The Cooperative Ministry

What The Cooperative Ministry does

The Cooperative Ministry is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1982 in Columbia, South Carolina, by five downtown churches (First Presbyterian, Main Street Methodist, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Washington Street United Methodist, and First Baptist) to coordinate assistance and prevent service duplication across faith-based and social service providers. The organization delivers an integrated portfolio of programs targeting economic self-sufficiency for people experiencing poverty in the Midlands region, primarily Richland County: a Clothing and Furniture Bank, Food Assistance (Mary's Pantry plus a multi-church partner food bank network), Career Improvement (GED, certifications, expungement fees), Financial Empowerment (one-to-one coaching with financial incentives), Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) tax preparation, Insurance Assistance (ACA, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security enrollment via Carolina Life and Health), and an in-house Car Donation Program. All services are free to income-eligible clients; in 2025 the VITA program alone prepared 7,805 tax returns generating $11.6M in client refunds.

The organization's technology footprint is minimal: it uses standard nonprofit case management and donor management tools, IRS-certified volunteer workflows for tax preparation, and third-party platforms (GetYourRefund.org for virtual filing, SC Thrive for self-service) for digital service delivery. There is no proprietary platform, no AI/ML capability, and no app. Distribution is multi-modal: a single headquarters at 3821 West Beltline Boulevard in Columbia, regional Saturday VITA sites across the Midlands, virtual tax filing, and a network of seven partner food bank churches operating on different weekdays. The organization is debt-free, governed by a local board, allocates 87% of expenses to direct program services, and operates with a 34% volunteer workforce supplementing 1-10 paid employees.

The revenue model is donation-funded: individual contributions, church partner annual gifts, corporate sponsorships (Wells Fargo, Dominion Energy Foundation, Blackbridge, Elliott Davis, BlueCross BlueShield of SC, Buchanan Construction, Goodwin Motors, and others), government grants, and in-kind/car donation auction proceeds. Client services are entirely free (freemium model with zero pricing power). GTM is community-led: 61 faith partners and 120+ partnering agencies function as referral channels, supplemented by social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), email newsletters, YouTube financial education content, client testimonial storytelling, and facility tours for civic groups.

Name

The Cooperative Ministry

Legal name

The Cooperative Ministry

Website

https://coopmin.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Cooperative Ministry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1982 in Columbia, South Carolina, that delivers free integrated crisis assistance and economic self-sufficiency programs—including food, clothing, financial coaching, VITA tax preparation, and insurance enrollment—to low-income residents of the South Carolina Midlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services - Poverty Alleviation

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Food Services (624210), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Disaster Recovery & Emergency Housing Assistance Programs (FSALAKAK), Volunteerism, Service-Learning & Community Service (EDALAHAG)

Keywords

• Social services nonprofit
• Crisis assistance programs
• Financial empowerment coaching
• Volunteer tax preparation
• Emergency food assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

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, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The Cooperative Ministry is funded primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies. Church partners make annual financial contributions. Corporate sponsors (Wells Fargo, Dominion Energy Foundation, Blackbridge, and others) provide sponsorship support. The organization is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity.
2. Car Donation Program: The organization accepts car donations in all conditions, sells donated cars at auction, and uses proceeds to benefit clients with basic needs. Towing is free within 50 miles of Columbia. The program is managed in-house with no third-party managers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Cooperative Ministry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization that provides free crisis assistance and sustainability programs to people experiencing poverty in the Midlands of South Carolina. Its core services include a Clothing and Furniture Bank, Food Assistance (Mary's Pantry), Career Improvement (GED/certification/expungement financial support), Financial Empowerment coaching, free IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), Insurance Assistance (ACA/Medicaid/Medicare/Social Security enrollment), a Car Donation Program, and Financial Education. All services are delivered free of charge to eligible low-income clients in Richland County.

Product overview

The Cooperative Ministry is a non-profit social services organization offering a coordinated suite of programs to increase economic self-sufficiency among people experiencing poverty in the Midlands of South Carolina. The organization operates as a portfolio of interconnected service programs rather than a unified technology product: the Clothing and Furniture Bank provides free clothing and furniture; Food Assistance offers emergency food through Mary's Pantry and partner food banks; Career Improvement assists with GED costs, expungements, and professional certifications; Financial Empowerment delivers one-to-one coaching for budgeting and financial planning; Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) provides free tax preparation; Insurance Assistance helps with ACA, Medicaid, and Medicare enrollment; and the Car Donation Program supports clients through vehicle donations. These programs are designed to work together holistically, connecting clients with crisis assistance while building long-term financial stability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,805 tax returns prepared free of charge in 2025, generating $11.6 million in refunds for low-income filers
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 61 Faith Partners (Churches)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe organization's foundational partners include 61 congregations of various faiths that provide annual financial contributions and refer congregants in need to The Cooperative Ministry's services. Founding churches in 1982 included First Presbyterian Church, Main Street Methodist, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Washington Street United Methodist Church, and First Baptist Church. Current partners include Antioch Baptist Church, Calvary Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, Shandon Baptist Church, and over 50 others.
• United Way of the MidlandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way of the Midlands is listed as a Community Impact Partner supporting The Cooperative Ministry's work.
• City of ColumbiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Columbia is listed as a government partner supporting The Cooperative Ministry.
• Richland County GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRichland County Government is listed as a partner. In case of inclement weather, The Cooperative Ministry follows Richland County's operating decisions.
• Carolina Life and HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough a relationship with Carolina Life and Health in Columbia, The Cooperative Ministry assists people in enrolling in the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security programs, and answers complicated questions about healthcare insurance.
• GetYourRefund.orgcoreTechnology or IntegrationThe Cooperative Ministry has partnered with GetYourRefund.org to offer virtual tax preparation, allowing clients to upload tax documents to a secure site and connect with IRS-certified VITA volunteers for remote tax filing assistance.
• SC ThriveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEligible taxpayers are referred to SC Thrive's Facilitated Self-Assistance software for free online tax filing through SC Thrive's Thrive Hub platform.
• Partnering Food Banks (Regional Network)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA network of partnering food banks and churches provide emergency food distribution across the Midlands: First Nazareth Baptist Church (Saturdays), Saint John Baptist Church (Tuesdays), Christ Central Ministries (Wednesdays), Good Shepherd Church (Wednesdays), St. Joseph's Catholic Church (Wednesdays), Rehoboth Methodist Church (Thursdays), Bethlehem Baptist Church (Fridays), and others. These partners help redirect clients from The Cooperative Ministry's emergency food pantry to longer-term food assistance.
• 120+ Partnering AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 120 partnering agencies collaborate with The Cooperative Ministry, referring clients and coordinating services to prevent duplication and maximize impact for people in need.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• SC Thrive: South Carolina statewide nonprofit connecting low-income households to tax preparation, benefits enrollment (SNAP, Medicaid), and financial empowerment resources. Highly comparable in service mix (free tax filing, benefits navigation, financial coaching) and geography; SCM is also a referral partner to SC Thrive for self-service tax filing.
• United Way of the Midlands: Regional funder and convener of health and human services in the Columbia, SC Midlands. Operates 211 information and referral and funds many of the same partner agencies as The Cooperative Ministry; existing Community Impact Partner. Comparable mission and footprint, with a slightly different role as a funder/convener versus direct service provider.
• Transitions Homeless Center: Columbia, SC-based nonprofit providing shelter, meals, case management, and rehousing services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Directly comparable target population (Richland County low-income households) and overlapping service lines (crisis assistance, case management, referrals).
• Catholic Charities of South Carolina: Faith-affiliated statewide nonprofit providing emergency assistance (food, clothing, rent/utility help), refugee services, counseling, and financial coaching across South Carolina. Comparable faith-rooted service portfolio and population served, with broader geographic reach across SC.
• Harvest Hope Food Bank: Regional food bank serving 20 counties of South Carolina including the Midlands from its Columbia warehouse. Directly comparable on emergency food distribution and food pantry operations; partnered with SCM in the food bank referral network.
• Goodwill Industries of the Midlands: Columbia, SC-based nonprofit providing workforce development, job training, and career services for people with barriers to employment. Overlaps with SCM's Career Improvement program (GED, certifications, expungements) and similar low-income target population.

Broad incumbents

• The Salvation Army of the Midlands: National faith-based nonprofit providing emergency assistance (food, rent/utility help, clothing, holiday programs) and case management across Columbia and the broader Midlands. Comparable crisis-assistance portfolio at larger scale and broader footprint.
• Feeding America (national network): National hunger-relief organization operating a network of 200+ food banks including Harvest Hope (SCM's Midlands partner). Provides the upstream sourcing and logistics that SCM's Mary's Pantry ultimately draws on; relevant as an ecosystem incumbent and potential funder.

Emerging players

• Findhelp (formerly Aunt Bertha): National social care network connecting people to free and reduced-cost programs including food, housing, financial assistance, and tax help. Comparable in mission of routing low-income households to social services; competes for the same referrals and grant funding as SCM's partner network.

Regional players

• Midlands Housing Alliance: Columbia-area collaborative addressing housing affordability and homelessness in the Midlands. Comparable regional focus and overlapping client base with SCM's crisis assistance and emergency rent/utility help, though narrower mission on housing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheCoopMin
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PL3kzvGS_1KcrQbVM09Fc4-0ZCbQ0TPojQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheCooperativeMinistry
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecooperativeministry

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 The Cooperative Ministry