Creston Neighborhood Association

What Creston Neighborhood Association does

The Creston Neighborhood Association (CNA) is a 501(c)-style nonprofit community organization incorporated in 1979 that serves the residents, businesses, and institutions of the Creston neighborhood in Grand Rapids, Michigan — Grand Rapids' largest neighborhood with approximately 25,000 residents. Its stated mission is to "empower neighbors through information, connections and support to build the Creston community." CNA operates a portfolio of community programs including the Community Garden, Creston Cares mutual aid (Adopt-a-Family supporting 10-15 families annually), the Creston Farmers Market, the Land Use Committee, the Living Green Committee (urban orchard, bioretention islands), and recurring events such as the Pancake Breakfast, Garden Tour, Art Bash, Earth Day Fest, Creston Night Out, Dumpster Day, and the Annual Meeting. The organization is led by an Executive Director (Alex Karatkiewicz) with a small core staff of four (Program Coordinator, Community Organizer, Garden Coordinator) supported by a 10-member elected Board of Directors operating under a "working board" model.

CNA has no proprietary technology; its digital footprint consists of a content website (crestongr.com), a bimonthly e-newsletter, a Community Journal blog, and Facebook/Instagram channels used for community communications. The revenue model is a diversified mix of small recurring and transactional streams: annual resident/business/non-profit membership dues, sustaining monthly donations, one-time contributions, event ticket fees (e.g., Garden Tour $10-$15, Pancake Breakfast $7/$25 for non-members), business membership tiers (including Community Partner supporters such as Bloom Credit Union and Meijer), and modest grants (e.g., Michigan Humanities / National Endowment for the Humanities for the 2019 walking tour project).

The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on volunteer participation, committee involvement, and direct neighborhood presence rather than traditional sales or marketing. CNA's strategic significance derives from its institutional role as the formal neighborhood voice on land-use matters and its ecosystem of partnerships with Grand Rapids Public Schools, Catherine's Health Center, City of Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, Michigan Humanities, Calvin University, and the North End Wellness Coalition.

Name

Creston Neighborhood Association

Legal name

Creston Neighborhood Association

Website

https://crestongr.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Creston Neighborhood Association is a Grand Rapids, Michigan nonprofit incorporated in 1979 that serves approximately 25,000 residents, 60+ businesses, and local institutions in Grand Rapids' largest neighborhood through community programs, events, mutual aid, land-use advocacy, and environmental stewardship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community & Civic Organization Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAL

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAIANAE

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Housing, Urban Planning & Community Development

SECONDARYBPAGALAC

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Enterprises & Impact Organizations

Keywords

• Community organizing services
• Neighborhood association
• Community engagement programs
• Mutual aid programs
• Local advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for residents, businesses, and non-profit organizations in the Creston neighborhood
2. Donations: Financial donations from community members, sustaining monthly donations, and one-time contributions to support neighborhood programs and initiatives
3. Event Revenue: Ticket sales for events like Garden Tour ($10-15), Pancake Breakfast fees, and other community events
4. Business Memberships: Annual business membership fees from community partner members and business members who support the neighborhood
5. Grants: Grant funding from organizations such as Michigan Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities, and other foundations for specific projects like history research

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Creston Neighborhood Association is a nonprofit community organization that empowers neighbors through information, connections, and support to build the Creston community in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It delivers community programs and events including the Community Garden, Creston Cares Mutual Aid, Land Use Committee advocacy, Living Green environmental initiatives, and a calendar of annual neighborhood events (Garden Tour, Pancake Breakfast, Farmers Market, Art Bash, Earth Day Fest, Dumpster Day, Creston Night Out).

Product overview

Creston Neighborhood Association (CNA) is a nonprofit community organization, not a technology product company. It does not offer software products, platforms, or technology services. CNA provides community programs and services including community events (such as the annual Garden Tour, Creston Farmers Market, Art Bash, Pancake Breakfast, Earth Day Fest, Creston Night Out, Dumpster Day), a Community Garden program, the Creston Cares mutual aid program, Land Use Committee activities, Living Green environmental initiatives, membership programs, and a bimonthly e-newsletter. The organization operates as a neighborhood association serving the Creston community in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CNA Membership (Resident, Business, Non-Profit) Annual membership program for Creston residents, local business owners, and non-profit/faith community organizations, providing access to association programs, voting rights at the Annual Meeting, and member benefits.
• Annual Garden Tour Ticketed annual self-guided tour of neighborhood gardens in Creston. Tickets priced at $10 for members in advance, $12 for non-members in advance, and $15 day-of. Open to residents and visitors.
• Annual Pancake Breakfast Annual pancake breakfast fundraiser/community gathering. Free for CNA members; $7 per person or $25 per family for non-members. Open to all neighborhood residents and visitors.
• Community Garden Program Community garden program for Creston residents providing garden plots, coordinated by a Garden Coordinator, supporting urban agriculture and resident food-growing activities.
• Creston Cares Mutual Aid Program Mutual aid program providing direct support to Creston residents facing hardship, including the Adopt-a-Family program (supporting 10-15 families annually) and a Mutual Fund for emergency needs.
• Land Use Committee Advocacy Standing committee that organizes resident input on development and land use projects affecting the Creston neighborhood, providing formal neighborhood voice in planning decisions.
• Living Green Environmental Program Environmental stewardship program including the urban orchard at Aberdeen Park, bioretention islands along Plainfield Avenue, invasive species removal, and the annual Plant Exchange event.
• Creston Farmers Market Annual summer farmers market operating from June through September in the Creston neighborhood, providing local food access and supporting neighborhood commerce.
• Art Bash for Creston Annual community art event showcasing local artists and student public art collaborations in the Creston neighborhood.
• Creston E-Newsletter Bimonthly e-newsletter delivered every other Friday to CNA members and subscribers, providing neighborhood events, news, and opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25,000 residents served in the largest Grand Rapids neighborhood
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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 and major.

• Michigan HumanitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Funded history research project for Creston neighborhood walking tour in honor of CNA's 40th anniversary. Partnership with affiliate of National Endowment for the Humanities.
• Calvin UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership for history research project creating Creston neighborhood walking tour. Calvin University History Department partnered with CNA for 40th anniversary commemoration.
• Bloom Credit UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Partnership Member at highest level of giving. Committed to supporting day-to-day work of CNA throughout the year.
• MeijermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Partner Member supporting CNA's ongoing work. Listed as community supporter level business member.
• North End Wellness CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of individuals, churches, non-profits, and community organizations meeting regularly to promote health and wellness in Creston and Belknap neighborhoods. Meets monthly at CNA community room.
• Catherine's Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth center established with CNA collaboration to provide community health care. CNA helped create Catherine's Health Center as part of neighborhood health initiatives.
• Grand Rapids Public SchoolsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in school-related initiatives and community programs. Co-sponsored history walking tour and annual meetings. Multiple schools serve Creston neighborhood.
• City of Grand Rapids Parks & RecreationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on green infrastructure projects including bioretention islands along Plainfield Ave and park improvements. Partnership for environmental stewardship initiatives.
• Friends of Grand Rapids ParksmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner on invasive species removal, park maintenance, and environmental projects in Creston parks.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Inner City Christian Federation (ICCF): Grand Rapids-based community development nonprofit focused on housing, neighborhood revitalization, and resident services. Comparable neighborhood-level community impact model, with deeper specialization in housing.

Broad incumbents

• LISC Grand Rapids: Local Initiatives Support Corporation affiliate working on community development, housing, and neighborhood revitalization in Grand Rapids. Comparable mission around neighborhood improvement and civic engagement, but operating at city-scale with significantly more resources.
• Urban League of West Michigan: Regional community-based nonprofit serving Grand Rapids with programs in civic engagement, equity, and neighborhood support. Comparable mission around community empowerment, with a broader regional scope.
• Greater Grand Rapids Neighborhood Coalition: Umbrella coalition of Grand Rapids neighborhood associations. Comparable mission of community-led neighborhood support, but operating at a broader, network level rather than a single neighborhood.

Others

• Michigan Nonprofit Association: Statewide membership association supporting Michigan nonprofits. Not a direct competitor, but a relevant ecosystem/peer organization for capacity-building, training, and sector benchmarking.

Direct peers

• Eastown Community Association: Grand Rapids neighborhood association organizing community events, business promotion, and civic advocacy. Same model (resident/business memberships, events, committees) operating in the same city.
• Neighbors of Belknap Lookout (NOBL): Adjacent Grand Rapids neighborhood association that co-hosts wellness coalitions with CNA (North End Wellness Coalition). Comparable membership-based nonprofit model focused on local advocacy and events.
• Friends of Grand Rapids Parks: Direct program partner of CNA on park stewardship and invasive species removal. Comparable community-led nonprofit model focused on local environmental stewardship and volunteer engagement.
• West Grand Neighborhood Organization: Grand Rapids neighborhood organization running mutual aid, community cleanups, and resident programming. Closely mirrors CNA's structure, programs, and geographic scope.
• Heritage Hill Association: Neighborhood association in Grand Rapids, Michigan serving the Heritage Hill historic district. Directly comparable as a community-led nonprofit running events, advocacy, and member-based programs in an adjacent Grand Rapids neighborhood.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/crestongr
• Instagraminstagram.com/crestongr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crestongr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Creston Neighborhood Association