Community Action Program of Lancaster County

What Community Action Program of Lancaster County does

Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County (CAP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in Pennsylvania and headquartered at 601 South Queen Street, Lancaster. Founded in 1966 under the federal Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, CAP operates as one of more than 1,000 designated Community Action Agencies nationwide and is the largest anti-poverty organization in Lancaster County, with a secondary service presence in Lebanon County. The organization delivered services to over 40,000 community members in the most recent reported year through a portfolio organized into four impact areas: Early Education (Thrive to Five / Head Start / Pre-K Counts, Parents as Teachers home visiting, First 10), Health & Nutrition (WIC with eWIC card distribution across fixed sites and five mobile clinics, Senior Centers, Food Distribution to 40+ partner pantries, Rolling Roots Mobile Market), Household Stability (Early Learning Resource Center child-care subsidies in Lancaster and Lebanon, RISE resource navigation, Utility Assistance via PPL OnTrack, UGI CAP, and Lancaster City Water), and Safety & Empowerment (Domestic Violence Services with 24/7 hotline, shelter, and transitional housing; Domestic Violence Legal Center; Crispus Attucks Community Center, a cultural hub established in 1927 in southeast Lancaster City). The two-generation (2Gen) service model is designed to interrupt generational poverty by supporting caregivers and children simultaneously.

The business model is grant- and donation-funded rather than transactional. Revenue derives from federal allocations (Community Services Block Grant, Head Start under HHS/ACF), state and county funding (Pennsylvania Department of Aging, Lancaster County Office of Aging, Lancaster County Commissioners), corporate giving and EITC sponsorships, individual donations processed through Bloomerang, and planned-giving/endowment assets held at the Lancaster County Community Foundation. CAP maintains 57 active grants with individual values from $2,500 to $8.2M. The only direct user fees are nominal rental charges ($60/hour, 4-hour minimum) for event space at the Crispus Attucks Community Center; all social-service programs are provided free of charge to eligible participants. The Whole Family Consulting line represents a small fee-for-service extension of internal expertise to external nonprofits, businesses, and colleges. Technology is conventional web-based service delivery: WordPress-hosted site with multi-language support, ADP for HR, Calendly for pantry appointments, and third-party integrations to the WIC Shopper App, PA Compass child-care search, and the Hunger-Free Lancaster County coalition. There is no disclosed AI/ML capability or proprietary platform.

Governance is by a tripartite board combining local elected officials (e.g., Denver Borough Mayor Rod Redcay; District Director Angela Eichelberger of Sen. Scott Martin's office), community and business leaders (Chair Nicole Vottero of Univest Financial; Treasurer Daniel Massey of Walz Group), and low-income community representatives (AmyLyn LeMasney, Head Start Policy Council Chair). Vanessa Philbert is CEO; the C-suite comprises Chief Strategy Officer Amanda Burns, Chief Financial Officer Angie Lightfoot Roth, Chief Personnel Officer Cenita Richardson, Chief Business Officer John McKowen, and Chief Development Officer Kristy Aurand. Subsidiary operating units include Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster County, Crispus Attucks Community Center, and the Domestic Violence Legal Center.

Name

Community Action Program of Lancaster County

Legal name

Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County

Website

https://caplanc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1966 and headquartered in Lancaster, PA, providing integrated anti-poverty services — early education, health and nutrition, household stability, and domestic violence support — to over 40,000 Lancaster and Lebanon County residents annually, funded primarily through federal, state, and county grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Anti-Poverty Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child Care Services (6244), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF), Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Family Engagement & Home–School Partnership Programs (EDACALAB)

Keywords

• Anti-poverty services
• Early childhood education
• Community action programs
• Social services nonprofit
• Nutrition assistance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lancaster

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: CAP receives funding from federal grants including CSBG (Community Services Block Grant) and Head Start programs under the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Currently maintains 57 active grants ranging from $2,500 to $8.2 million.
2. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals supporting CAP's mission and programs, including one-time and recurring gifts.
3. Corporate Giving & Sponsorships: EITC (Educational Improvement Tax Credit) program contributions, program sponsorships, and corporate partnerships with businesses supporting Lancaster County's leaders of tomorrow.
4. Planned Giving & Endowment: Legacy gifts through estate planning, bequests, endowment fund contributions held at Lancaster County Community Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County operates as Lancaster County's largest anti-poverty organization, delivering a comprehensive portfolio of social services organized around four impact areas: Early Education (Thrive to Five, Parents as Teachers, First 10), Health & Nutrition (WIC, Senior Centers, Food Distribution, Rolling Roots Mobile Market), Household Stability (ELRC childcare subsidies, RISE Navigation, Utility Assistance), and Safety & Empowerment (Domestic Violence Services, Crispus Attucks Community Center). The organization applies a two-generational (2Gen) approach that supports caregivers and children simultaneously to break cycles of poverty, serving 40,000+ community members annually through center-based services, home visiting, mobile delivery, and community partnerships.

Product overview

Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County operates as a portfolio of integrated social service programs organized around four impact areas: Early Education (Thrive to Five, Parents as Teachers, First 10), Health & Nutrition (WIC, Senior Centers, Food Distribution, Rolling Roots Mobile Market), Household Stability (ELRC, RISE Navigation, Utility Assistance), and Safety & Empowerment (Domestic Violence Services, Crispus Attucks Community Center). The organization uses a two-generational (2Gen) approach, supporting both caregivers and children simultaneously to break cycles of poverty. Programs are delivered through center-based services, home-based visiting, mobile delivery, and community partnerships across Lancaster County, with additional consulting services offered to external organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Thrive to Five
• Parents as Teachers Evidence-based home visiting program providing personalized home visits, child developmental screenings, group connections, and parenting workshops for pregnant women and families with children ages 0-5 in Lancaster County.
• First 10 Collaborative initiative of school districts and community partners providing learning opportunities and resources for children from birth to age 10, with specialization in 0-5 programs.
• WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Program Nutrition program supporting pregnant women, mothers, and caregivers of infants and young children up to age 5 with nutrition services, breastfeeding support, healthy foods via eWIC card, and health referrals. Available at offices in Lancaster City, Columbia, and Ephrata with mobile clinics in Quarryville, Paradise, Denver, New Holland, and Elizabethtown.
• Senior Centers Senior centers providing free meals, educational activities, wellness programs, and socialization opportunities for adults over age 60 at Lancaster Neighborhood Senior Center and Columbia United Methodist Church locations.
• Food Distribution Network Central warehouse operations acquiring and distributing food and fresh produce to 40+ partner food pantries and feeding programs throughout Lancaster County, distributing over 1.2 million pounds of food annually.
• Crispus Attucks Community Center Cultural hub in southeast Lancaster City that has operated since 1927, providing a choice food pantry with fresh and shelf-stable groceries, honoring African American history through advocacy, community events, and youth programs. Facility available for event rental at $60/hour.
• Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Child care subsidies and resource center for income-eligible families providing access to quality affordable care with Keystone STARS guidance across Lancaster and Lebanon counties. Offices in Lancaster, Columbia, Ephrata, and Lebanon.
• RISE Navigation Resource navigation program supporting individuals and families in connecting to community resources, goal-setting, and pathways to economic stability with focus on Social Determinants of Health. Funded by Pennsylvania Department of Aging and Lancaster County Office of Aging.
• Utility Assistance Emergency utility assistance through LIHEAP for heating costs, the OnTrack program for PPL Electric customers, UGI Customer Assistance Program, and Lancaster City Water Assistance. Supported 19,241 households.
• Domestic Violence Services (DVS) Comprehensive domestic violence services for Lancaster County including 24/7 crisis hotline, emergency shelter, transitional housing (Bridge House), legal advocacy, counseling, children's programming, and prevention education. Served 2,200 victims and survivors.
• Domestic Violence Legal Center Free legal services for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors providing Protection From Abuse (PFA) filings, court representation, emergency custody/divorce support, and Title IX campus advocacy at 35 East Orange Street, Lancaster.
• Rolling Roots Mobile Market Mobile farmers market bringing fresh locally grown produce to communities throughout Lancaster County at Union Community Care health centers and community locations on weekly schedules.
• Whole Family Consulting Professional consulting, training, and direct services for nonprofits, businesses, and colleges on whole family approaches, poverty simulations, and family-centered coaching. A paid external service offering.
• Poverty Simulations Role-playing educational workshops typically 2.5 hours long for groups of 40-80 people where participants adopt family personas to learn about the realities of poverty.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000+ community members served annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Central Pennsylvania Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerValued partner in the fight against food insecurity. Through ongoing support, collaboration, and commitment to nourishing communities, the food bank helps more Lancaster County families access healthy food.
• PPL ElectriccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnTrack program partner providing utility assistance to PPL customers including lower fixed monthly payments and debt forgiveness.
• UGI UtilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCustomer Assistance Program (CAP) partner offering personalized monthly payments based on income and average usage, with past due debt forgiveness.
• Lancaster City WaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater assistance program funded by the City of Lancaster for customers inside and outside the city facing shut-off.
• Lancaster County Hunger Mapping Project PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-sector coalition of nearly 30 community organizations and businesses dedicated to increasing food security and economic mobility throughout Lancaster County.
• PA Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDVS is a member program of PCADV, one of sixty programs across the state providing comprehensive services to domestic violence victims and survivors.
• YWCA of Lancaster - Sexual Assault, Prevention and Counseling Center (SAPCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for representation of sexual assault victims in court actions and Title IX proceedings on college and university campuses.
• Rolling Roots Mobile Market PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Homefields (produce cultivation), Bay Street Community Garden, The Wittel Farm, Penn State College of Medicine (nutrition educator), Union Community Care (venue), Lancaster Rec, LGH Penn Medicine, and City of Lancaster.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Central Pennsylvania Food Bank: Regional food bank that supplies CAP's food distribution program and operates a comparable warehousing/distribution model — same upstream supplier relationship and similar downstream pantry network across central PA.
• YWCA Lancaster: Lancaster-based provider of domestic violence, sexual assault, and women's empowerment services that competes with CAP's DVS program for similar client populations and the same pool of state DV funding via PCADV.
• Tenfold: Lancaster County social impact organization focused on housing stability and economic mobility; CAP board cross-pollination and shared funder base make it a tightly comparable local peer.
• Water Street Mission: Lancaster-based emergency shelter and recovery program addressing food insecurity, homelessness, and supportive housing — directly comparable to CAP's household stability and safety programs in the same service area.
• United Way of Lancaster County: Local community umbrella that raises and regrants funds across education, financial stability, and health for Lancaster County — the most directly comparable hometown peer to CAP given overlapping donor base and program priorities.
• PathStone Corporation: Multi-state community action and workforce development agency (NY, PA, VA) operating under the same federal CSA/HHS framework as CAP, with comparable Head Start, weatherization, and anti-poverty programming at a similar scale.

Emerging players

• Hamilton Health Center: Federally Qualified Health Center in Harrisburg providing primary care, WIC-adjacent nutrition, and social determinants of health services — comparable to CAP's WIC and health navigation programs but with clinical capabilities CAP lacks.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Harrisburg: Regional multi-program social services nonprofit serving central PA with case management, food, immigration, and family stability services — broader geographic and program footprint than CAP but adjacent in mission and funder ecosystem.
• Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster: Lancaster youth development provider serving similar low-income families with after-school and summer programming — adjacent to but not directly competing with CAP's early childhood programs.
• Goodwill Industries of South Central Pennsylvania: Regional workforce and social services nonprofit serving south central PA with employment training, financial stability, and case management — overlapping with CAP's economic stability and RISE Navigation programming at a broader geographic scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@caplanc
• Facebookfacebook.com/caplancastercounty
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caplanc
• Instagraminstagram.com/cap_lanc
• Xx.com/CAPLancaster

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Action Program of Lancaster County