer the Community Solar Garden Program to income-eligible households in Xcel Energy territory. US Solar provides the solar infrastructure while UCAP facilitates enrollment of eligible participants who save an average of $250 in the first year on electric bills.
• CenterPoint EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenterPoint Energy partners with UCAP as part of Conservation Improvement Programs (CIPs), providing funding and coordination for energy conservation improvements to eligible households through UCAP's Weatherization Assistance Program.
• Xcel EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerXcel Energy is a key partner in UCAP's Community Solar Garden Program, providing electric billing credits to program participants. Xcel Energy territory coverage determines geographic eligibility for the community solar program.
• Additional Utility Partners (City of Tyler, Federated Rural Electric Association, Great Plains Natural Gas, Hutchinson Utilities Commission, Kandiyohi Power Cooperative, Litchfield Public Utilities, Lyon-Lincoln Electric, Marshall Municipal Utilities, McLeod Cooperative Power, Meeker Cooperative Light, Minnesota Energy Resources, Otter Tail Power, Redwood Electric Cooperative, Renville Sibley Cooperative Power, South Central Electric, Willmar Municipal Utilities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCAP works with 18 utility providers across its service area through Conservation Improvement Programs to complete energy conservation improvements to eligible households. Each provider contributes to funding weatherization and energy efficiency measures.
• City Partners (City of Ivanhoe, City of Jackson, City of Marshall, City of Redwood Falls, City of Slayton, City of Windom)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCAP's Community Transit program partners with cities across southwest Minnesota to provide public transportation services within city limits and connecting routes between communities.
• County Partners (Cottonwood County, Jackson County, Lincoln County, Lyon County, Murray County, Redwood County)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty governments in southwest Minnesota partner with UCAP to support Community Transit services, emergency shelter, housing programs, and other community assistance across their jurisdictions.
• Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMnDOT provides funding and regulatory oversight for UCAP's transportation programs including Community Transit and the Southwest Regional Transportation Coordination Council (RTCC).
• Transit System Partners (Southwest Coaches, Marshall Taxi, Jefferson Lines)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCAP partners with regional transit providers to extend transportation options beyond its primary service area, including intercity bus service (Jefferson Lines) and local taxi service (Marshall Taxi).
• Minnesota Department of CommercecoreOthersThe Minnesota Department of Commerce oversees the Weatherization Assistance Program and provides state grant funding for weatherization services. UCAP operates as a subrecipient under this state grant program.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Head StartcoreOthersThe Office of Head Start within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides federal grant funding for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. UCAP receives Grant Numbers 05CH012507 and 05WH000067.
• Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF)coreOthersDCYF administers the Early Learning Scholarships program and provides grant funding for child care programs. UCAP serves as an Area Administrator for Early Learning Scholarships and a local resource for Child Care Aware of Minnesota.
• Child Care Aware of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCAP is a trusted source for child care resources and referral services, implementing the Child Care Aware statewide network in Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, and Renville counties. Child Care Aware provides navigation support through the Wayfinder program.
• Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA)coreOthersMHFA provides funding for UCAP's Rehabilitation Loan Program for low-income homeowners. UCAP administers the program which offers loans up to $37,500 for basic home improvements.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: National network of Catholic Charities agencies providing social services including housing, food, refugee resettlement, and senior services. Comparable in multi-program antipoverty service delivery and federal/state grant funding, though with a faith-based identity and broader geographic reach.
• United Way: National nonprofit network funding and operating multi-service antipoverty programs (food, housing, emergency assistance, early childhood). Comparable in multi-program poverty alleviation mission and donor/grant revenue model, though UCAP is more focused on direct service delivery.
• National Community Action Partnership: National nonprofit membership association for the 1,000+ Community Action Agencies across the U.S. Provides federal advocacy, training, and best-practice frameworks to CAAs including UCAP. Functions as the broad incumbent in the national CAA ecosystem.
• Minnesota Community Action Partnership (MinnCAP): Statewide association representing Minnesota's 23+ Community Action Agencies including UCAP. Provides training, advocacy, and coordination across all member CAAs, positioning it as the broader incumbent umbrella for the same funding ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties: Minnesota Community Action Agency providing Head Start, housing, weatherization, and senior services across Ramsey and Washington counties. Comparable CAA with similar federal grant dependency and tripartite board structure.
• SEMCAC (Southeastern Minnesota Community Action Council): Minnesota Community Action Agency serving southeastern Minnesota counties with Head Start, housing, transit, and senior services. Comparable in rural multi-county service delivery and program portfolio.
• Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership: Minnesota Community Action Agency covering rural west-central counties with comparable Head Start, housing, energy assistance, and transportation programs. Highly comparable in rural service-area profile and federal CAA funding structure.
• Tri-County Action Programs (TRICAP): Minnesota Community Action Agency serving Stearns, Benton, and Sherburne counties with antipoverty programs including Head Start, housing, and energy assistance. Directly comparable in CAA structure, program mix, and tripartite governance.
• MAHUBE-OWWA Community Action Partnership: Federally designated Community Action Agency serving low-income households across central and west-central Minnesota with a similar multi-program portfolio spanning Head Start, housing, weatherization, and family services. Directly comparable in mission, funding model, and service mix.
• Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County: Minnesota Community Action Agency headquartered in Minneapolis with Head Start, housing stability, energy assistance, and food programs serving Hennepin County. Directly comparable CAA, though serving a more urban client base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@unitedcapmn
• Facebookfacebook.com/UnitedCAP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-community-action-partnership
• Instagraminstagram.com/unitedcapmn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 United Community Action Partnership