Mt. Airy CDC

What Mt. Airy CDC does

Mt. Airy Community Development Corporation (Mt. Airy CDC) is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1980 that operates as the principal community development organization for the Mt. Airy neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia (zip codes 19119 and 19150). The organization delivers four integrated program lines: (1) HUD-certified housing counseling and financial literacy services delivered through free workshops and one-on-one sessions; (2) business services anchored by the Go Mt. Airy Business Association, the PhillyiHub entrepreneur training program, and an 85+ member business directory; (3) community programs including the Mt. Airy Schools Coalition serving seven local public schools and the Literacy Rich Neighborhood Initiative; and (4) real estate services encompassing commercial property management, workspace rental at PHEBE Commons, and neighborhood revitalization projects such as Winston Commons along the Germantown Avenue corridor.

The organization's underlying technology footprint is minimal: it operates a WordPress-based website and uses NeonCRM for membership and donor management, with no proprietary software platform. Revenue is generated through a mix of restricted and unrestricted grants (notably a $500,000 Wells Fargo award and a $400,000 Regional Foundation grant in 2025, plus William Penn Foundation support for literacy programs), individual and corporate donations, quarterly Business Association memberships priced at $75, event sponsorships, and a branded merchandise storefront on Bonfire. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on free programming, neighborhood festivals, social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), earned media (Fox29, Visit Philadelphia), and partnerships with East Mt. Airy Neighbors, West Mt. Airy Neighbors, Chestnut Hill Local, and institutional funders. The organization is governed by a board of directors and led by Executive Director Philip Dawson, with a staff headcount in the 11–50 range, and previously operated as Mt. Airy USA from 1997 to 2018 before reverting to its community development corporation identity.

Name

Mt. Airy CDC

Legal name

Mt. Airy Community Development Corporation

Website

https://mtairycdc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mt. Airy CDC is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit community development corporation founded in 1980 that provides HUD-certified housing counseling, business support through the Go Mt. Airy Business Association, community and literacy programs, and real estate services to residents, small businesses, and families in Northwest Philadelphia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)

Keywords

• Community development services
• Housing counseling programs
• Small business support
• Financial literacy workshops
• Neighborhood revitalization

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Mt. Airy CDC relies on donations from community members and supporters to fund its community programs, housing counseling, and business development activities.
2. Business Association Memberships: Go Mt. Airy Business Association membership is $75 per quarter, providing marketing, networking, and promotional benefits to local businesses.
3. Event Sponsorships: Local businesses and organizations sponsor community events like Supper Sessions, Decemberfest, and Autumn on the Avenue.
4. Go Mt. Airy Store: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts and promotional items through the Bonfire storefront.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Mt. Airy CDC is a nonprofit community development corporation that delivers HUD-certified housing counseling and financial literacy, business development services (including the Go Mt. Airy Business Association and the PhillyiHub entrepreneur training program), community programs (such as the Mt. Airy Schools Coalition and Literacy Rich Neighborhood Initiative), and neighborhood real estate services (including commercial property listings and the PHEBE Commons workspace). Most services are provided free to participants and are funded through grants, donations, memberships, and sponsorships.

Product overview

Mt. Airy CDC is a community development organization (not a technology product company) offering a portfolio of community services organized into four core program areas: Housing Counseling & Financial Literacy, Business Services, Community Programs, and Real Estate Services. The Go Mt. Airy Business Association and its associated PhillyiHub entrepreneur training program and Business Directory represent the main business-focused offerings. Community Programs include the Mt. Airy Schools Coalition with literacy initiatives. Real Estate Services encompass commercial development and workspace rental. The organization does not offer a unified software product but rather community development programs and services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Housing Counseling & Financial Literacy HUD-certified housing counseling services including first-time homebuyer workshops, foreclosure counseling, pre-purchase and post-purchase counseling, credit and budget counseling, rental counseling, and one-on-one financial guidance for Mt. Airy residents and prospective homeowners.
• Go Mt. Airy Business Association A quarterly membership-based business association for local independent businesses, providing marketing, networking, social media promotion, directory listing, and access to community events for $75 per quarter.
• PhillyiHub
• Community Programs Community programs including the Mt. Airy Schools Coalition focused on literacy, Reading Captains and Philly Reading Coaches programs, summer reading camps, and the Literacy Rich Neighborhood Initiative serving Mt. Airy children and families.
• Real Estate Services Real estate development and neighborhood revitalization services including commercial property listings, PHEBE Commons workspace rental, and projects like Winston Commons that incubate local businesses along the Germantown Avenue corridor.
• Go Mt. Airy Business Directory
• Community Events

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $10,000 distributed to 8 local businesses in first COVID-19 Business Relief Fund disbursement
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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 core, major and supporting.

• East Mt. Airy Neighbors (EMAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMAN is a key partner in the Mt. Airy Schools Coalition, working with Mt. Airy CDC and West Mt. Airy Neighbors to support local public schools and literacy initiatives. EMAN also administers the Community Fund that has supported projects including school video series.
• West Mt. Airy Neighbors (WMAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMAN collaborates as part of the three-part Mt. Airy Schools Coalition alongside Mt. Airy CDC and EMAN, working with principals from seven local public schools.
• Read by 4thmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCitywide literacy campaign that Mt. Airy CDC's Literacy Rich Neighborhood Initiative supports, with the shared goal of ensuring all Philadelphia children read at grade level by the end of third grade.
• Lovett Memorial LibrarysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity literacy partner supporting the Mt. Airy Schools Coalition's reading programs and summer reading initiatives.
• State Senator Art HaywoodmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState Senator representing PA 4th District who has provided ongoing support for literacy initiatives, including advocacy and legislative backing for the Literacy Rich Neighborhood Initiative funded by William Penn Foundation.
• State Representative Chris RabbsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerState Representative who supports the Mt. Airy Schools Coalition's educational programs and literacy initiatives.
• Pixel ParlorsupportingTechnology or IntegrationPhiladelphia design studio that helped rename and rebrand the organization from Mt. Airy USA to Mt. Airy CDC, created the Go Mt. Airy brand identity, and designed the new website launched in 2019.
• Interpret GreensupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in designing and developing the Literacy Rich Neighborhood playful learning installations at Wyck and Johnson House historic sites.
• KSS ArchitectssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm partner for the Literacy Rich Neighborhood Initiative playful learning installations.
• Playful Learning Landscapes Action NetworksupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNetwork partner providing expertise for the design of playful learning installations at historic sites.
• Chestnut Hill LocalsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal newspaper partnership where Go Mt. Airy Business Association purchases quarterly advertising space, reaching 10,000 weekly readers.
• Visit PhiladelphiasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCity's official tourism marketing agency that conducted a promotional tour of Mt. Airy neighborhood in October 2024, highlighting local businesses and attractions.
• Elfant Wissahickon RealtorssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal real estate agency that partnered with the Schools Coalition for annual open houses introducing Realtors to neighborhood school programs since 2014.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NeighborWorks America: National housing and community development network that supports local NeighborWorks organizations. Mt. Airy CDC operates in a similar space (housing counseling, community development) but is not a formal NeighborWorks affiliate.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National CDFI and CDC support organization with a Philadelphia office that provides funding, training, and capacity-building to local CDCs. Broader portfolio than Mt. Airy CDC but operates in the same community-development space.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit that invests in affordable housing and community development, with Philadelphia-area activity. Comparable in mission (housing + community development) but operates at national scale.
• Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC): Philadelphia's public-private economic development corporation, with overlapping activity in real estate development and business support. Larger and government-adjacent, but operates in the same Philadelphia economic-development ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia: Philadelphia affiliate of Habitat for Humanity focused on affordable homeownership and housing counseling. Comparable in housing-counseling and homeownership-readiness offerings to Mt. Airy CDC's housing program.
• The Food Trust: Philadelphia-based nonprofit addressing food access and healthy communities, with comparable operating model (events, neighborhood programs, foundation-funded). Both are well-established Philadelphia community nonprofits of similar scale.
• New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC): Philadelphia-based CDC serving the Fishtown and Kensington neighborhoods with housing counseling, real estate development, and community programs. Highly comparable mission, program mix, and operational scale to Mt. Airy CDC.
• The Enterprise Center: Philadelphia-based CDC and CDFI focused on minority business development and entrepreneurship, operating business training programs analogous to Mt. Airy CDC's PhillyiHub. Comparable nonprofit community-development mission in the same metro.
• Urban Affairs Coalition: Philadelphia-based coalition of community organizations providing capacity-building, fiscal sponsorship, and program services. Comparable in mission and Philadelphia footprint, with similar reliance on grant and earned revenue.

Regional players

• Philadelphia Association of CDCs: Regional membership association representing Philadelphia's community development corporations, including Mt. Airy CDC peers. Comparable in focus but functions as a trade body rather than direct service provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GoMtAiry
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCn1gxeTCQGLnc2d2BBkTxiA
• Facebookfacebook.com/GoMtAiry
• Instagraminstagram.com/gomtairy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Mt. Airy CDC