What Community Action Programs Inter-City does

Community Action Programs Inter-City (CAPIC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Community Action Agency founded in 1967 as part of the federal War on Poverty and designated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to serve Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. The organization delivers free anti-poverty services to income-eligible residents through a portfolio of 14 program lines organized into Early Education & Care (Head Start, Child Development Center, After School, Summer Camp, Chelsea/Revere Family Network) and Energy Services (Fuel Assistance/HEAP, Weatherization, Appliance Management), supplemented by Crisis Intervention, Domestic Violence services, Substance Use Disorder Services, Emergency Assistance, VITA Tax Preparation, Responsible Payee, and MBTA Reduced Fare assistance. Approximately 120 staff serve 11,000+ residents annually across six physical sites and partner locations, with 9,500 units of service delivered in FY24. The Appliance Management Program extends geographically to 18 communities across Greater Boston's north-of-Boston corridor.

Revenue is sourced primarily from federal grants (Head Start/ACF, HEAP/CSBG), state funding (Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care's CFCE grant), municipal funding (City of Chelsea for SUDS and mobile outreach), and private donations processed via a PayPal-embedded donation page. The organization holds no parent company, no subsidiaries, and operates as an independent entity governed by a 15-member community-based Board of Directors. The go-to-market motion is community-led: client acquisition occurs through partner referrals from city agencies, police, courts, and social service providers, mobile street outreach, and word-of-mouth within the service area. There is no proprietary technology platform — the technology stack is limited to case management systems, online application portals (toapply.org/CAPIC, GetYourRefund.org), and basic digital channels (Facebook, YouTube). No API, no AI/ML capabilities, and no patents are documented.

The business model is grant-dependent and free-to-end-user: all services are delivered at no cost to qualifying residents meeting federal poverty guidelines, with no fees, no pricing tiers, and no direct revenue from service recipients. An April 2025 public impact statement explicitly addressed federal funding turbulence affecting Head Start and HEAP, indicating concentrated funder exposure on the revenue side despite a long-tail, distributed individual client base.

Name

Community Action Programs Inter-City

Legal name

Community Action Programs Inter-City, Incorporated

Website

https://capicinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Community Action Programs Inter-City (CAPIC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Community Action Agency founded in 1967 that delivers free anti-poverty services — including Head Start, Fuel Assistance, Crisis Intervention, and Emergency Assistance — to income-eligible residents of Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Massachusetts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Child and Youth Services (62411), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Early Childhood Development (ECD) & Pre-Primary Education (BPADAKAB), Community & Adult Education (Municipal/Community Schools) (EDAAAEAB)

Keywords

• Anti-poverty services
• Community action programs
• Early childhood education
• Energy assistance programs
• Crisis intervention services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chelsea

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Federal Grants: Primary revenue from federal funding including Head Start (ACF/Office of Children and Families) and HEAP/Fuel Assistance (Home Energy Assistance Program) grants. The organization is the designated Community Action Agency receiving federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding.
2. State Grants: State funding from Massachusetts including Coordinated Family & Community Engagement (CFCE) grant from Department of Early Education and Care, and other state-administered programs.
3. City/Local Funding: Grant funding from the City of Chelsea for Substance Use Disorder Services (S.U.D.S) program and other city-specific initiatives.
4. Private Donations: Private donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. CAPIC is an IRS certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with tax-exempt status.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Community Action Programs Inter-City (CAPIC) is a designated Community Action Agency that delivers a portfolio of anti-poverty social services to income-eligible individuals and families. Core offerings span early childhood education (Head Start, Child Development Center, After School, Summer Camp, Family Network), energy services (Fuel Assistance, Weatherization, Appliance Management), and wraparound support (Crisis Intervention/Domestic Violence, Emergency Assistance, Substance Use Disorder Services, Responsible Payee, VITA Tax Preparation, and MBTA Reduced Fare assistance).

Product overview

CAPIC (Community Action Programs Inter-City) is a non-profit community action agency offering a portfolio of social services programs serving Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Massachusetts. The organization operates two primary program divisions: (1) Early Education & Care programs including Head Start, Child Development Center, After School Program, Summer Camp, and the Chelsea/Revere Family Network; and (2) Energy Services including Fuel Assistance (HEAP), Weatherization, and Appliance Management. Additional services include Emergency Assistance, Crisis Intervention/Domestic Violence support, Substance Use Disorder Services, Responsible Payee Program for Social Security beneficiaries, free VITA Tax Preparation, and MBTA Reduced Fare application assistance. These programs collectively aim to address poverty, achieve self-sufficiency, and provide critical support services to low-income individuals and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CAPIC Head Start Federally funded comprehensive child and family development program serving low-income families with children ages 3-5, providing health, education, parent involvement, and social services components.
• CAPIC Child Development Center Year-round comprehensive early learning center supporting child growth from birth through age 5, offering infant, toddler, preschool, and kindergarten classrooms with developmentally appropriate curriculum.
• CAPIC After School Program
• CAPIC Chelsea City-Wide Summer Camp
• CAPIC Chelsea/Revere Family Network Community-based information and resource hub for families with children birth through age 8, providing playgroups, parenting workshops, developmental screenings, and family support services.
• CAPIC Fuel Assistance Program (HEAP)
• CAPIC Weatherization Program
• CAPIC Appliance Management Program (AMP)
• CAPIC Emergency Assistance Program
• CAPIC Crisis Intervention Program
• CAPIC Chelsea Substance Use Disorder Services (S.U.D.S)
• CAPIC Responsible Payee Program
• CAPIC VITA Tax Preparation Program
• CAPIC MBTA Reduced Fare Program

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Project BreadcoreOthersPartnership for food voucher distribution and emergency food assistance through the Chelsea Hunger Network. Project Bread provides funding and resources for emergency food services to at-risk families.
• Stop and ShopminorOthersFood voucher distribution partner for emergency food assistance to at-risk families in Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop.
• Lend-A-HandminorOthersPartnership for distributing critical services and emergency assistance to at-risk families.
• Massachusetts Coalition for the HomelesscoreOthersReferrals to housing resources and emergency assistance for homeless and at-risk individuals and families.
• Chelsea Hunger NetworkcoreOthersActive participation in Chelsea Hunger Network for coordinated food assistance across multiple organizations.
• United Way Emergency Food and Shelter ProgramcoreOthersFunding source for Rental/Mortgage Assistance to help families sustain and/or obtain permanent housing and avert shelter placement.
• HarborCOVcoreOthersCollaboration with HarborCOV for domestic violence crisis intervention services and victim advocacy.
• Department of Children & Families (DCF)coreOthersCollaboration for crisis intervention, child welfare referrals, and DCF referrals for After School Program eligibility.
• Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop Police DepartmentscoreOthersCollaboration on domestic violence crisis intervention, crisis response, and public safety initiatives.
• Suffolk County District Attorney's OfficecoreOthersCollaboration on domestic violence cases, court issues, and victim advocacy services.
• Chelsea and East Boston District CourtscoreOthersCourt referrals and coordination for domestic violence cases, restraining orders, and custody issues.
• MGH Revere Haven ProgramcoreOthersHealthcare partnership for crisis intervention services and medical advocacy for domestic violence victims.
• Chelsea Domestic Violence Task ForcecoreOthersActive member of the task force dedicated to coordinating domestic violence response and prevention.
• Women's Encouraging Empowerment (WEE) Advisory BoardcoreOthersAdvisory board membership for women's empowerment and domestic violence prevention initiatives.
• Chelsea Domestic Violence High Risk Team (CASA Divert)coreOthersHigh-risk domestic violence case coordination team for enhanced intervention and safety planning.
• City of ChelseacoreOthersCity of Chelsea provides grant funding for Substance Use Disorder Services (S.U.D.S.) and Chelsea Mobile Outreach Program.
• City of Chelsea NavigatorscoreOthersIdentifies individuals suffering from alcohol and opioid addiction for referral to SUDS program services.
• Selah Day Resource CentercoreOthersPartnership to provide support breakfast, lunch, showers, and direct resources for homeless individuals in recovery.
• Massachusetts Department of Early Education and CarecoreOthersState agency that funds Chelsea/Revere Family Network through Coordinated Family & Community Engagement (CFCE) grant and licenses all child care programs.
• Irene O'Connell Community CentercoreOthersHead Start classroom location in Revere serving low-income families with children ages 3-5.
• E.B. Newton Elementary SchoolcoreOthersHead Start classroom location in Winthrop serving low-income families with children ages 3-5.
• MassCAPcoreOthersMember of Massachusetts Community Action Partnership, the state association of Community Action Agencies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Project Bread: Massachusetts-based hunger-relief nonprofit partnering with CAPIC through the Chelsea Hunger Network for food voucher distribution. Comparable as a regional food-security organization whose programs complement CAPIC's Emergency Assistance and Head Start nutrition services.
• Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless: Statewide homelessness services coalition receiving referrals through CAPIC and partnering on housing-related emergency assistance. Comparable as a regional housing/homelessness peer whose advocacy and direct services intersect with CAPIC's emergency housing work.

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army Massachusetts Division: Regional operator of emergency assistance, housing, and family services across Massachusetts through federal and donor funding. While a national organization, its Massachusetts service portfolio (emergency rent/utility assistance, shelter referrals) directly competes with CAPIC's Emergency Assistance and Crisis Intervention programs.
• United Way of Massachusetts Bay and the Merrimack Valley: Major regional funder of emergency assistance, food security, and family stability programs. CAPIC participates in the United Way Emergency Food and Shelter Program for rental/mortgage assistance funding, making United Way both a partner and a larger incumbent comparator in regional anti-poverty work.
• Community Action Partnership (CAP) National Association: National membership organization for the 1,000+ Community Action Agencies across the U.S., including policy advocacy, training, and federal contract administration. Serves as the umbrella body that CAPIC interfaces with through MassCAP and that channels CSBG oversight to CAAs nationwide.
• Massachusetts Community Action Partnership (MassCAP): State association of Massachusetts Community Action Agencies of which CAPIC is an active member. MassCAP sets training and policy agendas that channel federal CSBG priorities into local CAAs like CAPIC, and is comparable as the statewide peer/umbrella organization.

Direct peers

• Lynn Economic Opportunity (LEO): Designated Community Action Agency for Lynn, Massachusetts, providing Head Start, fuel assistance, weatherization, and youth services through federal and state funding. LEO is a direct peer given its proximity, identical CAA designation, and overlapping program portfolio.
• Greater Lawrence Community Action Council (GLCAC): Community Action Agency serving Lawrence, Methuen, and surrounding communities with Head Start, fuel assistance, weatherization, and WIC. GLCAC's service mix and CAA designation make it a near-direct comparable for CAPIC's anti-poverty portfolio in an adjacent Massachusetts region.
• Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD): Massachusetts Community Action Agency operating since 1965 and serving Boston and surrounding cities with Head Start, fuel assistance, weatherization, and emergency services. ABCD is the most direct operational parallel to CAPIC in terms of service mix, designation history, and revenue model (federal/state grants).
• South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC): Marlborough, Massachusetts-based CAA providing Head Start, fuel assistance, workforce development, housing, and behavioral health services. SMOC's mix of energy programs and Head Start closely mirrors CAPIC's primary service lines, and its larger scale (~$80M+ budget) provides an upside benchmark.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/CAPICINC
• Facebookfacebook.com/CAPICINC
• Xx.com/CAPICINC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/capic-inc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Community Action Programs Inter-City