CAPI USA

What CAPI USA does

CAPI USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, founded in 1982 to serve immigrants and refugees in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Originally established as a small culturally-specific food shelf for Vietnamese War-era refugees, the organization has grown into a multi-service provider operating two physical locations in South Minneapolis and Brooklyn Center, a weekly farmers market, mobile produce distributions, and a broad program portfolio organized under two pillars: Community Advocacy (culturally specific food assistance, civic engagement, immigration justice, senior and disability programming) and Economic Prosperity (Career Pathways, Benefits Enrollment, Financial & Homeownership Services including HUD-approved counseling and VITA tax assistance). It serves more than 12,000 individuals annually, supported by roughly 432 volunteers contributing over 1,400 hours of service per year.

CAPI's technology footprint is minimal — there is no proprietary software platform, app, or AI system; service delivery is human-mediated through multilingual, culturally-competent staff across specialized departments. The organization is currently mid-construction on a major Brooklyn Center building expansion (Aug 2025 – Sept 2026) backed by a $7.5M Capital Campaign.

The business model is a diversified nonprofit funding stack: individual donations (including the Rooted Givers monthly program), corporate sponsorships (tiered from $500 to $10,000 for the annual Give & Grow Cultural Gala), foundation grants (notably a $2M unrestricted gift from MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving in March 2024 and a $1M federal expansion grant in April 2024), government contracts (ORR employment services, HUD-approved housing counseling, National Council on Aging Benefits Enrollment Center), and workplace giving/matching programs. All services to clients are provided free of charge; revenue is generated entirely from philanthropic and public-sector sources rather than fees. Leadership transitioned in 2023–2024 from long-tenured CEO Ekta Prakash to internal successor Mary Niedermeyer.

Name

CAPI USA

Legal name

CAPI USA

Website

https://capiusa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CAPI USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1982 that provides culturally specific food assistance, workforce training, benefits enrollment, financial and homeownership services, and civic engagement programs to immigrants and refugees in the Twin Cities, serving 12,000+ individuals annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immigrant and Refugee Social Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Diaspora, Family Reunification & Case Management Services (BPADAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI), Family & School System Navigation (Parent Engagement, Youth Services) (EDAAADAH)

Keywords

• Refugee resettlement services
• Immigrant social services
• Workforce development training
• Food assistance programs
• Financial coaching services

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: CAPI receives donations from individuals who support the organization through one-time or recurring gifts. The organization promotes 'Rooted Givers' monthly giving program.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for events like the annual Give & Grow Gala, with various sponsorship tiers from $500 to $10,000.
3. Foundation Grants: CAPI receives grants from foundations including Yield Giving (MacKenzie Scott), AAPI Civic Engagement Fund, and other philanthropic organizations.
4. Government Contracts: CAPI receives government funding for programs including ORR (Office of Refugee Resettlement) employment services, benefits enrollment through National Council on Aging, and HUD-approved housing counseling.
5. Workplace Giving: Corporate matching gift programs where employers match employee charitable contributions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CAPI USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization that provides free, culturally and linguistically specific support to immigrants and refugees in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Its core offerings include a culturally specific food shelf, workforce development via Career Pathways (credentialed training in CNA, IT, warehouse, and skilled trades), Benefits Enrollment services for seniors and people with disabilities, Financial and Homeownership Services (financial coaching, HUD-approved housing counseling, HomeStretch homebuyer workshops, VITA tax assistance, small business training), civic engagement and immigration justice programming, and community events including the Brooklyn Center Farmers Market and the annual Give & Grow Cultural Gala.

Product overview

CAPI USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization offering comprehensive support services for immigrants and refugees in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The organization operates through two primary service pillars: Community Advocacy (providing culturally specific food, health services, and civic engagement) and Economic Prosperity (offering benefits enrollment, career pathways, employment support, and financial/homeownership services). The organization runs a food shelf, Brooklyn Center Farmers Market, and conducts educational workshops including Financial Literacy, HomeStretch (homebuyer education), Warehouse Training, and Small Business Training. Annual programming includes the Give & Grow Cultural Gala fundraiser and various community events. CAPI serves over 10,000 individuals annually and has grown from a small culturally-specific food shelf established in 1982 to a multi-service organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Advocacy Culturally appropriate support services including food assistance, healthcare navigation, civic engagement, and immigration justice support for immigrants and refugees in the Twin Cities.
• Economic Prosperity Workforce training, financial education, benefits enrollment, and employment support services helping immigrant and refugee community members move from urgent needs to lasting stability.
• Food Shelf Culturally specific food shelf providing familiar foods and fresh produce to immigrant and refugee families, serving more than 130 families weekly at the Brooklyn Center location.
• Benefits Enrollment Center (BEC) Coordinated enrollment services for low-income seniors and adults with disabilities in healthcare, prescriptions, food, utilities, and transportation assistance programs, as part of the National Council on Aging's BEC national network.
• Career Pathways Helps unemployed and underemployed immigrants and refugees find employment through credentialed training (Healthcare Pathways, Technology Pathways, Skilled Trades Pathways), individualized career planning, work readiness, digital literacy, job search, placement, and retention services.
• Employment & Career Supports Program Supports newly arrived refugees in achieving economic stability through tailored Household Economic Stability Plans, employability assessments, budgeting, pre- and post-employment support, job placements, and career pathway connections.
• Financial & Homeownership Services Integrated Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) services including financial coaching, HUD-approved housing counseling, HomeStretch homebuyer workshops, small business training, and VITA tax assistance for over 500 low-income individuals annually.
• Brooklyn Center Farmers Market Weekly farmers market (Thursdays, July–October) providing locally grown produce, handmade goods, and community resources, with SNAP/EBT token support for accessibility.
• Give & Grow Cultural Gala Annual cultural showcase and fundraiser celebrating refugee and immigrant communities through dance, song, theater, and culinary experiences, featuring silent auctions to support CAPI programming.
• Fresh Produce Distribution Mobile fresh produce distribution held every other Tuesday serving more than 150 families with free fresh fruits and vegetables.
• HomeStretch Homebuyer Workshop First-time homebuyer workshop provided in partnership with MN Housing, MN Homeownership Center, and partner banks (MidWestOne, Old National, Sunrise), helping aspiring homeowners navigate the home buying process.
• Warehouse Training Hands-on warehouse and forklift operation training delivered in partnership with Century College, with 45+ hours of training and Forklift Operator certification preparation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 12,000+ individuals annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Little Free LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAPI partners with Little Free Library as steward of two Read in Color boxes that distribute books providing perspectives on racism and social justice, celebrating BIPOC and marginalized voices.
• Immigrant Defense NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAPI partners with the Immigrant Defense Network to host Constitutional Observer Training sessions for Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park communities, providing practical tools for documenting rights violations and supporting families during ICE encounters.
• City of Brooklyn CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAPI partners with the City of Brooklyn Center to operate the Brooklyn Center Farmers Market, continuing this beloved neighborhood tradition and making fresh produce accessible through SNAP/EBT tokens.
• LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAPI participates in LISC's Financial Opportunity Center network, utilizing the FOC model that integrates financial coaching, career development, and income support services.
• MN Housing and MN Homeownership CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAPI collaborates with these state housing agencies to offer HomeStretch homebuyer workshops, a comprehensive first-time homebuyer education program.
• Prepare and ProspercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAPI partners with Prepare and Prosper to provide Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), offering culturally competent tax assistance to over 500 low-income individuals annually.
• Century CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAPI partners with Century College for warehouse training certification, where participants can earn Warehouse and Forklift certifications through 45+ hours of hands-on training.
• National Council on AgingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAPI's Benefits Enrollment Center is part of a national network funded through the National Council on Aging, providing coordinated services to enroll low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities in benefits programs.
• Sunrise BanksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSunrise Bank sponsors HomeStretch workshops by providing breakfast and lunch for participants, supporting first-time homebuyer education.
• MidWestOne BanksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMidWestOne Bank partners with CAPI to co-host free Homestretch workshops, providing certification for first-time homebuyers.
• Luminary Arts CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuminary Arts Center serves as the venue for CAPI's annual Give & Grow Cultural Gala, hosting the September 10, 2026 event.
• Ignite Minnesota Asian Power (IMAP) CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAPI is part of the IMAP coalition with 12+ organizations engaging Asian and immigrant voters through phone banking, relational organizing, digital outreach, and community conversations.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hmong American Partnership: St. Paul-based nonprofit serving Southeast Asian immigrant and refugee communities in the Twin Cities with workforce, education, and family services. Directly comparable to CAPI on geography, target AANHPI populations, and multi-service nonprofit model.
• Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE): New York-based AAPI nonprofit providing housing counseling, workforce development, and small business support to immigrant communities. Comparable to CAPI on AAPI target population, HUD housing counseling, small business training, and immigrant economic empowerment.
• International Institute of Minnesota: Twin Cities-based refugee resettlement and immigration services organization offering case management, employment, and English classes. Closest direct peer to CAPI on refugee resettlement mandate, multilingual service delivery, and ORR-funded programming.
• Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI): San Jose-based AAPI nonprofit offering health, social services, and refugee resettlement programming. Comparable to CAPI on AAPI-targeted culturally-specific services, multilingual delivery, and integration of food, workforce, and civic programming.
• CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio): Twin Cities-based Latino-focused nonprofit providing workforce development, financial empowerment, and citizenship services to immigrants. Comparable to CAPI on culturally-specific immigrant services model, workforce training credentials, and metro-level geographic focus.

Broad incumbents

• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Global humanitarian organization operating refugee resettlement programs across U.S. cities. Comparable to CAPI on ORR-funded refugee employment and case management services but at vastly larger national and international scale.
• Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota: Statewide nonprofit offering refugee resettlement, employment services, and supports for newcomers in Minnesota. Overlaps with CAPI on ORR-funded employment programs and refugee case management but at significantly larger statewide scale.
• Church World Service (CWS): National refugee resettlement and humanitarian organization running Welcome Corps and ORR-funded programs in multiple U.S. metros. Comparable to CAPI on refugee resettlement mandate and federal funding model but at national scale.
• Catholic Charities of the Twin Cities: Large regional nonprofit providing refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, food shelves, and housing programs across the Twin Cities. Comparable on immigrant services portfolio and federal refugee funding but operates a much broader social services mandate.

Regional players

• Jewish Family Service of St. Paul: St. Paul-based social services organization offering refugee resettlement, employment, and senior services in the Twin Cities. Comparable to CAPI on refugee resettlement mandate and senior benefits enrollment work in the same metro, though with different cultural community focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CAPIUSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/capi-usa
• Instagraminstagram.com/capiusa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 CAPI USA