What Marshall Heights Community Development Organization does

Marshall Heights Community Development Organization (MHCDO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community development corporation founded in 1979 in Washington, D.C.'s Ward 7, east of the Anacostia River. The organization is governed by a community-based board of directors and headquartered at the Lloyd D. Smith Center (3939 Benning Road NE). It operates five integrated capability lines: HUD-certified housing counseling (pre-purchase education, foreclosure prevention, credit counseling, IZ certification, HPAP orientation); real estate development (230 affordable homeownership units developed, 80 rental units acquired, mixed-use projects including Skyland Town Center and The Waymark); small business development (technical assistance, micro-loans, Financial Empowerment Center, and stewardship of the PAEMS and DHMS Main Street programs); workforce development (resume writing, job search, interview prep for returning citizens and veterans); and health, education and wellness (opioid outreach, HIV/STI prevention, COVID-19 support). Real estate development, government and foundation grants, below-market workspace rentals, paid notary services, and program fees comprise its income streams, with the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), DC Housing Production Trust Fund, and HUD as primary funders. Its go-to-market is community-led and relationship-based, delivered through in-person workshops at the Lloyd D. Smith Center, one-on-one counseling, virtual orientations (e.g., HPAP via Zoom), corridor events along Pennsylvania Avenue SE and Deanwood, and the "Be Informed DMV" radio show on WOL 1450 AM. Notable strategic relationships include a core development partnership with The NRP Group for affordable housing (The Waymark, 109 units; 301 Florida Avenue NE, 115 units) and Main Street America affiliations via DC Main Streets.

Name

Marshall Heights Community Development Organization

Legal name

Marshall Heights Community Development Organization, Inc.

Website

https://mhcdo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Marshall Heights Community Development Organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1979 serving Washington D.C.'s Ward 7. It delivers HUD-certified housing counseling, affordable housing development, small business support through PAEMS and DHMS Main Streets, workforce training, and health and wellness services to low- and moderate-income residents and corridor businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Other Residential Care Facilities (62399)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Rural, Tribal & Special-Population Housing Programs (FSALAKAL)

Keywords

• Community development services
• Affordable housing development
• Housing counseling
• Small business development
• Workforce development training

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Grants & Government Funding: MHCDO is a non-profit that generates revenue through government grants (e.g., DC Department of Small and Local Business Development, DC Department of Housing and Community Development), foundation grants, and public funding programs. The organization also receives government appropriations for its DC Main Streets programs (PAEMS, DHMS).
2. Real Estate Development: Revenue generated through housing and economic development projects, including affordable housing development, commercial property management, and mixed-use development partnerships. The organization has developed 230 affordable homeownership units, acquired 80 rental units, and owns commercial buildings.
3. Workspace Rentals: MHCDO offers private offices, co-working, dedicated desks, and conference room rentals for nonprofits, start-ups, existing businesses, and solopreneurs at its Lloyd D. Smith Center. This generates rental income from below-market workspace leases to small business tenants.
4. Program Fees & Micro-loans: Administers a micro-loan program for small business owners without access to traditional capital markets. Also provides technical assistance, subgrants, and trainings as part of its small business development programs. Received $200,000 for FY2021 for the PAEMS Main Street program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MHCDO is a nonprofit community development corporation that delivers an integrated suite of services to Ward 7, Washington D.C., including HUD-certified housing counseling (first-time homebuyer education, foreclosure prevention, HPAP/IZ certification), a 60-bed SRO transitional and supportive housing facility, residential and mixed-use real estate development, small business technical assistance and micro-lending, workforce development training, health/wellness programming, and below-market workspace rentals. It operates two DC Main Streets affiliate programs—PAEMS (Pennsylvania Avenue East corridor, 52 businesses) and DHMS (Deanwood corridors).

Product overview

Marshall Heights Community Development Organization (MHCDO) offers an integrated suite of community development services focused on Ward 7, Washington D.C. The organization operates several core service lines: Housing Counseling Services (HUD-certified programs including first-time homebuyer education, foreclosure prevention, and SRO/supportive housing), Real Estate Development (managing projects like Skyland Town Center and mixed-use developments), Small Business Development (technical assistance, business incubation, and management of the PAEMS and DHMS Main Street programs), Workforce Development (job readiness training), Health/Education/Wellness programs (opioid outreach, HIV prevention, COVID support), plus Notary Services and Workspace Rentals. The PAEMS and DHMS Main Street programs serve as key economic development engines for the Pennsylvania Avenue East and Deanwood commercial corridors respectively.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Served over 1,279 DC residents in 2019-2020, with 92% African-American and 81% below AMI
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NRP Group (The NRP Group / NRP Holdings LLC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026The NRP Group is MHCDO's primary development partner for affordable housing projects. The partnership has produced The Waymark (109-unit affordable housing at 4435 Benning Road NE, groundbreaking April 2026, completion end of 2027) and 301 Florida Avenue NE (115 affordable units). NRP Holdings LLC was also a co-applicant on the NoMa/Union Market Affordable housing project awarded through the DC Housing Production Trust Fund.
• Marshall Heights Community Development Organization (MHCDO)coreOthers · 1 January 2024In 2024, MHCDO assumed leadership of DHMS, marking a new chapter in its legacy. Under MHCDO's leadership, DHMS continues to advance inclusive economic growth, promote cultural preservation, and build a vibrant destination for Deanwood.
• Pennsylvania Avenue East Community Coalition (PAECC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021MHCDO partnered with PAECC to develop the Pennsylvania Avenue SE Economic Development Strategy Budget Justification Memos to secure funding for the PAEMS Main Street program and the Pennsylvania Avenue East Corridor Small Area Plan.
• DC Department of Health (HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Administration)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021MHCDO is a sub-grantee working with the Health Department and Health/HIV to support opioid overdose reduction efforts. ENGAGE Outreach Workers target substance abuse hot spots and distribute substance abuse and COVID-19 awareness kits in Wards 7 & 8.
• Main Street AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020PAEMS was established in 2020 as a Main Street America affiliate and member of DC Main Streets. This affiliation provides the program framework, resources, and national network for corridor revitalization efforts along Pennsylvania Avenue SE.
• DC Main StreetscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Both PAEMS and DHMS are designated DC Main Streets affiliates. DC Main Streets, created in 2002 through the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is the citywide coordinating program providing services and funding for Main Streets in D.C. DHMS was established as a DC Main Street in 2009.
• Ward 7 Business PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009DHMS was originally managed by the Ward 7 Business Partnership, which led transformative efforts to revitalize Deanwood's business corridors through small business subgrants, technical assistance, storefront improvements, local festivals, and beautification projects before MHCDO assumed leadership in 2024.
• Kenilworth Industrial Park, LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop and expand the Northeast Business Park, which includes a small business center providing below-market office space to 10 small business tenants and local headquarters for VMS, Inc.
• Greater Washington Urban League / United WayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe on-site Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) at MHCDO has its daily operations supported by the Greater Washington Urban League and United Way, providing financial counseling services to Ward 7 residents.
• East River Family Strengthening CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMHCDO provides support and serves as a site for East River Family Strengthening Collaborative's Families First projects, providing family strengthening services to Ward 7 residents.
• Trusted Health ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMHCDO provides services to Trusted Health Program's members, supporting health and wellness services for Ward 7 residents.
• Operation HOPEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn eight-week business class taught by staff of Operation HOPE, in addition to a credit and money management course, prepares entrepreneurs for establishing business loans and lines of credit through MHCDO's small business development program.
• DC Department of Regulatory Affairs (DCRA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCRA sponsors regular workshops or counseling sessions through MHCDO, providing regulatory guidance and compliance support for DC small business owners.
• DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSLBD is the primary government sponsor for the PAEMS Main Street Program, providing $200,000 in FY2021 funding with commitment for FY2022. Also sponsors counseling sessions and commissioned the Pennsylvania Avenue East Retail Market Analysis. MHCDO also manages DHMS under the DC Main Streets program administered by DSLBD.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC): National coalition advocating for fair lending and community reinvestment, with member CDCs comparable to MHCDO. Provides policy advocacy and capacity-building that influences the same funding streams MHCDO depends on.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit affordable housing developer and CDFI with significant DC presence. Comparable in mission (affordable housing, community development) and asset scale, with both development and advisory services.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National CDFI and community development intermediary that funds and supports CDCs across the country including MHCDO-adjacent organizations. LISC DC provides capital, technical assistance, and capacity-building to local CDCs, making it a comparable funder/ecosystem player.

Others

• United Way of the National Capital Area: Regional funder supporting MHCDO's Financial Empowerment Center. Comparable as a community services funder/intermediary operating in DC's nonprofit ecosystem.
• National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) affiliates: Network of university-extension-based community development programs. Comparable mission in community-based economic development, though delivered through a different institutional model.
• Main Street America (program): National accreditation program for downtown and commercial district revitalization of which MHCDO's PAEMS and DHMS are affiliates. Comparable as the framework and network supporting MHCDO's commercial corridor work.

Direct peers

• Habitat for Humanity of Washington DC: DC affiliate of Habitat for Humanity focused on affordable homeownership development and housing counseling for low-income residents. Directly comparable in housing counseling, homebuilding, and HUD-certified services.
• Greater Washington Urban League: Regional affiliate of the National Urban League providing workforce development, small business support, and financial empowerment (including the on-site Financial Empowerment Center at MHCDO). Comparable in workforce development and small business services.
• So Others Might Eat (SOME): DC-based nonprofit providing affordable housing, workforce development, behavioral health, and supportive services. Comparable integrated service model targeting low-income DC residents, with significant real estate holdings and HUD-funded programs.
• Anacostia Economic Development Corporation (AEDC): Peer DC-based community development corporation focused on economic development east of the Anacostia River, with overlapping service lines in commercial corridor revitalization, small business support, and workforce development. Directly comparable as a Ward 7/8 CDC competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MHCDO
• Facebookfacebook.com/mhcdo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mhcdo

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Marshall Heights Community Development Organization