National Center for Children and Families

What National Center for Children and Families does

The National Center for Children and Families (NCCF) is a private, nonprofit child and family welfare agency founded in 1915 as an orphanage by a Baptist congregation in Washington, D.C., and now headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. It operates 24 programs organized around four service pillars — community supports, education and training, volunteerism, and advocacy — serving nearly 50,000 vulnerable children, youth, and families annually across the D.C. Metro area. Core program lines include therapeutic and traditional foster care and adoption, emergency shelter (Greentree), DC short-term family housing programs (The Kennedy in Ward 4, Sterling in Ward 5, New Beginning in Ward 1), a high-intensity therapeutic group home for males aged 12-20 (GAP-Residence), the FutureBound independent living program, community-school enrichment at JC Nalle Elementary, the Black Physicians & Healthcare Network, and the Neediest Kids program providing basic necessities to students across 10 school districts. The 2021 launch of a renovated 9-unit affordable housing property in Takoma Park extended operations into permanent supportive housing.

NCCF generates revenue from five streams: government grants and contracts (notably DC CFSA and Montgomery County), individual donations via website and direct mail, corporate sponsorships (anchored by annual galas with sponsorship tiers from $1,500 to $10,000), foundation and institutional grants, and in-kind donations channeled through Dr. C's Boutique, Jackson's Pantry, and the Back to School Backpack Drive. All services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries, with revenue concentrated on the funder side across a small set of public-sector counterparties and corporate supporters. Marketing reaches donors and volunteers through nccf-cares.org, social media, the Heartbeat Stories blog, email, community partnerships, and the annual "HeART of Community" gala (RECLAIMING 2021, UNIMAGINABLE 2022, CONNECTED! 2023). NCCF is COA-accredited, holds the Candid Gold Seal of Transparency, and operates with 101-250 employees under a Board of Trustees chaired by Lewis Askew. After more than 32 years of leadership, Executive Director Dr. Sheryl Brissett Chapman retired in March 2024, with a successor announced and a recently expanded board.

Name

National Center for Children and Families

Legal name

The National Center For Children And Families

Website

https://nccf-cares.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1915

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NCCF is a 1915-founded, Bethesda-headquartered nonprofit operating 24 child welfare, foster care, housing, and youth programs that serve nearly 50,000 vulnerable children, youth, and families annually across the D.C. Metro area through government contracts, donations, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child and Family Welfare Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

Keywords

• Child welfare services
• Foster care adoption
• Family homeless services
• Youth residential care
• Community based prevention

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: NCCF receives government funding through contracts with DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA), Montgomery County, and other municipal partners to operate shelter, foster care, and community-based programs.
2. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through online donations, the website, and direct mail campaigns. The organization engages donors through newsletters, blog stories, and volunteer opportunities.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Annual galas like 'The HeART of Community' feature corporate sponsors at various levels ($10,000 NOURISH, $5,000 CREATE, $2,500 SPEAK, $1,500 LAUNCH tiers). The 2022 event had sponsors including CareFirst, AmTrust Financial, Clark Foundation DC, and others.
4. Foundation and Institutional Grants: NCCF receives grants from foundations and institutional funders. The organization operates The Neediest Kids (TNK) Ambassador Circle, a group of local businesses and community leaders who fund childhood poverty programs.
5. In-Kind Donations: NCCF accepts in-kind donations through Dr. C's Boutique (clothing and essentials), Jackson's Pantry (food), and Back to School Backpack Drive. These donations support families in their programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The National Center for Children and Families (NCCF) is a private nonprofit child and family welfare agency that delivers a continuum of 24 programs serving vulnerable children, youth, and families in the D.C. Metro area. Core offerings include emergency shelters (Greentree Shelter), short-term family housing (The Kennedy, The Sterling, New Beginning), therapeutic and traditional foster care and adoption, a high-intensity therapeutic group home (GAP-Residence) for youth aged 12-20, transitional housing for teen mothers (Clinton Farm), the FutureBound independent living program for youth transitioning to adulthood, community school partnerships (JC Nalle, Freedom School) providing out-of-school-time enrichment, and the Neediest Kids basic-needs program serving students across 10 school districts. All services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries through government contracts, foundation grants, individual donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

NCCF offers a comprehensive continuum of 24 programs organized around four integrated service pillars: community supports, education and training, volunteerism, and advocacy. The organization operates emergency shelters (Greentree Shelter), transitional and short-term family housing (The Kennedy, The Sterling, New Beginning, Flower Avenue), therapeutic foster care and adoption, a high-intensity therapeutic group home (GAP-R), youth independent living services, out-of-school-time enrichment programs at community schools (JC Nalle, Freedom School), and community-based prevention services. Ancillary programs include the Neediest Kids basic-needs assistance, Black Physicians & Healthcare Network, Dr. C's Boutique, Jackson's Pantry, and the Back to School Backpack Drive. NCCF Academy provides staff and community education and training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Neediest Kids Program (TNK): A program of NCCF that provides assistance to students lacking basic necessities such as clothing, shoes, groceries, eye exams, and glasses.
• NCCF Academy
• The HeART of Community

Products and services

• Foster Care & Adoption Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 50,000 vulnerable children, youth, and families served annually in the D.C. Metro area
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 minor, core and major.

• ONE SPEED Entertainment (University of Maryland Football)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2023UMD Football players Beau Brade, Dante Trader, and Ruben Hyppolate co-founded ONE SPEED Entertainment and use it as a platform to support elementary school students in NCCF's programs through content production and community engagement.
• DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 September 2017NCCF was selected by DC's Child and Family Service Agency (CFSA) for the Temporary Safe Haven Redesign (TSHR) program to improve quality for District children and youth. NCCF also operates The Kennedy short-term family housing program selected by DC Mayor Muriel Bowser.
• Petroleum Marketing Group (PMG) / Abdolhossein and Guitty Ejtemai FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2011Mr. Hossein Ejtemai, founder of PMG and the Abdolhossein and Guitty Ejtemai Foundation, has donated over $400,000 to various charitable causes including NCCF. In September 2011, he donated the Clinton Farm (25-acre estate) to serve as a foster care home for at-risk children.
• Frederick County Public SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2011Partnership since February 2011 through Bridge to Success / Neediest Kids program, providing clothing, shoes, groceries, eye exams, and glasses to hundreds of students annually. FCPS enrolled 41,413 students.
• Montgomery CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor nearly 40 years, NCCF and Montgomery County have collaborated on serving young families at risk of homelessness. NCCF was selected to operate short-term family housing programs and receives county funding and support for various initiatives.
• Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud partner of The Neediest Kids (TNK) for more than 15 years, assisting students who lack basic necessities including clothing, school supplies, and other essential items.
• Black Physicians & Healthcare Network (BPHN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCCF connects clients with BPHN to ensure access to a healthcare home and primary care physician where providers understand clients' journey and culture. BPHN addresses healthcare disparities for Black families.
• JC Nalle Community SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCCF operates a community school program at JC Nalle Elementary School in Ward 7, DC, providing academic enrichment, mental health support, parental support, and out-of-school time programming.
• District TacominorGTM or Marketing PartnerDistrict Taco partnered with NCCF for Back to School Burritos campaign, donating $1 from every regular burrito and breakfast burrito sold on August 7, 2017 to purchase school supplies.
• Whole Foods MarketminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWhole Foods Market stores in DC teamed up with The Neediest Kids (TNK) for 5% Community Giving Day, with 5% of net sales donated to NCCF's program.
• Nando's / United WayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNando's Mandela Day food drive selected Jackson's Pantry as recipient. Nando's Montgomery & Prince George's County stores collected nonperishable items with customers receiving free meals in exchange. United Way (NCA) participated.
• YMCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYMCA sponsors a Winter Basketball Clinic at NCCF where all NCCF clients can participate for free and community members for a fee.
• Peltrie PlaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPeltrie Place, a design-focused real estate development firm based in DMV and Westchester County, gifted NCCF with a complete renovation and redesign of their teen room at the Bethesda campus.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington: Regional social services nonprofit operating family housing, immigration services, foster care, and emergency assistance in DC Metro — competes for the same government contracts and donor base as NCCF.
• United Planning Organization (UPO): DC-based community action nonprofit addressing poverty through family services, youth programs, and community schools — directly comparable to NCCF's community-school and family-services offerings.
• Latin American Youth Center (LAYC): DC-based nonprofit providing youth development, education, housing, and family support — overlaps with NCCF's community school, out-of-school-time, and youth services.
• Sasha Bruce Youthwork: D.C.-based nonprofit focused on youth homelessness prevention, shelter, and independent living — directly comparable to NCCF's FutureBound and short-term family housing programs.
• Mary's Center: D.C.-area nonprofit providing wraparound social services, healthcare, and family support to vulnerable populations — overlaps with NCCF's family services, healthcare navigation (BPHN), and community-school programming in DC Metro.

Direct peers

• Boys Town: National child and family services nonprofit providing residential foster care, family-style youth programs, and crisis intervention — directly comparable to NCCF's GAP-Residence and foster care/adoption services.
• Children's Aid Society: Historic nonprofit operating foster care, adoption, community schools, and family support — directly comparable to NCCF's integrated 24-program continuum.
• Children's Home Society of California: Statewide nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, and family services across California — analogous to NCCF's core foster care and adoption continuum.
• Covenant House: National nonprofit providing shelter, foster care, and independent living for youth experiencing homelessness — comparable to NCCF's FutureBound, Greentree Shelter, and short-term family housing.

Others

• National Children's Alliance: National nonprofit accrediting and supporting Children's Advocacy Centers serving abused children — adjacent to NCCF's foster care/abuse-recovery mission and shares the COA-style accreditation ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nccfcares
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCk1j78FSJuIrkEA1Of5vWJw
• Facebookfacebook.com/nccfcares
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-national-center-for-children-and-families
• Instagraminstagram.com/nccfcares

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 National Center for Children and Families