GATEWAY EITC COMMUNITY COALITION

What GATEWAY EITC COMMUNITY COALITION does

Gateway EITC Community Coalition (GECC) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization founded in 2003 and headquartered at 910 North 11th Street in St. Louis, Missouri. The organization operates as an IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, delivering free federal and state tax preparation to individuals and families earning under approximately $69,000 per year. Service delivery is volunteer-driven across more than 20 physical tax sites embedded in a partner network of 40-plus community organizations, spanning the St. Louis metropolitan area in both Missouri and Illinois. Target populations include low-to-moderate income working families, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and limited English-speaking taxpayers.

The core technology stack is third-party and operationally straightforward: TaxSlayerPro provides the front-end tax preparation environment (with a dedicated TaxSlayerPro Training Lab accessed via generic TRAINPROWEB credentials for volunteer certification), the IRS Link & Learn platform supplies tax-law training, and a standard e-file pipeline transmits completed returns to the IRS and state authorities. Refunds through e-file with direct deposit are delivered in 7-14 days. GECC supplements in-person preparation with virtual return review and a referral pathway to MyFreeTaxes, a self-service online filing platform for filers under $73,000 in income.

From a business-model perspective, GECC is a charity rather than a commercial enterprise: services are entirely free to end users, with no fees, no premium tiers, and no pricing variability. Revenue (more precisely, gross receipts and grant funding) is sourced from charitable donations, private foundation grants (PNC Bank Foundation, US Bank Foundation, Bland Family Foundation), and likely federal VITA grant dollars routed through the IRS. The go-to-market motion is community-led: volunteers commit shifts through tax season, partner institutions provide sites, and the United Way 2-1-1 line routes referrals. The organization runs with a small paid staff (8 employees) supplemented by seasonal volunteers, and the primary mission metric is service volume and credit uptake (especially the Earned Income Tax Credit) rather than revenue capture.

Name

GATEWAY EITC COMMUNITY COALITION

Legal name

Gateway EITC Community Coalition

Website

https://gatewayeitc.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gateway EITC Community Coalition is a St. Louis-area 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free IRS VITA tax preparation to low-to-moderate income families, seniors, persons with disabilities, and limited English-speaking taxpayers across the bi-state Missouri-Illinois region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Tax Preparation Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Taxpayer Services, Education & Outreach (BPAIADAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Income Support & Cash Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAE), Revenue Systems, E-Filing & Digital Tax Administration (BPAIADAO)

Keywords

• Free tax preparation
• Volunteer tax assistance
• Community tax services
• Eitc assistance
• Nonprofit tax help

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Louis

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. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization, the coalition operates primarily through charitable donations, foundation grants, and government funding. Donations from partners like PNC Bank Foundation, US Bank Foundation, and Bland Family Foundation support operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Gateway EITC Community Coalition delivers free federal and state tax preparation services through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for individuals and families earning under $69,000 annually. Services are provided by IRS-certified volunteer preparers at physical tax sites across the St. Louis metropolitan area in both Missouri and Illinois, supplemented by e-filing and a self-service online alternative (MyFreeTaxes). The organization is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit funded by donations and grants.

Product overview

The Gateway EITC Community Coalition operates as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program providing free tax preparation services. The core offering is free federal and state tax preparation combined with e-file services for fast refunds. The organization also offers MyFreeTaxes as an online self-service alternative. Services are delivered through trained volunteers at multiple sites across the St. Louis region, supported by a volunteer tax preparer program with IRS-certified training. The program specifically helps low-to-moderate income families access the Earned Income Tax Credit and other tax benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Free Tax Preparation Services Free federal and state tax preparation services for individuals and families earning under $69,000, delivered through IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program sites across the St. Louis region by IRS-certified volunteer preparers. Includes assistance with refundable credits such as EITC, Child Tax Credit, education credits, and the MO-PTC/Circuit Breaker property tax credit.
• MyFreeTaxes Self-Service Tax Filing Online self-service tax preparation tool for individuals earning under $73,000, allowing users to prepare and e-file their own federal and up to three state returns at no cost. The coalition refers qualifying filers to MyFreeTaxes.com as an alternative to in-person preparation.
• EITC Assistance Specialized assistance helping working families obtain the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a federally funded refundable tax credit for eligible low-income workers. Volunteers help filers determine eligibility, calculate the credit, and claim it on their return.

Quantifiable outcome

• Refund turnaround of 7-14 days with e-file and direct deposit
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

37 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Internal Revenue Service (IRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary federal partner providing VITA program designation, training materials, certification standards, and oversight. The organization operates as an official IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site.
• United Way of Greater St. LouiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey referral partner through the 211 line, providing community information and referrals to GECC free tax services across the St. Louis region.
• St. Louis Public LibrariescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor community partner providing tax preparation site locations and outreach to library patrons.
• St. Louis County LibrariescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner hosting tax sites at multiple library branches across St. Louis County.
• Six Mile Regional LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllinois library partner providing tax preparation site location for Granite City community.
• Edwardsville Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllinois library partner hosting tax preparation services for the Edwardsville community.
• University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner hosting tax site at the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center near the North MetroLink Station.
• St. Louis UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner providing community outreach and student volunteer opportunities.
• Washington UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner supporting community service initiatives and volunteer recruitment.
• Lewis and Clark Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllinois community college partner hosting tax site at the Nursing Building in Godfrey, with appointment scheduling available online.
• Southern Illinois University EdwardsvillesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner supporting community engagement and volunteer programs.
• East Central CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMissouri community college partner hosting tax preparation site in Union, MO.
• Fontbonne UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner supporting community outreach and student volunteer opportunities.
• Greenville UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner contributing to community service initiatives.
• Commerce BanksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking partner supporting financial services community initiatives.
• Central BanksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking partner contributing to community financial wellness programs.
• Granite City Credit UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCredit union partner hosting tax preparation site for credit union members in Granite City, Illinois.
• AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational senior advocacy organization providing volunteer tax preparers and support for elderly taxpayers through the Tax-Aide program coordination.
• Bank-On Save-Up St. LouissupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial inclusion initiative partner promoting savings and banking access alongside tax refund services.
• International InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImmigrant and refugee services organization partner hosting tax site and providing multilingual services.
• Mid-East Area Agency on Aging (MEAAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArea Agency on Aging partner supporting senior-specific tax services and outreach.
• St. Louis County Older Residents Programs (CORP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty program partner operating specialized tax sites for residents 60 years of age and older at multiple library locations.
• Five Star Senior CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior services partner hosting tax preparation site at the center in St. Louis.
• Tri County Senior CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior center partner providing tax preparation services in Pacific, MO.
• Greater St. Louis Association for the DeafsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccessibility partner providing services and resources for deaf community members.
• Grace United Methodist ChurchsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based partner hosting community tax preparation services.
• New Bethel Missionary Baptist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican American church partner in East St. Louis hosting tax preparation site for community members.
• Wesley HousesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity social services partner contributing to neighborhood outreach.
• Saints Joachim and Ann Care ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic social services partner hosting tax site in St. Charles, MO.
• Blessed Teresa of CalcuttacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch partner hosting tax preparation site in Ferguson, MO.
• Timbers of EurekasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior living community partner hosting tax services in Eureka, MO.
• Jefferson County LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic library partner hosting tax preparation site in High Ridge, MO.
• Chesterfield Community CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity center partner supporting local tax preparation services.
• MET Center (St. Louis County)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity facility partner contributing to services for St. Louis County residents.
• Progress ParksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecreation center partner hosting tax services in St. Peters, MO.
• Washington Senior CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior center partner providing tax preparation services in Washington, MO.
• St. Charles City-County Library DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibrary district partner hosting multiple tax sites in St. Charles County.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Prosperity Now: National nonprofit focused on asset-building and financial security for low-income households — operates programs that complement and often partner with regional VITA coalitions like GECC to convert tax refunds into savings.
• Bank On St. Louis: Local financial inclusion initiative partnering with GECC to connect tax refund recipients with safe banking and savings products — adjacent ecosystem partner rather than a direct free tax prep competitor.

Regional players

• Greater Kansas City EITC Coalition: Another regional EITC/free tax prep coalition in Missouri, operating VITA sites in the Kansas City metro with an essentially identical service model to GECC but in a different (overlapping but separate) state geography.

Direct peers

• MyFreeTaxes: A free online self-service tax filing platform for filers earning under ~$73K, operated through a United Way/Goodwill partnership. GECC itself refers clients to MyFreeTaxes, making it a directly overlapping service offering for the same population.
• National Disability Institute: National nonprofit focused on financial security for people with disabilities, including EITC outreach and free tax preparation for persons with disabilities — overlapping the same disability-segment focus GECC addresses locally.
• AARP Foundation Tax-Aide: The largest U.S. volunteer free tax preparation program for low-to-moderate income filers, particularly seniors. Operates IRS VITA sites nationally and is named as a GECC partner — the closest direct comparator in mission, volunteer model, and target population.
• Center for Economic Progress: Chicago-based nonprofit providing free tax preparation and financial services to low-income working families in Illinois — a regional VITA coalition with a near-identical operating model and target population to GECC's Illinois-side work.
• Goodwill Industries International (VITA programs): Goodwill operates one of the largest networks of IRS VITA free tax preparation sites across the U.S., serving similar low-income populations through a volunteer-staffed site model that mirrors GECC's approach.

Broad incumbents

• United Way of Greater St. Louis: Major regional GECC partner providing referrals via the 2-1-1 line; also operates and funds the broader VITA ecosystem across the St. Louis region — a strategic funder/convener in the same free tax preparation space.

Emerging players

• Code for America (GetCTC/GetYourRefund): Operates online free tax filing tools (GetCTC, GetYourRefund) targeted at low-income filers. Same mission and end-customer as GECC, but delivered through a tech-enabled remote model rather than physical volunteer sites.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/242664729093283
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gateway-eitc-community-coalition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 GATEWAY EITC COMMUNITY COALITION