Economic Opportunity Authority

What Economic Opportunity Authority does

Economic Opportunity Authority (EOA), legally Economic Opportunity for Savannah Chatham County Area, Inc., is a nonprofit Community Action Agency founded in 1965 and headquartered in Savannah, Georgia. The organization delivers a portfolio of federally and locally funded social services to low-income residents of Chatham County, including Head Start and Early Head Start early childhood education (serving 287 children, 6 weeks to age 5), the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a Community Health Center partnership with Curtis V. Cooper Primary Healthcare, free tax preparation via IRS VITA/TCE partnerships, workforce development, HUD-approved Homebuyer Education, a Social Security Representative Payee program, and senior engagement programs (RSVP and Foster Grandparent Program). EOA operates five Head Start/Early Head Start center locations across Savannah and Garden City, with transportation services for eligible children and an on-site community health center available two days per week at headquarters.

The organization's core technology stack reflects standard nonprofit program infrastructure: The Creative Curriculum for educational content, the Child Plus Data System for case management and family service documentation, and the TSG (Tracking System) for tracking individual child developmental goals. These are industry-standard tools rather than proprietary technology. EOA maintains a website (eoasga.org) for community engagement and a contact management system, with no public API, app, or developer-facing offerings.

EOA's business model is governed entirely by federal grant funding: direct grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Head Start/Early Head Start), LIHEAP, and CSBG form the revenue base, supplemented by IRS partnership support for VITA/TCE programs and in-kind healthcare service delivery through the Curtis V. Cooper partnership. All programs are provided free of charge to income-eligible participants, with eligibility determined by federal income guidelines and priority given to those with the greatest need, including children with disabilities, foster children, and homeless families. The organization has 11-50 employees and is led by an Interim Executive Director, Bernadette Ball-Oliver, with program directors managing each service vertical. EOA functions as a federal funding intermediary and direct service provider rather than a commercial enterprise, with no private equity, venture capital, or public shareholders.

Name

Economic Opportunity Authority

Legal name

Economic Opportunity for Savannah Chatham County Area, Inc.

Website

https://eoasga.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Economic Opportunity Authority is a nonprofit Community Action Agency serving low-income residents of Chatham County, Georgia through Head Start early childhood education, energy assistance, workforce development, free tax preparation, senior programs, and a community health center partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction (EDACAFAG)

Keywords

• Community action services
• Early childhood education
• Workforce development
• Energy assistance programs
• Volunteer tax preparation

Headquarters

HQ city

Savannah

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Grants: EOA operates primarily as a federally funded Community Action Agency receiving direct grants from federal programs including Head Start/Early Head Start (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program), and CSBG (Community Services Block Grant). These grants fund the core operations and service delivery.
2. IRS Partnership (VITA/TCE): EOA serves as an IRS partner for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs, providing free tax preparation services. This partnership brings program support and resources from the IRS to serve low-to-moderate income individuals.
3. Healthcare Partnership Revenue: Partnership with Curtis V. Cooper Primary Healthcare allows EOA to provide on-site medical, dental, pediatric, and behavioral health services at the community health center, expanding service offerings without direct revenue generation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Economic Opportunity Authority (EOA) is a nonprofit Community Action Agency providing free, community-based social services to low-income residents of Savannah-Chatham County. Its core offerings include Head Start and Early Head Start early childhood education (serving 287 children), LIHEAP energy assistance, VITA/TCE free tax preparation, workforce development, homebuyer education, senior volunteer programs (RSVP and Foster Grandparents), Representative Payee services, and a community health center partnership. All services are provided free of charge to income-qualified participants.

Product overview

EOA operates as a Community Action Agency providing community-based services through a portfolio of distinct programs designed to empower citizens to attain economic independence. The core offerings include Head Start and Early Head Start early childhood education programs (serving 135 and 152 children respectively), a Community Health Center partnered with Curtis V. Cooper Primary Healthcare, energy assistance through LIHEAP, the Homebuyers Education Program, Representative Payee Program, Senior Programs (RSVP and Foster Grandparents), and financial empowerment services including VITA/TCE Tax Preparation and Workforce Development. These programs work together to address education, health, housing, energy, financial literacy, and employment needs of Chatham County residents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Head Start A comprehensive early childhood education program serving 135 children ages 3 to 5, promoting school readiness through language, literacy, math, social-emotional skills, and physical well-being development, with health screenings, nutritious meals, and family support services. For income-qualified children and families in Chatham County.
• Early Head Start An early childhood development program serving 152 children from 6 weeks to age 3, focusing on healthy brain development, strong parent-child relationships, and early learning through responsive caregiving and individualized instruction. For income-qualified infants, toddlers, and their families.
• Community Health Center A community health center partnered with Curtis V. Cooper Primary Healthcare, providing medical, dental, pediatric, and behavioral services at EOA headquarters every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Open to all community members by appointment.
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) A federally-funded energy assistance program helping Chatham County residents manage high utility costs by providing financial relief to reduce health and safety risks caused by energy insecurity, with eligible households receiving up to two payments per year.
• Homebuyers Education Program A HUD-approved program equipping first-time home buyers with knowledge about budgeting, credit, loan options, home inspections, and closing processes, offering classes online or in-person that conclude with a Certificate of Completion for affordable loan programs.
• Representative Payee Program A Social Security Representative Payee Program providing benefit payment management for beneficiaries incapable of managing their Social Security or SSI payments, with EOA receiving and maintaining monthly benefits and paying rent, utilities, medical, food, and other basic needs for participants.
• Senior Programs (RSVP and Foster Grandparent Program) Senior engagement programs including the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) for adults 55+ supporting food security, education, and wellness, and the Foster Grandparent Program connecting older adults with children who need extra care and support through tutoring and mentorship in schools and Head Start centers.
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program An IRS-partnered program offering free basic tax preparation and counseling services for underserved individuals including low-to-moderate income individuals, people with disabilities, seniors (60+), and limited English speakers, including Facilitated Self-Assistance return preparation. EOA partner since 2020.
• Workforce Development/Education Program A career support program helping Chatham County residents build career-ready skills through training, career coaching, resume support, interview preparation, and connections to certification programs and apprenticeships, with assistance for educational expenses and transportation.
• Tax Preparation (VITA/TCE Programs) Free tax preparation services for individuals and families with low to moderate incomes, seniors, and people with disabilities, with IRS-certified volunteers assisting with federal and state filings and credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from January through April.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60 years of service to the Savannah-Chatham County community since 1965
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IRS (Internal Revenue Service)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020EOA-Savannah has been a proud IRS partner since 2020 for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. EOA provides free basic tax preparation and counseling services for underserved populations including low-to-moderate income individuals, people with disabilities, seniors (60+), and limited English speakers. All VITA/TCE volunteers are IRS certified.
• Curtis V. Cooper Primary HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide comprehensive healthcare services at EOA Savannah headquarters. Curtis V. Cooper Community Health Center @ EOA provides medical, dental, pediatric, and behavioral services every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM. Services are open to all community members by appointment. This partnership expands EOA's wraparound services to include accessible healthcare at their main location.
• Chatham Parkway KiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner supporting EOA's mission and community work. Listed as a Business Partner in the community support section of EOA's website, indicating a collaborative relationship for mutual community benefit.
• MembersFirst Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner supporting EOA's mission and community work. Listed as a Business Partner in the community support section of EOA's website, indicating a collaborative relationship for mutual community benefit.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Communities In Schools: Communities In Schools surrounds students and families with community resources to address poverty-related barriers, closely mirroring EOA's wraparound Head Start family support and workforce/community services approach.
• Easterseals: Easterseals is a national nonprofit providing early childhood education, Head Start and Early Head Start, and disability services, making it a close direct peer in the federally funded ECE and family services space EOA operates in.
• United Way of the Coastal Empire: United Way of the Coastal Empire is a Savannah-based nonprofit that funds and coordinates community services for low-income and at-risk residents in the same Chatham County footprint as EOA, operating a comparable wraparound community-support model.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain operates youth development and family services in the Savannah region with comparable federal, state, and local funding sources, serving overlapping low-income youth and family segments.
• Curtis V. Cooper Primary Healthcare: Curtis V. Cooper is an FQHC delivering medical, dental, pediatric, and behavioral services in Savannah and is co-located at EOA headquarters; both organizations serve overlapping low-income populations and collaborate on community health access.
• Habitat for Humanity Savannah: Habitat for Humanity Savannah provides homebuyer education, financial literacy, and affordable housing pathways in the same Chatham County market as EOA's Homebuyers Education Program, sharing the low-income family support mission.
• Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire: Goodwill of the Coastal Empire operates in the same Savannah-Chatham County market, providing workforce development, job training, and community services that directly overlap with EOA's Workforce Development program and senior engagement initiatives.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: Catholic Charities USA operates a national network of diocesan agencies providing social services, immigration aid, and family support that overlap with EOA's housing, energy, and emergency assistance offerings at much larger scale.
• Save the Children (U.S. Programs): Save the Children runs large-scale U.S. early childhood and literacy programs (including Head Start collaborations) across many states, representing a broader incumbent in the same federally funded ECE category as EOA's Head Start programs.
• National Urban League: National Urban League is a broad incumbent operating workforce, housing, education, and community economic development programs through local affiliates, comparable in mission scope to EOA's multi-program wraparound service model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ECONOMICOPPORT1
• Facebookfacebook.com/eoaofsavannahchatham
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/economic-opportunity-authority

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 Economic Opportunity Authority