Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People

What Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People does

Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People (CAPUP) is a private, federally designated Community Action Agency headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, founded in 1965 as the Richmond Community Action Program under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. The organization provides a unified suite of free social service programs to low-income residents of the Greater Richmond region and Crater Region, including Richmond City, Petersburg, Hopewell, and surrounding counties. Programs span crisis support (food pantry, rental assistance, utility assistance through MetroCare and Dominion Energy partnerships), senior services (Friendship Cafés, meal delivery with 1,100+ monthly meals, transportation with 800+ monthly rides), youth mentorship (Project Discovery in six partner school districts), free tax preparation (VITA), and a pilot Whole Family Approach in partnership with People's Advantage Credit Union.

CAPUP operates with a team of approximately 20 staff led by Executive Director Michael Rogers, supported by program directors, community engagement specialists, basic needs and intake staff, and a facilities/fleet team, and is governed by a 15+ member Board of Directors that embeds representatives from major partner organizations. The organization relocated to a new headquarters at 710 Dawn St in 2024 and launched a 3-Year Strategic Plan developed with Blue Octopus Consulting to position itself as the regional leader in poverty reduction.

Revenue is sourced from federal, state, and local government grants under its CAA designation, individual and organizational donations processed through Stripe, and volunteer and in-kind contributions from partners such as FeedMore and Dominion Energy. All services are delivered at no cost to eligible clients. CAPUP uses no proprietary technology systems; its technology footprint is limited to Stripe for donations, EmpoworBy and CFEngage for volunteer management, and standard web/digital marketing channels.

Name

Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People

Legal name

Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People

Website

https://capup.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CAPUP is a federally designated Community Action Agency in Richmond, Virginia, providing free food, housing, senior, youth mentorship, and tax services to low-income residents across the Greater Richmond and Crater regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Food Services (62421), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE)

Keywords

• Community action services
• Social service programs
• Emergency assistance
• Senior services
• Youth mentorship

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations: CAPUP receives one-time and monthly monetary donations from individuals and organizations to support programs and services. Donations help keep programs running and families supported.
2. Grants and Government Funding: As a Community Action Agency founded under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, CAPUP receives federal, state, and local government grants and funding to support poverty reduction programs.
3. Volunteer Contributions: Volunteers contribute time and skills to support food pantry operations, senior services, mentorship programs, and administrative functions, enabling service delivery at scale.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People (CAPUP) is a private nonprofit Community Action Agency delivering free social service programs to low-income residents of the Greater Richmond and Crater regions. Its core offerings include crisis support (food pantry, rental and utility assistance), senior services (Friendship Cafés, meal delivery, transportation), Project Discovery youth mentorship for middle and high school students, VITA free tax preparation, and a Whole Family Approach pilot providing case management and financial coaching.

Product overview

CAPUP offers a unified suite of social service programs addressing immediate needs while building long-term stability for families in the Greater Richmond region. The core offerings include Crisis Support (food pantry, rental assistance, and utility assistance), Senior Programs (Friendship Cafés, meal delivery, and transportation), Project Discovery (youth mentorship and college/career readiness), Family Support Services including a Whole Family Approach pilot, and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). Programs are delivered through a person-centered, holistic approach with direct service delivery, partner referrals, and volunteer engagement. The organization moved to a new location at 710 Dawn St, Richmond, and is accessible by public transit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Project Discovery: A community-based program that helps middle and high school students embrace the value of their education, providing mentoring, college prep, and leadership development through workshops, campus tours, and life coaching

Products and services

• Food Pantry
• Rental Assistance
• Utility Assistance
• Senior Programs
• Project Discovery
• Whole Family Approach
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
• Community Needs Assessment

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 1,100 meal deliveries and 800 senior transportation rides monthly
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Way Greater Richmond and PetersburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership supporting VITA tax preparation program and general organizational operations. United Way provides ongoing partnership and support for community programs.
• United Way Greater Richmond and PetersburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContinued partnership over years supporting VITA program and community services. United Way volunteers and support help connect neighbors with tax preparation services.
• City of RichmondcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner providing support for community programs and services. Board member Sam Parker is a Richmond City Appointee.
• Department of Public UtilitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting utility assistance programs and connecting residents with Department resources.
• Dominion EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for utility assistance through Dominion Energyshare program. Helps residents avoid electric disconnection with assistance capped at $300 disconnection notice.
• FeedMorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional food bank partner providing food supplies for CAPUP's food pantry operations. Critical partner during government shutdown SNAP lapse period.
• National Community Action Partnership (NCAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner organization. Staff attended national conference with NCAP team and other community action agencies to learn best practices for management and leadership.
• Virginia Community Action PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level partner. Staff attended Legislative Conference and advocated at the General Assembly on behalf of communities served in Richmond City and Crater region.
• Community Action PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Community Action network partner. CAPUP is a designated Community Action Agency serving the Greater Richmond region since 1965.
• Virginia Community Action PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState partner for Community Action network. Affiliated organization supporting regional poverty reduction efforts.
• Peoples Advantage Credit UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial partner for Whole Family Approach pilot program. Board member Afton Pryor represents Peoples Advantage Financial Credit Union. Partnership provides Financial Coaching and access to People’s Advantage Helping Hands.
• Brightpoint Community CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBoard member Ben Rogers represents Brightpoint. Students from Black Student Alliance volunteer at food pantry. Partner for Project Discovery college and career preparation activities.
• Reynolds Community CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBoard member Katy Latimer represents Reynolds Community College. Partner for educational programs and student support services.
• Crater Regional Workforce Development BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Tabitha Taylor represents Crater Regional Workforce Development Board. Hosted service provider listening session. Partner for career advancement and workforce readiness programs.
• Community College Workforce AllianceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorkforce development partner supporting career advancement and employment services for community members.
• DentaQuestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Altise Street represents DentaQuest, supporting healthcare access partnerships.
• SupportWorks HousingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Edward Richards represents SupportWorks Housing, supporting housing stability and homeless prevention services.
• Enterprise Community DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Janei Lofty represents Enterprise Community Development, supporting affordable housing and community development initiatives.
• MetroCarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for utility assistance with water and gas utilities. CAPUP is a MetroCare partner providing Heating Assistance and utility crisis support. MetroCare follows up to schedule intake and review documents for eligible residents.
• Department of Public Utilities (DPU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDPU follows up with Richmond residents to schedule intake and review documents for MetroCare utility assistance applications.
• Community FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Community Foundation for Service Enterprise Initiative coaching and professional development through Katie Campbell with Skye Consulting.
• The Span CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization supporting regional services and programs.
• Project DiscoverycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth mentorship program operating in partner schools. CAPUP supports this initiative as a key program for college and career readiness.
• Urban Baby BeginningsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization supporting families and early childhood development services.
• CLS LivingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate volunteer group that chose to serve with CAPUP, helping prepare for food pantry operations.
• Scandinavian Tobacco GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate volunteer group that volunteered to support CAPUP's food pantry and service operations.
• Virginia Paternity Establishment ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate volunteers supporting CAPUP during holiday season and special initiatives.
• Fahrenheit AdvisorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Misty Peloquin represents Fahrenheit Advisors, providing financial and business advisory support.
• Blue Octopus ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting firm that helped develop CAPUP's 3-Year Strategic Plan and guided organizational rebuilding efforts. Website design and branding support provided.
• Crater Regional Workforce BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted service provider listening session for Community Needs Assessment. Partner for workforce development and career advancement programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Richmond & Tri-Cities: Regional youth-mentorship nonprofit pairing adults with at-risk youth for college/career readiness outcomes directly comparable to CAPUP's Project Discovery program. Competes for similar school-district partnerships and youth-services grant funding.
• Urban Baby Beginnings: Richmond-based nonprofit serving expectant and new families with basic-needs and case management support. Listed as a CAPUP partner but also a direct comparable for low-income family services in the same geography.
• Virginia Supportive Housing: Virginia nonprofit providing supportive housing and homelessness prevention services. Comparable to CAPUP's rental assistance and housing stability programs, addressing the same vulnerable population with a housing-first lens.
• Habitat for Humanity of Central Virginia: Regional housing nonprofit addressing housing instability for low-income households in the same service area as CAPUP. Both organizations pursue rental/housing assistance and partner with similar corporate and civic donors.
• FeedMore: Central Virginia's regional food bank supplying grocery inventory to CAPUP's on-site food pantry and meal delivery programs. Operates the same hunger-relief mission across the same service area, making it the closest direct peer on the food-security side.
• Commonwealth Catholic Charities: Virginia-wide social services nonprofit delivering case management, refugee resettlement, housing, and emergency assistance. Operates in the same Richmond geography and offers a comparable multi-program service model to CAPUP.
• The Span Center: Richmond-area community services nonprofit listed as a CAPUP partner, focused on supporting neighbors through stabilization services that overlap with CAPUP's crisis support and family support offerings.

Broad incumbents

• United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg: Regional hub-and-spoke nonprofit serving the same Greater Richmond and Crater Region footprint. Both organizations fund and convene social services for low-income residents, partner with the same institutional donors, and operate VITA tax programs — making United Way a comparable but broader-scope peer.
• American Red Cross of Virginia: National humanitarian organization with a Virginia region delivering emergency relief, disaster response, and community services that overlap with CAPUP's crisis-support and relief programming for vulnerable households.
• Salvation Army of Greater Richmond: Multi-program social services organization operating emergency assistance, food, housing, and senior support in the same Greater Richmond geography. Functions as a broader-scope incumbent with overlapping crisis support and senior services offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/capup_rva

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People