Warm Springs Community Action Team

What Warm Springs Community Action Team does

Warm Springs Community Action Team (WSCAT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community development organization founded in 2001 as an incubated program under the Central Oregon Partnership and operating independently since August 2008. Headquartered at 1136 Paiute Avenue on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in Oregon, WSCAT delivers an integrated portfolio of programs across four pillars: Financial (IDA matched savings at $5 per $1 saved up to $6,000, HUD-approved housing counseling, AARP Tax Aide, Building Native Communities financial education), Business (CO.STARTERS curriculum classes, one-on-one coaching, Kiva Loans, Commissary incubator), Career (Grow with Google certificates via Coursera, manufacturing internships in hemp/teepee/sewing, year-round and summer youth workforce), and Youth (Wyam Youth Center, filmmaking, Tribal Song & Art, Wana Waixtishama waterways program, Two Spirit Allyship, AIBL club, Trailblazers youth basketball). The organization operates the Twisted Teepee food truck as a workforce training facility and is developing a community campus at the historic 128-year-old Commissary site.

WSCAT serves residents of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation — a high-unemployment, predominantly government-economy community — with programs delivered free of charge and all eligible program staff and the four-member Board of Directors being Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs tribal members. WSCAT holds HUD-approved housing counseling certification (the only agency on the Reservation with this status), is a member of Oweesta Corporation's Native HUD Housing Counseling Network, and is a Portland Trailblazers youth program partner. Notable program outcomes include 50+ workforce participants annually, 25-50 youth in summer workforce, over 300 families on the HUD housing waitlist, and 500+ small business grants distributed during the pandemic.

Revenue is generated entirely through grants and donations from federal agencies (HUD, USDA), state agencies (Oregon IDA Initiative, Higher Education Coordinating Commission), foundations (Meyer Memorial Trust, Ford Family Foundation, Northwest Area Foundation), community banks (Columbia Bank, Umpqua Bank), and individual contributors. No pricing is charged to participants and no fee-for-service revenue exists. Outreach and marketing are community-led via KWSO tribal radio, social media, Madras High School partnerships, community events, and word-of-mouth referrals. WSCAT employs 11-50 staff and is governed by a Board of Directors composed entirely of CTWS tribal members.

Name

Warm Springs Community Action Team

Legal name

Warm Springs Community Action Team

Website

https://wscat.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Warm Springs Community Action Team is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering workforce development, financial literacy, HUD housing counseling, IDA matched savings, and small business support to Warm Springs Indian Reservation residents through grant-funded, culturally integrated programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Community development services
• Workforce development programs
• Financial literacy education
• Housing counseling services
• Small business support

Headquarters

HQ city

Warm Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Donations: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, WSCAT operates primarily through grant funding from government agencies (Oregon, HUD, USDA), foundations (Meyer Memorial Trust, Ford Family Foundation, Northwest Area Foundation), and individual donations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Warm Springs Community Action Team (WSCAT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free community development programming to tribal and community members on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Core offerings include Individual Development Account (IDA) matched savings, HUD-approved housing counseling, free AARP Tax-Aide preparation, financial literacy education, small business coaching using the CO.STARTERS curriculum, and year-round youth workforce development including paid internships, technology certifications, filmmaking, and cultural programming. The organization also operates the Twisted Teepee food truck as a workforce training facility and is developing the Commissary as a small business incubator.

Product overview

Warm Springs Community Action Team (WSCAT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community development organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs for tribal and community members on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. The organization operates multiple core program areas: Financial Programs (IDA matched savings, HUD Housing counseling, Tax Aide, and Financial Counseling), Business Programs (Small Business Support, Youth Business Support, Twisted Teepee food truck, and the developing Commissary incubator), and Career Programs (Technology training, Manufacturing internships, and Youth Workforce Development). WSCAT also operates the Wyam Youth Center & Theater serving as a hub for youth programming including Filmmaking, Tribal Song & Art, Wana Waixtishama waterway education, and the 2 Spirit Allyship program. Programs are designed as pathways from financial education and asset building through workforce development to business creation, with the Twisted Teepee food truck and planned Commissary providing hands-on training facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Workforce Development
• Small Business Support
• Youth Business Support
• Twisted Teepee Food Truck
• Commissary Small Business Incubator
• IDA Program (Individual Development Accounts)
• HUD Housing Counseling Program
• AARP Tax-Aide Program
• Financial Counseling and Education
• Technology Workforce Program
• Manufacturing Internships Manufacturing internships for youth and adults in fields including hemp, teepee making, and sewing, with a youth printing business at Wyam Youth Center featuring garment printing capabilities.
• Youth Filmmaking Program Youth filmmaking education program with workshops, internships, and a film club hosting production, editing, and screening, with youth films winning awards at the LA Skins Film Festival.
• Tribal Song & Art Programming Traditional and modern art and film programming including rite of passage ceremonies, Namegiving ceremonies, sewing instruction, and cultural skill teaching funded by Oregon Cultural Trust.
• Wana Waixtishama Waterways Program Youth-led program teaching traditional waterways knowledge, whitewater kayaking skills, and Native languages including Ichishkiin, developing water protectors through kayak instruction and cultural education.
• Trailblazer Youth Sports Partnership Multi-year partnership with the Portland Trailblazers providing youth basketball leagues including Buffalo Nightwalkers, emergency food stipends, game tickets, facility tours, jersey sponsorship, and tournament entry fees for tribal teams.
• 2 Spirit Allyship Program Program partnering with the Central Oregon Two Spirit Coalition to provide education, advocacy, and custom curriculum supporting Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ youth and community members.
• Wyam Youth Center & Theater Youth center named after the Ichishkiin word for Celilo, serving as the centerpiece for workforce and entrepreneurship programs, featuring film club, video production equipment, green screen, podcast capabilities, theater screenings, sports watch parties, and meeting space.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 25% of tax filers qualify for Earned Income Tax Credit and related credits, bringing money back into the community
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Google (Grow with Google)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership with Google to enroll participants in Grow with Google Certificate program through Coursera. WSCAT received 200 codes to distribute for courses including Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, IT Support, UX Design, Cybersecurity, and Project Management. Participants who complete certificates receive $500 stipends.
• Foundry CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSCAT uses CO.STARTERS CORE, Bootcamp, and Generator curriculum in partnership with Foundry Collective for business education programs.
• Oweesta CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSCAT is part of Oweesta Corporation's Native HUD Housing Counseling Network. Oweesta provides HUD-approved financial education curriculum (Building Native Communities) and housing counseling network membership.
• Portland TrailblazerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMulti-year partnership supporting youth sports activities including Buffalo Nightwalkers Youth Basketball League, emergency food stipends for athletes, free game tickets, facility tours, jersey sponsorship, and tournament entry fees. Also supports youth camps for suicide prevention and MMIP awareness.
• Central Oregon Two Spirit CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition including WSCAT, MMIR Warm Springs, Papalaximisha, Gender Hive, and Allyship in Action supports education and advocacy for Two Spirit and Native LGBTQ+ youth and community members. Coalition developed custom educational curriculum for Warm Springs community.
• LaRonn Katchia (Filmmaker)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWarm Springs Tribal Member and filmmaker works with WSCAT youth on filmmaking education, script writing, producing, and editing short films. Co-developed award-winning film 'The Recipe' with youth.
• Cara Jade Myers (Actress)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous Actress (Killers of the Flower Moon) works alongside youth to teach filmmaking process from start to finish.
• Confederated Tribes of Warm SpringscoreOthersPrimary tribal government partner including WS Higher Education, WS Land Use Planning Committee, CTWS Planning Department, CTWS Department of Health and Human Services, and related tribal entities.
• KWSO 91.9minorOthersWarm Springs tribal radio station, 91.9 FM, provides community media partnership and internship opportunities for youth.
• Madras High SchoolcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for American Indian Business Leaders (AIBL) club, financial education classes for Native seniors, and workforce program recruitment.
• Indian Head CasinominorOthersFirst Grow with Google IT Support program participant completed internship at Indian Head Casino after completing certification.
• Burns Paiute TribeminorOthersWSCAT partnership to offer Business IDAs to Burns Paiute Reservation residents through the same program requirements.
• World Class AcademyminorOthersYouth from Wana Waixtishama program studied abroad through World Class Academy, traveling to Chile to continue formal education and develop kayak skills in international waters.
• Earth MerchantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing hands-on training to builders on hempcrete mixing and making. Working with WSCAT and Farrell Bryant to create hemp block production facility in Warm Springs.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA): Native-led nonprofit in Portland providing youth education, workforce development, and cultural programming. Comparable to WSCAT's Wyam Youth Center, AIBL club, and youth workforce development offerings in an urban Native community.
• Lakota Funds: Native CDFI serving the Pine Ridge Reservation with small business lending, IDA programs, and financial education. Operates a comparable model to WSCAT's matched savings and business support on a different reservation.
• Oweesta Corporation: A Native CDFI intermediary providing capital, training, and technical assistance to Native CDFIs and communities. WSCAT is part of Oweesta's Native HUD Housing Counseling Network and uses its Building Native Communities curriculum.
• Four Bands Community Fund: Native CDFI on the Cheyenne River Reservation providing IDA, small business loans, and financial coaching. Closely mirrors WSCAT's combination of matched savings, business education, and asset-building services on a different reservation.
• First Nations Development Institute: Native-led nonprofit strengthening Native economies through asset-building and financial education programs. Highly comparable to WSCAT's IDA, financial literacy, and small business development missions; WSCAT staff hold First Nations' Building Native Communities trainer accreditation.

Broad incumbents

• National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC): National organization providing technical assistance and advocacy for Native housing. WSCAT uses NAIHC's Pathways Home curriculum and is the only HUD-approved housing counseling agency on its reservation.
• NDN Collective: National Indigenous organization funding community organizing, economic development, and cultural preservation. Comparable to WSCAT's integrated economic and cultural programming but operating at a much larger national scale.
• Community Action Partnership: National network of Community Action Agencies (CAAs) providing antipoverty services. WSCAT operates as a community action team with a similar model (workforce, housing, financial counseling) but is tribal-focused rather than serving a geographic CAA catchment.

Emerging players

• Notah Begay III Foundation: National Native-led foundation focused on Native American youth through sports, health, and community development. Comparable to WSCAT's youth sports programming (Buffalo Nightwalkers basketball) and youth health/wellness initiatives.

Others

• Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs: Sovereign tribal government of the Warm Springs Reservation. Functions as WSCAT's primary institutional partner for referrals, joint programming, and funding, and is also the broader ecosystem in which WSCAT's programs operate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@warmspringscommunityactionteam
• Facebookfacebook.com/twistedteepee
• Xx.com/wsprogress

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Warm Springs Community Action Team