TAP
TAP, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) community design center founded in 1969 in Troy, NY, providing affordable architectural, planning, preservation, and placemaking services to low- and moderate-income property owners, neighborhood groups, and non-profit organizations across New York's Capital Region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersTroy, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What TAP does
TAP, Inc. (Troy Architectural Program) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community design center founded in 1969 and headquartered at 210 River Street, Troy, New York. The organization provides affordable architecture, planning, preservation, placemaking, and community design services to low- and moderate-income property owners, neighborhood groups, municipalities, and non-profit organizations serving marginalized populations across the Capital Region of New York State. TAP employs eight professionals plus volunteers and interns, with three New York State licensed architects operating through its wholly-owned subsidiary Troy Architecture Practice PLLC.
The organization's core services include architectural design (programming, conditions assessment, permit documents, construction administration), feasibility studies and facility planning, historic preservation and tax credit facilitation, site design and zoning support, public art and placemaking (including the Bloomberg-sponsored Breathing Lights installation), and education and advocacy. Technical capabilities include Passive House Institute US certified design, evidenced by the 28-unit Adler Place Condominium Project approved in February 2025. TAP also administers state-funded programs including the Plus One ADU Program (NYS HCR grants up to $125,000), the AHC Home Improvement Program, and serves as lead presenter for the NYSERDA-funded Capital Region Clean Energy Hub. TAP owns and operates School 10 Apartments, a renovated affordable housing building in Troy.
TAP's revenue model combines fee-for-services on a sliding scale, operating grants from NYSCA, NYS HCR (its most reliable grant source), and NYSERDA, plus tax-deductible donations supporting the Fama Design Fellowship and general operations. The organization distributes services through direct delivery from its Troy office, program partnerships with community-based coalitions, and a board-led governance structure under Executive Director Barbara L. Nelson (appointed 2015).
TAP firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TAP
- Legal name
- TAP, Inc.
- Website
- https://tapinc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- TAP, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) community design center founded in 1969 in Troy, NY, providing affordable architectural, planning, preservation, and placemaking services to low- and moderate-income property owners, neighborhood groups, and non-profit organizations across New York's Capital Region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where TAP is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Troy
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
TAP business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Fees for Services: Majority of budget generated by fees for professional services including architectural design, planning, feasibility studies, and construction administration provided to clients on sliding scale basis.
- Government and Foundation Grants: Operating grants from NYSCA, NYS HCR, NYSERDA and various community organizations for specific programs and innovative projects.
- Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, foundations and businesses. Supports Fama Design Fellowship and general operations. All donations are tax deductible as TAP is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | Pay-as-you-go | Sliding scale fees based on client ability to pay |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
TAP product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TAP, Inc. is a nonprofit community design center providing affordable architectural design, planning, preservation, placemaking, and community design services to low and moderate income property owners, neighborhood groups, and non-profit organizations in New York's Capital Region. Services include programming, conditions assessment, design, permit documents, construction administration, feasibility studies, renderings, and grant writing delivered on a sliding scale fee basis.
Product overview
TAP encompasses two distinct entities: (1) TAP Real Estate Technologies, Inc. (formerly HUMBL, Inc.), a financial technology company focused on multi-asset investing, payments, and real estate tokenization via its RWAx (Real World Asset eXchange) platform. Its primary product is TAP Pay, a verified payments and money movement layer supporting RTP, ACH, domestic wires, and USDC stablecoin transactions, with a roadmap that includes a debit card, bill pay, and AI-agent payment support. (2) TAP, Inc. (tapinc.org) is a private 501(c)3 non-profit community design center founded in 1969, providing architectural, planning, and design services to low- and moderate-income property owners, neighborhood groups, and non-profit organizations. It offers services across architectural design, community design and planning, feasibility studies, historic preservation, site design, public art and placemaking, and education and advocacy. TAP also administers housing programs including the Plus One ADU Program (grants up to $125,000), AHC Home Improvement Program, and Capital Region Clean Energy Hub, while owning and operating School 10 affordable housing apartments. The organization is governed by a board of directors and employs eight professionals plus licensed architects through Troy Architecture Practice PLLC.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architectural Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Well over 100 projects completed annually throughout the Capital District
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use TAP
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
TAP technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
TAP partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Capital Region Clean Energy Hub PartnerscoreCoalition of community-based organizations including Albany Community Together, Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County, and others making the clean energy economy equitable and inclusive.
- LaBella Associates EngineeringmajorContracted to produce construction documents for the Little Italy Market Park Project. Engineering partner for community design projects.
- New York State Writers InstituteminorCo-sponsored the 2024 Queer Poetry Prize Contest with TAP, supporting arts programming and LGBTQ+ community engagement.
- Redburn DevelopmentmajorTAP assisted Redburn Development in securing tax credits for multiple projects including The Wick boutique hotel, Troy's former School 1, and Tilley Ladders factory conversion.
- Uptake AllianceminorLeading ClimateTech platform dedicated to accelerating sustainable building innovations. Hosted Advanced Buildings Convening with TAP participation on steering committee.
- Historic Albany FoundationminorCo-presenter of Sudden Services program staging social media flash mobs to invite public into historic houses of worship. Partnership for Tiffany windows visibility project.
- Neighborhood Preservation Coalition of New York StateminorTAP is a member of the Neighborhood Preservation Coalition of New York State, connecting with other CDCs and advocacy organizations statewide.
- TRIP (Troy Community Land Bank)minorPartner for homeownership programs; TRIP's Homeownership Center helps people improve credit and get approved for mortgages, managing down payment assistance programs.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
TAP competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Van Alen Institute: New York-based nonprofit design organization working at the intersection of architecture, urban planning, and public engagement. Comparable to TAP as a mission-driven design nonprofit producing research, programs, and community-focused design initiatives in New York State.
- Project for Public Spaces: Nonprofit urban planning and placemaking organization working with communities on public space design and activation. Directly comparable to TAP's placemaking, public art, and community engagement work, including projects similar in spirit to Breathing Lights.
- MASS Design Group: National nonprofit architecture and design firm focused on social impact, particularly in health, education, and justice. Comparable to TAP as a mission-driven architecture practice, though operating at substantially greater geographic scale and project budget.
- Detroit Collaborative Design Center: University-affiliated Community Design Center providing architecture and planning services to Detroit nonprofits and neighborhood groups. Highly comparable to TAP in mission, client base, and integration of education with community practice.
- Community Design Collaborative: Philadelphia-based nonprofit Community Design Center providing pro bono architectural services to nonprofit and civic clients, with a similar mission of expanding access to design services for under-resourced communities. Directly comparable to TAP in business model, sliding-fee structure, and CDC positioning.
- Cleveland Urban Design Center: University-based Community Design Center serving Cleveland neighborhoods with planning, design, and community engagement services. Comparable to TAP as a regional CDC combining architectural practice with participatory community processes.
Broad incumbents
- Enterprise Community Partners: Large national nonprofit that invests in affordable housing and community development across the U.S. Comparable to TAP's affordable housing and preservation work but operating at dramatically greater scale as a broader-incumbent across multiple states.
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National community development financial institution supporting affordable housing, economic development, and community resilience. Similar in community development mission and grant-deployment model but operates as a much larger national CDFI rather than a local architecture CDC.
- Habitat for Humanity Capital District: Local Habitat affiliate and 25-year TAP partner providing affordable homeownership opportunities. Comparable as an affordable housing nonprofit serving the same Capital Region market, though focused on construction and mortgage delivery rather than design services.
Emerging players
- Center for Architecture Foundation: NYC-based nonprofit focused on architecture education, public programming, and community design advocacy. Comparable to TAP's education and advocacy mission though oriented more toward public engagement than direct service delivery.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
TAP social profiles
Digital presenceTAP financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TAP leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
TAP subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
TAP funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TAP M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TAP
What does TAP do?
TAP, Inc. is a nonprofit community design center providing affordable architectural design, planning, preservation, placemaking, and community design services to low and moderate income property owners, neighborhood groups, and non-profit organizations in New York's Capital Region. Services include programming, conditions assessment, design, permit documents, construction administration, feasibility studies, renderings, and grant writing delivered on a sliding scale fee basis.
Is TAP a public or private company?
TAP is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was TAP founded?
TAP was founded in 1969. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is TAP based?
TAP is headquartered in Troy, United States, in the North America region.
How does TAP make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Fees for Services are the primary driver. The others are government and Foundation Grants and donations.
Who are TAP's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Van Alen Institute, Project for Public Spaces, MASS Design Group, Detroit Collaborative Design Center, Community Design Collaborative and Cleveland Urban Design Center. Broad incumbents are Enterprise Community Partners, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Habitat for Humanity Capital District. Center for Architecture Foundation is listed as an emerging player.
Does TAP have an API?
No public API is recorded for TAP.