Lower Columbia CAP

What Lower Columbia CAP does

Lower Columbia CAP (Lower Columbia Community Action Council Incorporated) is a private nonprofit social services organization founded in 1964 as part of President Johnson's War on Poverty, headquartered at 1526 Commerce Ave, Longview, Washington, and serving Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties. The organization operates 15+ programs across four core service lines: housing (40 affordable rental units, Self-Help Housing with 1% foreclosure rate across 395+ homes since 1989, USDA-funded rehab loans up to $20,000), food and nutrition (Help Warehouse distributing 1.7M+ pounds annually since 1982 to 8+ food banks; 28,241 Meals on Wheels deliveries; community lunches at 8 sites), senior services (energy assistance, transportation, R.U.O.K. daily check-in), and employment/training (CAP Works/Community Jobs, BFET, food handler certification testing in eight languages). Two social enterprises — CAPtured Treasures thrift boutique and Grounds for Opportunity Cafe — generate retail and catering revenue while providing job skills training in retail and culinary fields.

The organization's underlying operating platform combines case management intake, the Cowlitz County Coordinated Entry housing system, certified building analysts performing infrared-based home energy assessments, and a hub-and-spoke distribution network for food and senior meals. Revenue derives from a mix of federal and state grants (LIHEAP, Older Americans Act, USDA commodities, Consolidated Homeless Grant, Housing and Essential Needs, USDA Rural Development), individual and corporate donations (including a Welch Family dollar-for-dollar matching challenge toward a $1 million endowment), cause-marketing programs (Amazon Smile, GoodSearch, Fred Meyer Community Rewards), and social enterprise sales. The organization is governed by a tri-sector board (consumer, private, public) led by Board President Kim Lefebvre and Executive Director Ilona Kerby, who has led CAP since 2005 with the strategic mandate of reducing government funding dependence.

Customer segments span low-income individuals and families at or below 125% of federal poverty level, seniors 60+, homeless and at-risk individuals, unemployed/underemployed adults, and food-insecure residents. Service pricing is largely free or low-cost, with pay-as-you-go fees such as $2 rural transit fares and suggested $5 per Meals on Wheels meal. The organization is part of a national network of 1,100+ community action programs including 31 in Washington State, and over its history has incubated and spun off multiple community institutions including Family Health Center, Emergency Support Shelter, Ethnic Support Council, Head Start, and the Saturday Farmers Market.

Name

Lower Columbia CAP

Legal name

Lower Columbia Community Action Council Incorporated

Website

https://lowercolumbiacap.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Lower Columbia CAP is a Longview, Washington-based nonprofit founded in 1964 that provides housing, food, senior, and employment services to low-income residents of Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties, supported by federal grants, donations, and two social enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Community Food Services (62421), Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Independent Living Community Ancillary Services (Dining/Transportation/Wellness Programs) (HLADAAAI)

Keywords

• Community action services
• Social services nonprofit
• Affordable housing programs
• Energy assistance programs
• Senior nutrition services

Headquarters

HQ city

Longview

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Programs: Federal funding from programs such as Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Older Americans Act for senior services, USDA commodities, and state grants. This is the primary revenue source for social service delivery.
2. Social Enterprise Revenue: CAPtured Treasures thrift store provides job skills training while generating retail revenue. Grounds for Opportunity Café generates restaurant and catering revenue. These social enterprises support CAP programs while providing employment training.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations through direct appeal, annual campaigns, and fundraising events. Corporate donations from local businesses and foundations including Weyerhaeuser. Community matching challenges (e.g., Welch Family Challenge).
4. Shopping Rewards Programs: Amazon Smile, Fred Meyer Community Rewards, and GoodSearch donate percentages of purchases to CAP when customers designate Lower Columbia CAP as their charity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lower Columbia CAP delivers a comprehensive suite of social services to low-income individuals and families in Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties, including energy assistance and weatherization, affordable rental housing, self-help homeownership, homeless services, food distribution through Help Warehouse, Meals on Wheels, senior community lunches, transportation, and education/job training. The organization also operates two social enterprises—CAPtured Treasures thrift store and Grounds for Opportunity Café—that provide job skills training while generating revenue.

Product overview

Lower Columbia CAP (Community Action Program) is a nonprofit social services organization that provides a comprehensive suite of programs to help low-income individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency. The organization operates multiple social enterprises and service programs including: Energy Assistance and Weatherization services; Affordable Rental Housing with 40 units and Self-Help Housing programs; Homeless Services including HEN, CHG, YAHP, and Permanent Supportive Housing; Food distribution through the Help Warehouse and CAP Food Pantry; Meals on Wheels and Community Lunch programs for seniors; Senior Services including the R.U.O.K. daily check-in program; Education and Training including job placement and Food Services Worker certification; and Transportation services. Additionally, CAP operates two social enterprises—CAPtured Treasures thrift boutique and Grounds for Opportunity Cafe—which serve dual purposes of generating revenue while providing job skills training. The organization was founded in 1964 as part of the War on Poverty and serves Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties in Washington State.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Energy Assistance & Weatherization

Quantifiable outcome

• 395+ families became homeowners through Self-Help Housing with only 1% foreclosure rate since 1989
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Fred MeyerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFred Meyer Community Rewards program allows customers to designate Lower Columbia CAP as their charity, with Fred Meyer donating a portion of purchases to CAP annually (over $2 million donated to nonprofits annually across the program).
• GoodSearchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoodSearch search engine donates 50% of revenues to designated charities. Online shopping at 1,000+ participating stores (Amazon, eBay, Target, Apple, Staples, Expedia) results in percentage donations to CAP.
• Amazon SmileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon Smile program donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to charitable organizations when customers select Lower Columbia Community Action Council Incorporated.
• Cowlitz PUDminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual food drive competition among Cowlitz PUD employees benefiting Help Warehouse. Collected 5,841 pounds of food and raised $5,568.81 in 2013 alone. Competition with other businesses (Kapstone, NORPAC, Fibre Federal, Steelscape, Lower Columbia College, ILWU).
• United WayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnited Way support for CAP programs through annual workplace giving campaigns and community partnerships.
• 24 Local RestaurantsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual 'Dine Out for Meals on Wheels' event with 24+ local restaurants donating a percentage of sales to CAP's Meals on Wheels program. Raises $5,000-$6,000 annually.
• JH KellyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for Grounds for Opportunity café construction project ($700,000 build-out). Stripped building to studs, elevated roof, revamped facade.
• The Daily NewsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Neighbors in Need fundraising campaign sponsored by The Daily News distributes donations equally among Lower Columbia CAP, Salvation Army, and St. Vincent de Paul. Raised $68,644 in previous year.
• Altrusa International of Longview KelsominorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal service club with ongoing partnership through Executive Director Ilona Kerby's leadership as International President. Club supports CAP programs and initiatives.
• Catalyst KitchensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational model (formerly Kitchens with Missions) that inspired Grounds for Opportunity café development. Nationally successful restaurant job training program framework.
• RiverCities Transit (Longview)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublic transit partner connecting with CAP transportation services for regional coverage.
• C-TRAN (Vancouver)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional transit authority connecting CAP services to Vancouver/Portland metropolitan area.
• TriMet (Portland)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPortland metropolitan transit connecting CAP services to Oregon markets.
• Wahkiakum on the MoveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWahkiakum County public transportation connecting with CAP services for county residents.
• Columbia Cty. RiderminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransit service for St. Helens-Clatskanie area connecting to CAP transportation network.
• Sunset Empire TransportationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransit service for Portland-Astoria corridor connecting to CAP transportation.
• GreyhoundminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational bus service connecting CAP transportation services to nationwide network.
• AMTRAKminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational rail service connecting to CAP transportation services for Cowlitz County.
• Family Health CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginally founded by CAP, now independent community health center. Jennifer Meade serves on CAP board representing Cowlitz Family Health Center.
• Emergency Support ShelterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeless shelter organization originally founded by CAP, continuing partnership for housing and homeless services coordination.
• Ethnic Support CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural support organization originally founded by CAP, maintaining coordination for diverse community services.
• Head StartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly childhood education program originally founded by CAP, continuing partnership for family services.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America (Regional Food Banks): National food bank network that sources and distributes donated food to regional food banks including those that draw on CAP's Help Warehouse. Operates at much larger scale and represents the upstream supplier relationship for CAP's 1.7M+ pound annual food distribution.
• Meals on Wheels America: National umbrella and advocacy body for the Meals on Wheels network that Lower Columbia CAP's program belongs to. Provides Older Americans Act funding, branding, and policy support; Lower Columbia operates a local affiliate program delivering 28,241 meals annually.
• Community Action Network (National): The national umbrella for 1,100+ Community Action Programs that Lower Columbia CAP belongs to. Direct structural peer since Lower Columbia is one of 31 Washington State CAPs operating under the same federal War on Poverty framework with similar LIHEAP, weatherization, and Head Start mandates.
• Catholic Charities of Oregon (and Washington): Larger faith-based social services organization serving the broader Pacific Northwest with overlapping programs in housing, refugee resettlement, employment services, and senior support. Comparable comprehensive service-delivery model though at materially larger scale and geographic reach.

Regional players

• Cowlitz County Department of Community Development: Cowlitz County government office that administers housing, community development, and human services funds that Lower Columbia CAP draws on through Coordinated Entry. Operates in the same geographic market with overlapping responsibility for homeless services and affordable housing programs.

Direct peers

• Habitat for Humanity (Cowlitz/Wahkiakum affiliate): Closest direct peer on the affordable homeownership and self-help housing model. Habitat affiliates across the country operate Self-Help Housing volunteer-build programs similar to Lower Columbia CAP's 395+ family track record, though CAP's 1% foreclosure rate is a notable outcome differentiator.
• Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette: Closest analog on the social enterprise model: operates thrift stores that fund workforce development and job training programs. Lower Columbia CAP's CAPtured Treasures thrift store and Grounds for Opportunity Cafe replicate the dual-mission retail/training structure that Goodwill pioneered at much larger scale.
• Salvation Army Longview Corps: Direct service peer in the same Lower Columbia region participating as one of the affiliated food banks under CAP's Help Warehouse network and as a co-recipient of The Daily News Neighbors in Need campaign. Provides overlapping food, emergency assistance, and seasonal support programs to the same low-income population.
• St. Vincent de Paul of Cowlitz County: Direct peer food bank partner under CAP's Help Warehouse distribution network and co-beneficiary of The Daily News Neighbors in Need campaign. Delivers overlapping emergency food, clothing, and housing assistance to the same vulnerable population in the same geography.

Emerging players

• Family Health Center (Cowlitz): Community health center that was originally founded by Lower Columbia CAP and now operates independently with board representation. Provides complementary health services to the same low-income population in Cowlitz County and represents a successful CAP incubation spinoff.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/L_C_CAP
• Facebookfacebook.com/LowerColumbiaCAP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lower-columbia-cap

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Lower Columbia CAP