Capital Area Community Action

What Capital Area Community Action does

Capital Area Community Action Agency, Inc. is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) community action organization founded in 1965 and headquartered at 309 Office Plaza Drive in Tallahassee, Florida. The agency delivers a portfolio of federally and state-funded anti-poverty programs to income-eligible residents of eight North Florida counties (Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, and Wakulla), with all services provided free of charge to beneficiaries. Its core programs are Head Start (early childhood education for children ages 3-5, operated across six centers in Leon, Jefferson, and Franklin counties, currently enrolling 378 children and using the Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies GOLD assessment framework), the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for utility and crisis assistance, the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) for home energy efficiency upgrades, and the Getting Ahead / Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSSP) for adult economic-stability planning and case management.

The agency operates under a tripartite board structure mandated by the Community Action Act, with representation from public officials, low-income residents, and private-sector stakeholders. Its technology stack is limited to consumer-facing administrative tools — ChildPlus for online Head Start applications, the Florida LIHEAP portal for crisis applications, and Teaching Strategies GOLD for child development tracking — with no proprietary platform, API, or AI capabilities. Service delivery is omnichannel: in-person through 12 physical sites (one headquarters, eight county offices, six Head Start centers), by phone, and via online application portals.

Capital Area CAA is funded approximately 80% by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for Head Start, with the remaining 20% local share met through volunteer services, cash donations, and in-kind contributions. LIHEAP and WAP funding flows through FloridaCommerce and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The revenue model is therefore best characterized as government-grant-funded social-services delivery, with no fees charged to beneficiaries and supplementary revenue from individual and corporate donations, meal sponsorships, and volunteer hours. The organization has operated continuously for over 50 years and currently employs an unstated but multi-site workforce led by CEO Tim Center (in role since 2013), an HR Manager, a Getting Ahead Program Coordinator, a Parent Engagement Coordinator, and six Head Start center directors.

Name

Capital Area Community Action

Legal name

Capital Area Community Action Agency, Inc.

Website

https://capitalareacommunityactionagency.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Capital Area Community Action Agency is a Tallahassee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1965 that delivers federally funded Head Start, LIHEAP utility assistance, weatherization, and self-sufficiency programs free of charge to low-income residents across eight North Florida counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH), Community & Nonprofit Before/After Care Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAD)

Keywords

• Community action services
• Early childhood education
• Utility assistance programs
• Home weatherization services
• Anti-poverty programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallahassee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Federal Grants: Primary revenue from federal government programs including Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), Community Service Block Grant (CSBG), and Head Start (80% funded by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Remaining 20% local match met through volunteer services, cash donations, and donations of goods.
2. Donations: Charitable contributions from individuals, families, companies, and organizations. Donations may include cash contributions, books for classroom, meal sponsorships, and volunteer services that count toward non-federal share requirements.
3. Program Services (Government Subsidized): Free services to income-eligible residents including Head Start childcare, utility assistance, weatherization, and self-sufficiency programs. No direct revenue from participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Capital Area Community Action Agency is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community action agency that delivers free Head Start preschool services for children ages 3-5 from low-income families across six centers in Leon, Jefferson, and Franklin counties; Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) crisis utility payments capped at $1,000 per household per season; Weatherization Assistance Program home energy-efficiency upgrades; and Getting Ahead / Family Self-Sufficiency anti-poverty workshops and mentorship. All services are offered at no charge to income-eligible residents across an eight-county North Florida service area.

Product overview

Capital Area Community Action Agency is a nonprofit community-action organization offering a portfolio of social-services programs focused on crisis assistance, early childhood education, and economic self-sufficiency for low-income residents of North Florida. The core programs include Head Start (a federally funded preschool program using Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies Gold assessments), the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for utility crisis assistance, the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) for home-energy efficiency, and the Getting Ahead/Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSSP) for poverty reduction. These programs are delivered through multiple county offices and six Head Start centers, supported by volunteer, employment, and mentoring (Staying Ahead) services. Technology use is limited to consumer web portals (ChildPlus for Head Start enrollment, Florida LIHEAP portal for crisis applications) and standard administrative software. No AI/ML capabilities, public API, or software product platform is offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Head Start A federally funded early childhood development program providing free preschool services to children ages 3-5 from low-income families across Leon, Jefferson, and Franklin counties. Includes Creative Curriculum (Teaching Strategies), Teaching Strategies Gold assessments three times per year (September, January, May), health and nutrition services via the USDA Child Care Food Program, family engagement, and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) at select centers.
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) A federally funded utility-assistance program that helps low-income households (at or below 150% of Federal Poverty Income Guidelines) pay heating and cooling bills and provides crisis relief for emergencies such as utility shutoff prevention. Serves Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, and Wakulla counties through the FloridaCommerce-administered block grant.
• Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) A home-energy-efficiency program that reduces heating and cooling costs by improving insulation, sealing air infiltration, wrapping water heaters, installing efficient lighting and smoke detectors, and adding solar screens and ventilation. Targets income-eligible homeowners and renters in seven counties.
• Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin'-by-World A 15-week research-based anti-poverty workshop in which participants (called Investigators) explore causes of poverty and develop personal plans to move toward self-sufficiency. Based on Bridges Out of Poverty concepts by Dr. Ruby Payne and Phil DeVol. Offered in Calhoun/Liberty, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, and Wakulla counties.
• Staying Ahead (Mentor Program) A self-sufficiency support program following Getting Ahead that pairs graduates with two mentors (allies) from resourced families for approximately six months to provide ongoing guidance, counseling, and support toward economic independence.
• Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSSP) A one-year (renewable up to three years) case-management and support program helping low-income participants achieve economic stability through education assistance, employability skills, job placement, on-the-job training (OJT), and crisis/emergency assistance. Eligibility is 200% of the federal poverty level.
• Little Champions Program An obesity-prevention program managed in partnership with Titus Sports Academy, providing twice-weekly movement activities at Leon and Jefferson Head Start sites addressing speed, strength, balance, agility, and endurance for preschool children.
• Employment Services Job placement assistance, on-the-job training (OJT) programs, and career counseling for low-income residents, integrated with the Family Self-Sufficiency Program.
• Volunteer Program Opportunities for community members, interns, work-study students, and parents to volunteer in Head Start classrooms, mentoring, and program activities. Volunteer contributions count toward the non-federal share/match requirement for Head Start funding.

Quantifiable outcome

• 378 children enrolled in Head Start across 6 centers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Titus Sports AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Little Champions Program, an obesity prevention initiative managed through Titus Sports Academy. Their trained professionals visit Leon and Jefferson Head Start sites twice weekly to work with children on movement activities addressing speed, strength, balance, agility and endurance. Titus designed this research-based program specifically for Capital Area Community Action Head Start program.
• Teaching Strategies, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationProvider of Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies GOLD assessment tools used throughout Head Start program. Creative Curriculum draws on research from over 100 scientific studies and is considered an evidence-based, developmentally appropriate approach by the State of Florida, Office of Head Start, and National Association for the Education of Young Children.
• Early Learning Coalition of Northwest FloridaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner serving Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties, serving as a 'one-stop shop' for parents of young children by connecting them to care, parenting support and additional community resources.
• Early Learning Coalition of the Big BendminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner serving Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison counties, connecting families to childcare and early learning resources.
• Children's Medical Services / Early StepsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState program serving children with special health care needs and families with infants/toddlers birth to 36 months who have developmental delays or established conditions. Provides Individualized Family Support Plan (IFSP) services.
• Whole Child LeonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity initiative launched in 2004 focused on changing community attitudes about children's well-being and ensuring greater cohesiveness among service providers targeting young children and families.
• United Way of the Big BendminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for poverty simulation events and collaborative initiatives addressing poverty in the Capital Area region.
• Tallahassee/Leon County Commission on Women and GirlsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost organization for poverty simulation events where Community Action provides context about poverty issues.
• Tallahassee Community College (Ghazvini Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocation partner for Board of Directors meetings. Meetings held at TCC Ghazvini Center for Healthcare Education at 1528 Surgeons Drive, Tallahassee.
• Florida Head Start State Collaboration Office (FHSSCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederally funded state office supporting and improving collaboration between Head Start and other providers of educational, medical, and social services in Florida.
• Bond Community Health CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederally Qualified Health Center providing patient-centered primary and preventive healthcare services for residents of Leon, Gadsden, Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Franklin, Liberty, and Madison counties.
• Star MetrominorOthersPublic transportation provider in Tallahassee and Leon County referenced as a resource for Head Start families.
• Career Source Capital RegionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development partner through which applicants are encouraged to view and apply for job vacancies.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Orange County Community Action Division: Orange County FL's community action division administering LIHEAP, CSBG, and weatherization across a different but adjacent Florida geography — comparable program mix and federal funding model without direct service-area overlap.

Direct peers

• Hillsborough County Community Action Program: Direct county-level community action program operating Head Start, LIHEAP, and emergency assistance in Hillsborough County, FL — directly comparable nonprofit/agency service stack and federal funding model.
• East Coast Migrant Head Start Project: Federally funded Head Start grantee serving migrant and low-income children across multiple Florida counties — directly comparable Head Start federal-grantee model with county-level center operations.
• Children's Home Society of Florida: Large Florida nonprofit delivering child welfare, early childhood, and family services statewide — comparable nonprofit early-childhood and family-self-sufficiency portfolio funded through federal/state contracts.
• Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Department: County-level community action and human services agency administering LIHEAP, Head Start, and self-sufficiency programs in Miami-Dade — same federal grant streams (LIHEAP, CSBG, Head Start) and tripartite governance structure.
• Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA): Florida-based nonprofit Head Start and early childhood education provider operating multiple centers statewide — directly comparable Head Start grantee role, federal funding base, and rural Florida service footprint.
• Family Central, Inc. Florida-based nonprofit providing early childhood education, Head Start, and family services across Broward/Miami-Dade — comparable Head Start grantee role with emphasis on school readiness and family self-sufficiency.
• Brevard County Community Action Agency: Florida county-based community action agency operating Head Start and energy/weatherization assistance in Brevard County — comparable scope of Head Start + LIHEAP + WAP programming under federal grants.

Broad incumbents

• Florida Department of Children and Families: State-level public agency overseeing LIHEAP-adjacent programs, child welfare, and anti-poverty funding statewide — broader incumbent that channels state-administered federal dollars to community action providers including CACAA.

Others

• United Way of the Big Bend: Regional United Way affiliate operating in the same Capital Area footprint as CACAA — adjacent ecosystem partner/fundraising counterparty in poverty-reduction initiatives in Leon and surrounding counties.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/capitalareacaa
• Facebookfacebook.com/CapitalAreaCAA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/capital-area-community-action-agenc-y-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Community Action