West Ohio Community Action Partnership

What West Ohio Community Action Partnership does

West Ohio Community Action Partnership (WOCAP) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) Community Action Agency designated in 1994 to serve low-income individuals and families across Allen, Auglaize, and Mercer Counties in Northwest Ohio. Founded in 1993 as the Lima Allen Council on Community Affairs (LACCA) and rebranded to WOCAP in 2016 alongside a tri-county expansion, the agency operates four principal program lines: Early Childhood Services (Early Head Start, Head Start, Child Care, and the award-winning Kindergarten Kamp transition program), Emergency Services (HEAP, Winter Crisis, Summer Crisis, PIPP, rent assistance, and homelessness prevention), Housing Services (fair housing counseling, lead abatement), and Education and Training (Most Valuable Parents, Financial Management, Getting Ahead, Fatherhood Initiative, and a Homeownership Program offering up to $6,000 in down payment assistance). Head Start, secured in 1995, became the agency's largest funded program at inception and remains a flagship service, supported by a purpose-built West Ohio CAP Early Learning Center that opened in 2022.

WOCAP delivers services through three physical county offices (Lima, Wapakoneta, Celina), a 24/7 toll-free IVR appointment line, and a DocuSign-powered online application portal. Its technology stack is conventional and non-AI-dependent, centered on web-based intake, electronic forms, and IVR scheduling. The agency's revenue model is grant-funded rather than commercial: primary inflows come from federal sources (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services via the Community Services Block Grant, Head Start, and Early Head Start) and pass-through state funding from the Ohio Department of Development administering HEAP, PIPP, Winter Crisis, Summer Crisis, and the Home Weatherization Assistance Program. The agency accepts supplementary charitable donations and participates in the national Community Action Agency network.

Service delivery is free to eligible households (typically at or below 175-200% of federal poverty guidelines), with no fees or pricing tiers for end consumers. The agency is governed by a tripartite Board of Trustees mandated to include private-sector, public-sector, and low-income community representatives. Strategic partnerships anchor operational capacity, notably with Miami Valley Community Action Partnership for weatherization delivery, Lima City Schools for Kindergarten Kamp, and United Way of Greater Lima for cross-program support. CEO Jackie Fox, who led the agency for 28 years, passed away in August 2023; no successor is named in the available data.

Name

West Ohio Community Action Partnership

Legal name

West Ohio Community Action Partnership

Website

https://wocap.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

West Ohio Community Action Partnership (WOCAP) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) Community Action Agency delivering free Head Start, energy assistance, housing, and self-sufficiency programs to income-eligible households across Allen, Auglaize, and Mercer Counties in Northwest Ohio, funded primarily by federal and state grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Action and Social Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child Care Services (6244), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), Community & Nonprofit Before/After Care Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAD), Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization Housing Programs (FSALAKAO), Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

Keywords

• Community action services
• Early childhood education
• Energy assistance programs
• Housing assistance services
• Homelessness prevention support

Headquarters

HQ city

Lima

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Grants: Primary funding from federal grants including Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), Head Start/Early Head Start programs funded by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and various emergency assistance programs
2. Ohio Department of Development Programs: State-administered programs including HEAP, Winter Crisis Program, Summer Crisis Program, PIPP, and Home Weatherization Assistance Program funded through state and federal sources
3. Donations: Accepts charitable donations from individuals and organizations to support programs and services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

West Ohio Community Action Partnership is a designated Community Action Agency that delivers free, income-eligible social services across Allen, Auglaize, and Mercer Counties in Northwest Ohio. Its core offerings include federally funded Head Start and Early Head Start early childhood education programs, state-administered Home Energy Assistance (HEAP, Winter/Summer Crisis, PIPP), emergency rent and homelessness prevention assistance, fair housing counseling, lead abatement, homeownership education, and self-sufficiency training programs.

Product overview

West Ohio Community Action Partnership (WOCAP) offers a coordinated suite of social service programs organized into four main categories: Early Childhood Services (Early Head Start, Head Start, Child Care, Kindergarten Kamp), Emergency Services (Home Energy Assistance Program/HEAP, Winter Crisis Program, Summer Crisis Program, Percentage of Income Payment Plan/PIPP, Rent Assistance, Homelessness support), Housing Services (Fair Housing, Lead Abatement, Homeownership Program), and Education and Training (Most Valuable Parents/MVP, Financial Management, Getting Ahead, Fatherhood Initiative). The organization operates as a non-profit 501(c)(3) Community Action Agency serving Allen, Auglaize, and Mercer Counties in Northwest Ohio, with locations in Lima, Wapakoneta, and Celina.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Head Start

Quantifiable outcome

• For every $1 invested in Head Start, America reaps $7 to $9 ROI (Nobel Laureate James Heckman research)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and moderate.

• Miami Valley Community Action Partnership (MVCAP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2026WOCAP partners with MVCAP to deliver the Home Weatherization Assistance Program to Auglaize and Mercer County residents, combining resources to help low-income households decrease energy costs and improve home safety.
• Ohio Department of DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025State agency partnership administering Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Winter Crisis Program, Summer Crisis Program, PIPP, and other utility assistance programs. WOCAP serves as local Energy Assistance Provider for Allen, Auglaize, and Mercer Counties.
• Lima City SchoolsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Kindergarten Kamp program helping at-risk children transition to kindergarten, including shared tracking of student outcomes and educator communication.
• United Way of Greater LimamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Kindergarten Kamp initiative and other community programs supporting low-income families.
• Allen County Family and Children First CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Kindergarten Kamp and collaborative initiatives addressing family and children services.
• Allen County Chamber of CommercemoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Kindergarten Kamp initiative and community economic development efforts.
• Allen County Board of Developmental DisabilitiesmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization represented on WOCAP Board of Trustees; collaborative services for individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Auglaize County Council on AgingmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner referral organization; referred homeless individual to WOCAP services and provided temporary lodging assistance.
• Community Action Agencies (National Network)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of national network of Community Action Agencies committed to the Community Action Promise of helping people help themselves and each other.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Community Action Partnership of Greater Dayton Area: Regional Ohio Community Action Agency serving the Dayton metro area with Head Start, energy assistance, housing, and workforce development programs. Comparable CAA program portfolio and scale with overlapping Ohio geography.
• Miami Valley Community Action Partnership: Ohio-based Community Action Agency delivering Head Start, energy assistance, weatherization, and self-sufficiency programs. Direct strategic partner with WOCAP for joint weatherization delivery in Auglaize and Mercer Counties; operates an overlapping program portfolio in adjacent Ohio geography.
• Council on Rural Service Programs: Ohio-based Community Action Agency providing Head Start, child care, emergency assistance, and self-sufficiency programs in rural communities. Highly comparable operating model, program mix, and rural service geography.
• Hocking Athens Perry Community Action: Regional Ohio Community Action Agency offering Head Start, energy assistance (HEAP, PIPP), housing, and self-sufficiency programs. Operates with the same CAA designation model and serves rural Appalachian counties with comparable low-income populations.
• Action for Children: Ohio-based nonprofit focused on early childhood services, child care resource and referral, and Head Start-adjacent programming. Comparable mission in early childhood education and family support with a similar non-profit operating model in Ohio.
• IMPACT Community Action: Columbus, Ohio-based Community Action Agency offering Head Start, energy assistance, housing counseling, and emergency services. Comparable scale, urban-adjacent rural mix, and full CAA program portfolio across multiple Ohio counties.

Others

• National Head Start Association: National membership organization for Head Start and Early Head Start grantees and delegates. WOCAP is a member/peer through its Head Start/Early Head Start program. Functions as a policy advocacy and peer learning network rather than a service competitor.
• United Way of Greater Lima: Local United Way affiliate in Allen County, Ohio. Direct strategic partner with WOCAP on Kindergarten Kamp and other community programs; addresses overlapping anti-poverty priorities in the same geographic footprint through grantmaking rather than direct service.
• Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies: Industry association representing all Community Action Agencies in Ohio. WOCAP is a member and has received multiple Best Practice Awards from OACAA (2003-2006). Functions as a peer benchmarking and shared services network rather than a competitor.

Regional players

• Starting Point for Child Care and Early Education: Ohio-based child care resource and referral organization serving Northeast Ohio. Overlaps with WOCAP on early childhood quality improvement and child care access but operates in a different geography (Cleveland/Akron region).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WestOhioCAP
• Facebookfacebook.com/WestOhioCAP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/west-ohio-cap

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 West Ohio Community Action Partnership