COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN ACTION

What COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN ACTION does

Community Partners in Action (CPA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut, founded in 1875 as the Prisoners' Friends' Society. It is one of the oldest criminal justice organizations in the United States. CPA delivers a portfolio of direct human services that spans reentry support for adults leaving incarceration, court-supervised Alternatives in the Community (AIC) programs that divert people from prison, residential programs (Hartford and Waterbury Transitional Houses, plus two REGIONS secure juvenile residential sites for boys ages 14–18 in Hamden and Hartford), enrichment programs (including a nationally recognized Prison Arts Program serving over 250 incarcerated artists annually), and reentry welcome centers in Hartford and Waterbury. The organization's core participants are adults facing or returning from incarceration, juvenile justice-involved youth, and currently incarcerated individuals; the state of Connecticut — primarily through its Judicial Branch and Department of Correction — is the principal funder, with the CT Judicial Branch awarding $20.1 million in contracts for AIC recidivism reduction services.

CPA's business model is a hybrid of government service contracts, foundation grants, and charitable donations. The Connecticut Judicial Branch, Department of Correction, and Court Support Services Division provide the bulk of programmatic funding; foundation grants (Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Connecticut Community Foundation, Tow Foundation, Ion Bank Foundation) seed discrete initiatives such as the Reentry Welcome Centers; and individual/corporate donations, donor-advised funds, employer matching gifts, and event-based fundraising (e.g., the Inspiring Hope gala) cover unrestricted operations and capital needs. CPA does not charge participants for services and does not sell a commercial product. The underlying technology footprint is minimal — a Salesforce case management database installed in 2018 and administered by the Administrative Director acting as IT Liaison — and the organization's go-to-market is effectively a sales- and event-driven public-sector channel: securing government contracts, court referrals, and philanthropic partnerships rather than marketing a commercial offering.

Name

COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN ACTION

Legal name

Community Partners in Action, Inc.

Website

https://cpa-ct.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1875

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Community Partners in Action is a Connecticut-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1875, that provides reentry, alternatives-to-incarceration, juvenile residential, and enrichment services to justice-involved adults and youth across Hartford, Waterbury, and other CT communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Reentry and Criminal Justice Social Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Reentry & Justice-Involved Support Services (BPAGAEAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Reentry services
• Alternatives to incarceration
• Transitional housing
• Prison arts programs
• Juvenile justice programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hartford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Grants: CPA receives state and federal funding through contracts with Connecticut Judicial Branch ($20.1M for recidivism reduction services), Department of Correction, and grants from foundations such as Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Connecticut Community Foundation, Tow Foundation, and Ion Bank Foundation.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: CPA accepts charitable donations from individuals and corporations, including in-kind donations of clothing, hygiene products, art supplies, and other essential items. The organization also receives stock donations, IRA charitable distributions, and matching gifts through employer programs.
3. Donor Advised Funds: CPA receives grants from donor advised funds held at major financial institutions including Bank of America, Fidelity, Vanguard, Charles Schwab, and DAFgiving 360.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Community Partners in Action is a Connecticut-based nonprofit that delivers person-centered criminal justice and reentry services, including Alternatives in the Community (AIC) court-supervised programs, transitional housing, residential and juvenile justice programs (REGIONS), Prison Arts programming inside prisons, and Reentry Welcome Centers in Hartford and Waterbury. Services are provided free to participants and funded through government contracts, foundation grants, individual donations, and donor advised funds.

Product overview

Community Partners in Action (CPA) is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of social service programs rather than a technology product. The organization operates multiple interconnected programs including Reentry Programs, Alternatives in the Community (AIC) Programs, Residential Programs, and Enrichment Programs. Key flagship initiatives include the Prison Arts Program, the REGIONS Juvenile Residential Programs for youth ages 14-18, and multiple Reentry Welcome Centers in Hartford and Waterbury. The organization also runs the Message in the Music collaboration for advocacy through music. These programs collectively support individuals transitioning from the justice system to community life through case management, transitional housing, workforce development, and enrichment services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Reentry Programs Comprehensive support services for individuals newly released from prison, including case management, transitional housing, and connections to essential services to facilitate successful reintegration into the community.
• Alternatives in the Community (AIC) Programs Court-supervised alternatives to incarceration that allow individuals to remain in the community while receiving support services, helping reduce prison populations and recidivism in Hartford, Manchester, and Waterbury.
• Residential Programs A variety of residential programs and services ranging from transitional housing (Hartford and Waterbury Transitional Houses) to juvenile residential treatment programs supporting both youth and adults involved in the justice system.
• Enrichment Programs Positive enrichment services including art and music, yoga, dance, pet therapy, and life skills programs designed to foster personal growth and development through creative engagement.
• Prison Arts Program Artistic programming inside Connecticut prisons that encourages unique, personal, and evolving artistic endeavors among incarcerated individuals, generating hope, purpose, and community connection. Serves over 250 incarcerated artists annually and over 50 alumni artists in the outside community.
• REGIONS Juvenile Residential Programs Secure, supportive residential programs for boys ages 14-18 in Hamden and Hartford, combining in-program schooling, mental health and medical care, fitness and enrichment, and hands-on vocational training to help youth avoid the adult justice system.
• Hartford Reentry Welcome Center Centralized hub providing basic information, assistance, and referrals to essential services for anyone with a history of incarceration in the Greater Hartford region, located at Hartford City Hall.
• Waterbury Reentry Welcome Center Reentry center serving the Greater Waterbury area, providing support, resources, and advocacy for returning citizens and those involved in the criminal justice system.
• Message in the Music Collaboration with musician Darryl Scotti and his band Big Yard to amplify voices of those impacted by incarceration through socially conscious music and storytelling.

Quantifiable outcome

• Prison Arts Program serves over 250 incarcerated artists annually and over 50 alumni artists in the outside community
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Connecticut Judicial BranchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded $20.1 Million in contracts for recidivism reduction services for the Alternative In The Community Program. CPA works closely with courts to provide alternatives to prison so people can stay in the community.
• Connecticut Department of CorrectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner providing in-kind support for the Greater Hartford Reentry Welcome Center and working with CPA on reentry programming.
• City of HartfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides in-kind support for the Greater Hartford Reentry Welcome Center, which is located at Hartford City Hall.
• Over 30 Community-Based OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of community organizations providing services at the Greater Hartford Reentry Welcome Center to meet the comprehensive needs of returning citizens.
• UCONN Urban Service TrackminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with UCONN's Urban Service Track program, collaborating to better serve participants of AIC programs.
• YWCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership cultivated to better serve participants of AIC programs alongside Copper Beech Institute.
• Copper Beech InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership cultivated to better serve participants of AIC programs alongside YWCA.
• Capital Workforce PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner for the Best Chance (reentry career training) Program. CPA provides oversight for services at this program.
• Ferguson ElectricminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany providing training and employment opportunities for CPA participants.
• AmazonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany providing training and employment opportunities for CPA participants.
• Greater Waterbury Reentry CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration of federal, state, and local organizations working to facilitate transition of returning citizens through support, resources, information, and advocacy. CPA co-chairs this council.
• CT Nonprofit Alliance - Criminal Justice DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPA co-chairs the Criminal Justice Division of the CT Nonprofit Alliance.
• Wadsworth AtheneumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt museum hosting Prison Arts Program exhibit 'The Church of the Angels' by incarcerated artist James D.E. Scott as part of the 'Creative Connecticut' series.
• Old New Gate Museum of ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum hosting Prison Arts Program exhibition 'Freedom Before Freedom' featuring incarcerated Native American artists.
• Museum of Contemporary Art CTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestport museum hosting the Prison Arts Annual Show featuring work of incarcerated artists.
• Eastern Connecticut State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Prison Arts Annual Exhibition showcasing artwork of people in prison.
• CT State Community College (Manchester)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Prison Arts Annual Exhibition and Alumni Show.
• Darryl Scotti and Big YardminorStrategic or Co-development Partner'Message in the Music' collaboration using socially conscious music to amplify voices of those impacted by incarceration, addiction, homelessness, mental illness, and other barriers to reentry.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Osborne Association: The Osborne Association is a New York-based nonprofit (founded 1931) providing reentry, alternatives to incarceration, prison-based services, and family programs similar to CPA. It serves justice-involved adults and youth across multiple locations, making it one of the closest analogs to CPA's multi-service continuum and Connecticut focus.
• Roca: Roca is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit working with high-risk young men and justice-involved populations on reentry, workforce development, and behavioral health. It operates a similar intensive case-management and employment-focused reentry model comparable to CPA's AIC and REGIONS programs in the Northeast.
• Community Resources for Justice: CRJ is a Boston-based nonprofit operating residential reentry programs, alternative-to-incarceration services, and supervision programming across the Northeast. It closely mirrors CPA's transitional housing (Hartford/Waterbury houses) and AIC services portfolio.
• A New Way of Life: A New Way of Life is a California-based nonprofit providing reentry housing and supportive services to formerly incarcerated women and men. It parallels CPA's transitional housing and reentry welcome center model, though it is a smaller, single-region peer of comparable structure.
• Center for Employment Opportunities: CEO is a national nonprofit providing employment-focused reentry services to people returning from incarceration. Its workforce development model directly compares to CPA's Best Chance program and reentry coaching services.
• Center for Returning Citizens: CRC Philadelphia is a nonprofit serving returning citizens in Philadelphia with reentry support, advocacy, and community-based services. It is a smaller-scale, regional analog to CPA's Hartford/Waterbury reentry operations.

Emerging players

• Justice Policy Institute: Justice Policy Institute is a policy-focused nonprofit analyzing and advocating for alternatives to incarceration and reentry reform. It aligns with CPA's restorative justice advocacy pillar and operates at a national policy level.

Broad incumbents

• Council of State Governments Justice Center: The CSG Justice Center is a national, nonpartisan policy and practice organization that works with state and local governments on criminal justice reform, including reentry and alternatives to incarceration. It operates at a broader systems level than CPA but supports the same reform agenda and connects to the CT Judicial Branch/CPA network.
• National Council on Crime and Delinquency: NCCD is a national nonprofit focused on criminal justice research, policy advocacy, and reform. It is comparable to CPA's advocacy arm (CPA co-chairs the CT Nonprofit Alliance Criminal Justice Division) and works in the same reform ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CT.CPA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-partners-in-action
• Instagraminstagram.com/cpa.ct

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles28 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 COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN ACTION