Wisconsin Community Action Program Association

What Wisconsin Community Action Program Association does

Wisconsin Community Action Program Association (WISCAP) is a private nonprofit membership association incorporated in Wisconsin in 1974, operating as the official statewide network of poverty-fighting agencies in the state. It represents and supports 16 locally-controlled Community Action Agencies and two special purpose agencies (Foundation for Rural Housing and UMOS) that collectively serve Wisconsin's 72 counties. WISCAP's core functions include distributing federal and state anti-poverty funding (primarily CSBG, TEFAP, Workforce Innovation Grants, and the HHS Diaper Distribution Grant), delivering training and capacity-building for member agencies (including ROMA certification and organizational standards training), coordinating statewide advocacy at the Wisconsin State Capitol, and convening the annual Poverty Matters Conference and Advocacy Day.

The organization's service portfolio spans housing stability and weatherization, emergency food distribution, workforce development, social determinants of health and Community Health Worker programs, economic security and micro-business development, early childhood education (Head Start), and statewide emergency response (including FEMA coordination and Project Recovery crisis counseling). Quantified impact includes distribution of over $725 million in pandemic relief, weatherization of 2,555 homes in 2022, and creation of more than 2,200 new businesses and 6,200 new jobs through the Jobs and Business Development initiative since 1989. WISCAP does not operate a proprietary technology platform; all program delivery flows through member agencies and human-staffed service operations.

The business model is grant-funded and membership-based. Primary revenue comes from federal pass-through funding (CSBG via Wisconsin DCF, TEFAP, HHS/ACF grants), state agency contracts (WEDC, Wisconsin DOA, Wisconsin Department of Health), corporate sponsorships (Associated Bank), individual donations, and nominal training/conference fees (e.g., $25 per session for the HR Roundtable, $1,000-$5,000 conference sponsorship tiers). The GTM motion is community-led: WISCAP reaches Wisconsin residents through its member agency network, grassroots advocacy campaigns, training programs, and direct program implementation during emergencies. The customer base bifurcates between low-income Wisconsin residents (end beneficiaries) and the 18 member agencies (organizational customers served through training, advocacy, and grant administration).

Name

Wisconsin Community Action Program Association

Legal name

Wisconsin Community Action Program Association, Inc.

Website

https://wiscap.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wisconsin Community Action Program Association (WISCAP) is a nonprofit statewide membership association supporting 16 Community Action Agencies and 2 special purpose agencies that deliver anti-poverty services across Wisconsin's 72 counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Action and Anti-Poverty Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA), Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

Keywords

• Community action services
• Poverty alleviation programs
• Workforce development
• Nonprofit advocacy network
• Social services coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Grants - CSBG: WISCAP receives Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding distributed by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families to Wisconsin's 16 Community Action Agencies and two statewide agencies. This is the primary federal funding stream for anti-poverty programming.
2. Federal Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP): WISCAP manages TEFAP grant to coordinate emergency food distribution across the member agency network, providing commodities to food pantries statewide.
3. State Funding and Grants: State-funded programs including Workforce Innovation Grant ($4.8M), Diaper Distribution Research Pilot ($1.2M), Weatherization programs through Wisconsin Department of Administration, and various state agency partnerships.
4. Diaper Distribution Grant: $1.2 million grant from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families for diaper distribution and wraparound support services.
5. Donations and Sponsorships: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships for conferences and events, and partnership funding from organizations like Associated Bank.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Wisconsin Community Action Program Association (WISCAP) is a statewide nonprofit membership association that coordinates and supports a network of 16 Community Action Agencies and 2 special-purpose agencies across Wisconsin. It administers federal and state-funded anti-poverty programs (such as CSBG, TEFAP, Weatherization, Workforce Innovation, and Diaper Distribution) on behalf of its members, and delivers training, advocacy, research, and program coordination to advance economic security for low-income Wisconsin residents.

Product overview

WISCAP operates as a nonprofit statewide network association offering a portfolio of community action programs and services, not a unified software product. The organization's offerings include: core grant programs (Community Service Block Grant, Diaper Distribution Grant, Workforce Innovation Grant); housing programs (Housing Stability, Weatherization, Ending Homelessness); economic security initiatives (Workforce Development, Jobs & Business Development); food security programs (TEFAP); health programs (Social Determinants of Health, Community Health Workers); emergency response services; and professional development (ROMA training, Poverty Matters Conference, advocacy training). These programs are administered through a network of 16 community action agencies and 2 special purpose agencies across Wisconsin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Coordination Statewide coordination of federal Community Services Block Grant funding flowing to 16+ Community Action Agencies that deliver anti-poverty services to low-income Wisconsin residents.
• Weatherization Assistance Program Coordination Statewide coordination of low-income home weatherization services that reduce energy costs for eligible Wisconsin households, delivered through member Community Action Agencies.
• The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Statewide administration and distribution of USDA emergency food commodities to food banks, pantries, and member agencies serving food-insecure households in Wisconsin.
• Workforce Innovation Grant – Nursing Skills Program State-funded workforce development initiative providing nursing and healthcare skills training to low-income Wisconsin residents seeking careers in healthcare.
• Housing Stability and Homeownership Programs Statewide coordination of housing stability, foreclosure prevention, rental assistance, and homeownership counseling services delivered by member Community Action Agencies.
• Diaper Distribution Program Statewide program that collects and distributes diapers to low-income Wisconsin families with infants and toddlers, addressing hygiene-related hardship.
• Economic Security and Jobs/Business Development Statewide economic security programming that supports income growth, asset building, microbusiness development, and jobs creation for low-income Wisconsin residents.
• Poverty Matters Conference and Training Events Statewide annual conference and recurring training events that provide professional development, peer learning, and policy updates to Community Action Agency staff and partner organizations.
• Advocacy and Policy Program Statewide policy advocacy on state and federal legislation affecting anti-poverty programs, economic security, and Community Action Agency funding.
• Statewide Research on Poverty Research, data collection, and reporting on poverty trends, community needs, and program impact across Wisconsin to inform policy and member agency practice.

Quantifiable outcome

• Distributed over $725 million in pandemic relief across Wisconsin during COVID-19
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDWD partners with WISCAP on workforce development initiatives including the Jobs and Business Development initiative and Nursing Skills Program, helping low-income entrepreneurs develop businesses and supporting nursing career pathways.
• Wisconsin Department of Children and FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCF distributes CSBG funding to Wisconsin's Community Action Agencies through WISCAP and its member network. DCF also partners on organizational standards training and is involved in various anti-poverty initiatives.
• Wisconsin Department of AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISCAP and member agencies partner with the Wisconsin Department of Administration to implement Weatherization programs, making homes more energy efficient for low-income households.
• LeadingAge WisconsincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeadingAge Wisconsin, a membership association for long-term care facilities, partners with WISCAP's network on the Nursing Skills Program to increase Wisconsin's nursing workforce by providing opportunities for low to moderate-income individuals to upskill or reskill into nursing careers.
• Wisconsin Institute for Research on PovertysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of Wisconsin's research institute for poverty research to deepen the network's ability to drive new research, enhance public communications, and author publications on poverty issues.
• National Community Action Partnership (NCAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCAP provides CSBG Organizational Standards training, ROMA certification, and national conferences (Management & Leadership Training Conference, Annual Convention) that WISCAP member agencies participate in.
• United Way ALICEsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership using ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) research data to measure economic hardship and inform advocacy efforts for policies addressing poverty in Wisconsin.
• Wisconsin AHEC (Area Health Education Centers)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISCAP member agencies' Community Health Workers receive training and certification through Wisconsin AHEC to improve health and wellbeing of underserved communities.
• Badger State Housing Alliance (Project of WISCAP)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide network promoting innovative ideas in addressing Wisconsin's housing crisis, part of the National Low Income Housing Coalition's Opportunity Starts at Home campaign. Co-sponsored with League of Wisconsin Municipalities and Wisconsin Council of Churches.
• Wisconsin Coalition Against HomelessnesssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCAH partners with WISCAP on homeless services advocacy, including listening sessions on housing issues in rural communities like Ashland, WI.
• Wisconsin Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWisconsin Department of Health provides funding to WISCAP and member agencies to hire and train Community Health Workers who outreach to underserved communities and help connect them to health services.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: National anti-poverty and community services funder/convener. WISCAP's United Way ALICE partnership and overlapping mission (poverty research, community-level grantmaking) make United Way a comparable incumbent at much greater scale.
• Feeding America: National food bank network. WISCAP operates food banks/pantries through its member agencies and administers TEFAP, making Feeding America a comparable incumbent in the food-security segment of WISCAP's portfolio.
• Habitat for Humanity International: National affordable housing nonprofit with statewide affiliates. WISCAP's housing stability and homeownership programs, plus its Foundation for Rural Housing special purpose agency, make Habitat for Humanity a comparable incumbent in WISCAP's housing portfolio.

Direct peers

• National Community Action Partnership: The national umbrella organization for the Community Action network (of which WISCAP is the Wisconsin state affiliate). NCAP provides CSBG Organizational Standards training, ROMA certification, and national convenings that WISCAP member agencies participate in — directly comparable membership-association model at the national level.
• Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies: Ohio's statewide Community Action association. Same statutory role, same CSBG pass-through function, and same membership-association structure as WISCAP, making it a direct state-level peer.
• Community Action Partnership of Illinois: State-level Community Action association serving Illinois, structurally identical to WISCAP — a statewide nonprofit membership association channeling CSBG funding to local CAAs and coordinating anti-poverty programs.
• Maryland Community Action Partnership: State-level Community Action association in Maryland providing the same CSBG coordination, training, and advocacy functions as WISCAP in Wisconsin.
• Michigan Community Action: Michigan's statewide Community Action association serving the same role as WISCAP in a neighboring Midwest state — directly comparable mission, structure, and federal funding dependencies.
• Community Action Association of Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania's statewide Community Action association — analogous state-level peer with the same network coordination, training, advocacy, and CSBG funding distribution model.

Others

• National Low Income Housing Coalition: National advocacy organization for affordable housing. WISCAP's Badger State Housing Alliance is a project of WISCAP and part of NLIHC's Opportunity Starts at Home campaign — making NLIHC a closely aligned advocacy peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wiscap
• Facebookfacebook.com/WISCAP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wisconsin-community-action-program-association-inc-wiscap

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Wisconsin Community Action Program Association