SOWING EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INC.

What SOWING EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INC. does

SOWING EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INC. (SEED) is a 501(c)(3) community nonprofit organization founded in 1997 (reactivated in 2004) and headquartered in East Riverdale, Maryland, with a regional office in Detroit, Michigan. It serves low-to-moderate-income families across Prince George's County, MD and Wayne County, MI, reaching more than 18,000 children and adults annually through an integrated portfolio of food assistance, housing counseling, financial education, K-8 education, and community development programs. Core programs include emergency food and diaper distribution (170,200+ lbs of food distributed in 2024), the Family Financial Fitness Program (3FP), HUD-approved First Time Homebuyer ($40) and Foreclosure Prevention Clinic ($70) services, the SEED Extended Learning Program (SELP), SEED-CDF Freedom School, and the operation of EXCEL Academy Public Charter School (K-8, Fort Washington, MD). SEED additionally engages in real estate development through the Headen Spring joint venture (multi-generational, mixed-income community on a 10-acre site adjacent to the Riverdale Park Purple Line Station with Lincoln Avenue Communities) and the Hamtramck Housing Development in Michigan.

SEED generates revenue through a diversified nonprofit model: charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations (sponsor tiers: Title, Gold, Silver, Bronze, In-Kind), fixed program fees for educational webinars and clinics, hourly venue rental of its facilities (Bock Road Space, Multi Purpose Room, Open Field, The Gymnasium Center at $20-$30/hr), and special events such as the annual 5K Run and Walk and Community Fair. Distribution is community-led and direct: services are delivered through physical sites in Maryland and Michigan, partnerships with regional food banks (Capital Area Food Bank, Forgotten Harvest, Gleaners), educational institutions (University of Maryland EFNEP, Michigan State University-Extension), and government agencies (Maryland Health Exchange, Prince George's County DSS). The founding church, Refreshing Spring Church of God in Christ, remains an anchor institution, with Bishop James E. Jordan, Jr. serving as Board Chairman Emeritus. No proprietary technology platform, app, or AI capability is disclosed; SEED operates using standard nonprofit management tools.

Name

SOWING EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INC.

Legal name

Sowing Empowerment and Economic Development, Inc.

Website

https://seedinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SEED is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing food assistance, HUD-approved housing counseling, financial education, and K-8 charter school education to low-to-moderate-income families in Prince George's County, MD and Wayne County, MI, serving 18,000+ beneficiaries annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210), Educational Support Services (611710), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAB

Community Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

Keywords

• Community nonprofit services
• Housing counseling programs
• Financial education programs
• Emergency food assistance
• Charter school education

Headquarters

HQ city

Riverdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: SEED generates revenue through charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization has established sponsor tiers (Title, Gold, Silver, Bronze, In-Kind) and accepts both monetary and in-kind donations including food, clothing, and essential items.
2. Venue Rental Services: SEED rents out community spaces including the Bock Road Space Rental, Multi Purpose Room, Open Field, and The Gymnasium Center for events and activities. Pricing starts at $20-30 per hour depending on the venue.
3. Program Fees: SEED charges fees for educational programs including the First Time Homebuyer webinar ($40) and Foreclosure Prevention Clinic ($70). The Family Financial Fitness Program is offered as a yearlong intensive program.
4. Special Events: SEED hosts fundraising events including the annual 5K Run and Walk and Community Fair to generate revenue and community engagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SEED is a 501(c)(3) community nonprofit organization providing emergency food and diaper distribution, HUD-approved housing counseling (First Time Homebuyer Program and Foreclosure Prevention Clinic), financial education (Family Financial Fitness Program), and K-8 charter school education through EXCEL Academy Public Charter School. The organization also engages in affordable housing community development (Headen Spring, Hamtramck) and operates venue rental services for community facilities.

Product overview

SEED (Sowing Empowerment and Economic Development, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) community nonprofit organization operating in Prince George's County, Maryland and Wayne County, Michigan. The organization offers a diverse portfolio of community services including emergency food and diaper distribution, housing counseling (HUD-approved), financial education programs, and operates EXCEL Academy Public Charter School (K-8). Key programs include the Family Financial Fitness Program (3FP), First Time Homebuyer Program, Foreclosure Prevention Clinic, SEED Extended Learning Program (SELP), SEED-CDF Freedom School, and Mobile Pantry services. SEED also engages in community development through affordable housing projects (Headen Spring, Hamtramck) and offers venue booking services for various facilities. Collectively serving more than 18,000 children and adults annually, the organization focuses on empowering low-to-moderate-income families through food, education, and training while promoting self-sufficiency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EXCEL Academy Public Charter School: Standards-based, holistic college preparatory education for students grades K-8th grade, operated by SEED.
• SEED Extended Learning Program (SELP)
• SEED-CDF Freedom School
• Family Financial Fitness Program
• SEED-EXCEL Public Charter School Governing Board

Products and services

• Emergency Food and Diaper Distribution
• Mobile Pantry
• EXCEL Academy Public Charter School
• SEED Extended Learning Program (SELP)
• SEED-CDF Freedom School
• Family Financial Fitness Program (3FP)
• First Time Homebuyer Program
• Foreclosure Prevention Clinic
• Affordable Healthcare Enrollment & Outreach
• Headen Spring Development
• Hamtramck Housing Development
• Venue Booking Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 106,200 lbs emergency food + 64,000 lbs fresh produce to 22,600 individuals in 5,500 households (2024)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Lincoln Avenue CommunitiesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Mission-driven developer partnering with SEED and Refreshing Spring Church of Christ to develop Headen Spring, a multi-generational, mixed-income community on a 10-acre site adjacent to the Riverdale Park Purple Line Station. Project includes multifamily housing, community building, and green space.
• Refreshing Spring Church of God in ChristflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEED's founding church partner and anchor institution. Church Pastor Bishop James E. Jordan, Jr. is SEED's Board Chairman Emeritus. Church transferred community service activities to SEED including food pantry, clothes closet, summer camp, and child development center in 2004.
• DOMINIUMcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle Sponsor for SEED events and programs
• LincolncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor supporting SEED programs and events
• United BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Sponsor supporting SEED initiatives
• Meridian BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Sponsor for SEED programs
• OlsonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Sponsor for SEED programs
• Complete Building InspectionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Sponsor for SEED programs
• DHCD (Department of Housing and Community Development)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-Kind Sponsor providing support for SEED community programs
• Capital Area Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary food bank partner providing emergency food supplies for distribution to Prince George's County families through SEED Food Distribution Center
• Forgotten HarvestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan food bank partner collaborating with SEED's mobile food pantry to provide monthly emergency food assistance including nutrition classes, shelf staples, and fresh produce
• Gleaners Community Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan food bank partner providing food supplies for SEED's mobile pantry program in Wayne County
• Michigan State University-ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides nutrition education classes and programming in partnership with SEED's food distribution programs in Michigan
• University of Maryland EFNEPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides nutrition education programming in partnership with SEED's Food Distribution Center in Maryland
• DC Diaper BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides diaper supplies for distribution to families through SEED programs, with diaper recipients also connected to Family Financial Fitness Program
• Prince George's County Department of Social ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for affordable healthcare enrollment site, guiding residents through Maryland Health Exchange sign-up process
• Children's Defense Fund (CDF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensing partner for CDF Freedom Schools program, providing culturally enriching summer and after-school enrichment that strengthens academic, civic, and socioemotional skills. SEED operates Freedom School sites in both Maryland and Michigan.
• Maryland Health ExchangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState healthcare marketplace partnership for affordable healthcare enrollment services provided at SEED site

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Manna Food Center: Montgomery County, MD food bank and nutrition education organization. Comparable to SEED's Maryland food distribution and nutrition education programs delivered through partner food banks like Capital Area Food Bank.
• Cass Community Social Services: Detroit-based nonprofit providing food, housing, and social services to people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Comparable to SEED's Detroit operations across food, housing counseling, and community development.
• Focus: HOPE: Detroit-based multi-service nonprofit offering food assistance, education, workforce development, and community support. Highly comparable to SEED's two-state integrated service model with deep operating overlap in Wayne County, MI.
• Crossroads Community Food Network: Takoma Park, MD-based food security and community empowerment nonprofit. Directly comparable to SEED's hyperlocal, community-anchored food distribution and small-business/micro-enterprise empowerment model in the DC-MD metro.

Emerging players

• Capital Area Food Bank: Regional food bank serving the DC-MD metro including Prince George's County. SEED is a distribution partner; models the upstream food sourcing that SEED depends on for its Maryland Food Distribution Center.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: National network of social service nonprofits providing food, housing, immigration, and education services. Comparable mission scope to SEED's wraparound service model, but at vastly larger national scale.
• United Way Worldwide: National umbrella nonprofit funding and convening community services across health, education, and financial stability. SEED's Family Financial Fitness and housing counseling parallel United Way's ALICE-focused programs.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit affordable housing and community development organization. Comparable to SEED's Headen Spring mixed-income development and Hamtramck Housing Development activity at larger scale.
• Habitat for Humanity International: National affordable housing nonprofit with affiliate network including HUD-approved counseling. Much larger scale, but overlaps with SEED on homeownership education, foreclosure prevention, and community development.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development nonprofit with after-school and summer programming. Comparable to SEED's SEED Extended Learning Program and SEED-CDF Freedom School at K-8 enrichment level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/seedinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sowing-empowerment-and-economic-development-inc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/seedinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries2 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 SOWING EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INC.