Community Action Network (CAN) of Ann Arbor

What Community Action Network (CAN) of Ann Arbor does

Community Action Network (CAN) of Ann Arbor is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 38-2792610) founded in 1987 that operates seven neighborhood community centers across Washtenaw County, Michigan, providing free educational, food-security, and family stabilization services to under-resourced children, youth, and families. Its core programs include after-school academic support, six-week educational summer camps designed to prevent summer learning loss, the CAN Art & Design creative-enrichment program, a YouthWorks workforce-readiness track for teens, family stabilization services (eviction prevention, utility shut-off prevention, food assistance), and food distribution through CAN Food Markets sourced primarily from Food Gatherers. The organization is led by Executive Director Derrick Miller with a 41-person staff and a deputy director, plus program directors across community wellness, behavioral health, arts, human resources, volunteer engagement, and individual community centers.

CAN's business model is that of a public charity rather than a commercial enterprise. All programs and services are provided free of charge to eligible residents; CAN does not sell a product or subscription. Revenue is derived from two primary streams: charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations, and federal, state, and local government grants supporting community services and food security. Distribution occurs through three channels: walk-in access at the seven community centers, partner-operated services at those locations (e.g., Catholic Social Services food distributions at Northside), and a self-serve online registration portal (canfamilies.org). The organization co-locates with Ann Arbor Housing Commission public housing at three sites (Hikone, Green Baxter Court, Creekside Court) and has layered new municipal partnerships onto its core delivery model, including the City of Ann Arbor A2Zero Initiative for a solar-powered resilience hub at Northside and a carbon-neutral neighborhood initiative at Bryant. Documented impact metrics include 1,037,652 pounds of food distributed annually (approximately 838,700 meals in 2023/2024), greater than 99% eviction prevention in voucher-based housing neighborhoods since 2002, and CAN students attending 11 more school days per year than Ann Arbor Public School peers. CAN holds the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (2025) and is governed by a volunteer board of directors.

Name

Community Action Network (CAN) of Ann Arbor

Legal name

Community Action Network

Website

https://canwashtenaw.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Community Action Network (CAN) of Ann Arbor is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates seven neighborhood community centers in Washtenaw County, Michigan, providing free after-school, summer camp, youth workforce, food distribution, and family stabilization services to under-resourced children, youth, and families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Community Food Services (624210), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Youth education programs
• Family stabilization services
• Food security assistance
• After school programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN: 38-2792610), CAN relies primarily on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations to fund operations and programs.
2. Government Grants: Federal, state, and local government grants supporting community services, food security, and educational programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Community Action Network (CAN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates seven neighborhood community centers across Washtenaw County, Michigan. It delivers free educational enrichment programs for children and teens (after-school programs, summer camps, art and design, workforce readiness), family stabilization services (eviction and utility shut-off prevention, food markets and pantries), and broader community-building initiatives for under-resourced residents.

Product overview

Community Action Network (CAN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides a portfolio of community services programs rather than a unified technology product. The organization operates multiple community centers across Washtenaw County, offering educational programs (After School Program, Educational Summer Camps, CAN Art & Design, YouthWorks, CAN Beyond The Books), family stabilization services (utility/eviction prevention, food assistance), and community-building initiatives. CAN also maintains online portals including CAN Families for program registration and resource access, and CAN Academy for staff and volunteer resources. All programs are offered free of charge to under-resourced families in Washtenaw County neighborhoods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CAN Academy: Staff & volunteer resources portal
• CAN Families
• YouthWorks
• Educational Summer Camps
• After School Programs

Products and services

• After School Program Free after-school program offering homework and reading support, enrichment activities, social-emotional development, and meals for children and youth from under-resourced Washtenaw County neighborhoods.
• Educational Summer Camps Free six-week educational summer camp designed to prevent summer learning loss, including academic activities, enrichment, literacy development, and social-emotional growth for under-resourced youth.
• CAN Art & Design Student-centered, transdisciplinary creative program where students develop academic and life skills through artistic inquiry, design, and building.
• YouthWorks Youth-driven work-readiness program offering interactive experiences to develop employability skills, explore career fields, and prepare teens for the workplace.
• CAN Beyond The Books Program focused on educational enrichment beyond traditional academics, supporting youth academic potential.
• Stabilization Services Family stabilization services including utility shut-off prevention, eviction prevention, food assistance, and referrals to Washtenaw County resources.
• Community Programs Community-building initiatives creating clean, safe, and supportive neighborhoods where families can thrive, including community events and partnerships.
• Food Markets Emergency food pantries and bi-weekly food distributions providing nutritious food to community members, sourced from Food Gatherers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,037,652 pounds of food distributed annually, equivalent to ~838,700 meals in 2023/2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Food GathererscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood Gatherers is a key food supplier for CAN Food Markets, providing 1,037,652 pounds of food annually distributed at CAN community centers, equivalent to approximately 838,700 meals in 2023/2024.
• Ann Arbor Housing CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAN partners with Ann Arbor Housing Commission to operate community centers at public housing sites including Hikone (29 families), Green Baxter Court (23 families), and voucher-based housing at Creekside Court (32 families).
• Catholic Social ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic Social Services operates weekly emergency food distributions at CAN's Northside Community Center: Tuesdays 2pm-5:30pm, Thursdays 10am-2:30pm, and 2nd/4th Saturdays 10am-12:30pm.
• City of Ann Arbor A2Zero InitiativeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to make Northside Community Center Ann Arbor's first solar powered resilience hub. In power outages, the building maintains refrigeration for food storage and provides community access to electricity.
• Ann Arbor Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAN partners with Ann Arbor Police Department at multiple community centers (Hikone, Green Baxter Court, Creekside Court, Bryant) to promote positive relationships between police and community members through programs like Hoopin' at Hikone.
• City of Ann Arbor (Carbon Neutral Initiative)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBryant Community Center is partnering with the City of Ann Arbor and Bryant neighborhood residents to create the first carbon-neutral neighborhood in the country, focused on sustainability, resilience, and good-paying jobs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Child Care Resources / Washtenaw Intermediate School District: Regional education and child-serving public agency that intersects with CAN's youth academic programming and attendance outcomes in the Ann Arbor Public Schools catchment.

Direct peers

• Food Gatherers: Ann Arbor-based food rescue and distribution nonprofit that is CAN's primary food supplier. Operates the same food-insecurity mission in Washtenaw County and would be the closest comparable food-distribution community organization.
• SOS Community Services: Washtenaw County nonprofit providing emergency assistance, food, housing, and utility support to low-income residents. Closest comparable wraparound social services nonprofit in the same geography.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan: Operates youth development and after-school/summer programming at club sites, directly comparable to CAN's educational enrichment, summer camp, and youth workforce programming model.
• Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley: Local Habitat affiliate focused on affordable housing in Washtenaw County. Comparable through its housing-stabilization and community-building work in the same geography.
• Ann Arbor Housing Commission: Public housing authority that co-houses multiple CAN community centers. While a government entity rather than a nonprofit, it is the closest operational peer in affordable housing service delivery in Washtenaw.
• Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County: Faith-based social services provider that already partners with CAN on food distributions. Delivers overlapping stabilization and food services in the same county.

Broad incumbents

• United Way of Washtenaw County: Regional funder and convener of human services nonprofits across Washtenaw, with a broader portfolio of grants, initiatives, and partner agencies that overlap CAN's community stabilization mission.
• The Salvation Army of Washtenaw County: National faith-based nonprofit with a local Ann Arbor presence offering emergency food, housing, and utility assistance — directly comparable stabilization services.
• Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development: County-level agency administering anti-poverty, housing, and community development programs funded through federal Community Services Block Grants — same underlying mission and funding streams that underwrite CAN.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/canannarbor
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-action-network-can-of-ann-arbor
• Instagraminstagram.com/canannarbor

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 Community Action Network (CAN) of Ann Arbor