Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis

What Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis does

Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis (CBN) is a nonprofit membership association founded in 2011 that operates as the backbone convener for the community development ecosystem in the St. Louis metro region. The organization connects, supports, and advocates for more than 100 member organizations — principally Community Development Corporations (CDCs) engaged in place-based community development, economic development, and affordable housing, alongside Supporting Members that provide resources and expertise. Headquartered at 3651 Olive St., Suite 100 in St. Louis on an in-kind basis from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, CBN operates with a 1–10 employee team.

CBN delivers its mission through four core service lines: Policy & Advocacy, Strengthen CDC Capacity (Strong Organizations), Partnerships & Collaboration, and Stories & Impact. It supplements these with resource services (Funding Opportunities, a Community Calendar, and Online Resources) and runs the Annual Community Building Awards program. The organization is not a technology company; its platform consists of a Squarespace-hosted website, a monthly newsletter, an events calendar, and storytelling content distributed through in-person committees, working groups, and convenings.

The business model is a dues- and donation-funded nonprofit. Recurring revenue is generated from Mission Member and Supporting Member dues and from donations and sponsorships, with significant in-kind support from UMSL and institutional partners such as the St. Louis Development Corporation, Great Rivers Greenway, Rise Community Development, and Invest STL. Notable flagship members include Beyond Housing, Tower Grove CDC, LinkStL Inc., and A Red Circle, and CBN documents collective advocacy wins such as members securing over $8M in LIHTC awards for 2025 multifamily rental production.

Name

Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis

Legal name

Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis

Website

https://communitybuildersstl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis is a nonprofit membership association founded in 2011 that convenes, supports, and advocates for 100+ Community Development Corporations and partner organizations across the St. Louis metro area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Local & Neighborhood Community Platforms (MPACAJAI)

Keywords

• Community development network
• Nonprofit membership association
• Capacity building services
• Policy advocacy support
• Neighborhood leadership network

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CBN generates revenue through membership fees from Mission Members (CDCs doing place-based work) and Supporting Members (organizations that support the community development ecosystem).
2. Donations and Sponsorships: The organization receives donations and sponsorships from supporters, and in-kind support from UMSL and other partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis is a nonprofit membership association that convenes, supports, and advocates for Community Development Corporations and allied organizations across the St. Louis metro area. It delivers its value through four core service pillars — Policy & Advocacy, Strengthening CDC Capacity, Partnerships & Collaboration, and Stories & Impact — complemented by resource services such as Funding Opportunities, a Community Calendar, and Online Resources. Members gain access to a network of more than 100 community development organizations, collective advocacy representation, capacity-building resources, and signature events such as the Annual Community Building Awards.

Product overview

Community Builders Network is a membership-based community development organization serving the St. Louis metro area. It operates as a unified network offering four core service areas: Policy & Advocacy, CDC Capacity Building (Strong Organizations), Partnerships & Collaboration, and Stories & Impact. The organization also provides resource services including Funding Opportunities, a Community Calendar, and Online Resources. Members consist of Mission Members carrying out place-based community development work and Supporting Members providing resources and expertise. The network hosts an Annual Community Building Awards program recognizing outstanding contributions to community building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Program
• Policy & Advocacy

Quantifiable outcome

• CBN members secured over $8M in LIHTC awards for 2025 multifamily rental production projects
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUMSL provides in-kind support to CBN and hosts the organization at its Grand Center location. The partnership includes collaboration through the Des Lee Collaborative and UMSL CIAC, supporting community-university engagement.
• Community Opportunity AllianceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCBN is a member of the Community Opportunity Alliance, a national association supporting community development organizations.
• Missouri Workforce Housing AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCBN is a member of the Missouri Workforce Housing Association, connecting with state-level housing development professionals.
• St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBN collaborates with SLDC on financial incentives guides and development resources, helping community developers navigate city development processes.
• Great Rivers GreenwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on greenway and trail projects including Brickline Greenway, connecting neighborhoods and supporting community development through green infrastructure.
• St. Joseph Housing Initiative (SJHI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting homeownership readiness through SJHI's Homeowner Readiness Academy, helping community members prepare for homeownership.
• Rise Community DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRise provides technical assistance and community development expertise to CBN members, supporting capacity building across the network.
• Invest STLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvest STL advances equitable development and investment practices in St. Louis, working with CBN on understanding the community and economic development ecosystem.
• TrailnetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership promoting active transportation and community health through bike rides, walks, and engagement with neighborhood development.
• Beyond HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeyond Housing is a CBN member and nationally recognized community development organization, serving as a model for holistic community transformation in North St. Louis County.
• Brickline North CDCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormed to give North St. Louis neighborhoods a formal role in shaping land use and guiding investment along the Brickline Greenway corridor.
• Old North St. Louis Restoration GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member organization of CBN, representing long-term community development leadership in Old North St. Louis.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit focused on affordable housing and community development, deploying capital, policy advocacy, and capacity building. Larger and broader incumbent that overlaps with CBN's mission on housing, equity, and place-based development but operates across many regions.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Global nonprofit mobilizing volunteers and partners to build affordable housing and strengthen communities. Comparable in mission area (housing-led community development) and network structure (local affiliates supported by a national body), though much larger and housing-construction-led.
• National Council of Nonprofits: National network of state and regional nonprofit associations providing advocacy, resources, and capacity-building to member nonprofits. Functionally similar to CBN's role as a convener/advocate for its member organizations, though operating at the national level across all nonprofit sub-sectors rather than just community development.

Direct peers

• NeighborWorks America: National network of more than 250 NeighborWorks organizations focused on affordable housing and community development. Directly comparable to CBN in model — a membership/affiliate network providing training, advocacy, and resources to local CDCs — though operating nationally rather than within a single metro.
• Community Opportunity Alliance: National association supporting community development organizations, of which CBN is itself a member. Highly comparable as a peer-of-peers; both are membership networks advocating for the CDC ecosystem and providing capacity-building resources.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National CDFI and intermediary that invests in and supports a network of CDCs in urban and rural communities. Closest functional analog to CBN: provides capacity building, advocacy, and funding access to place-based community development organizations, though at far larger scale and across multiple metros.
• Invest STL: St. Louis-based intermediary advancing equitable development and investment practices. Listed as a strategic partner of CBN; shares the regional focus and works with overlapping CDCs and stakeholders on community and economic development.

Regional players

• Northwest Area Foundation: Regional foundation focused on reducing poverty and advancing equitable prosperity across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and surrounding communities. Comparable in mission (place-based community development, equity, capacity building for local organizations) but serves a different multi-state geography.
• St. Louis Community Foundation: Regional community foundation serving the greater St. Louis area with grantmaking and civic leadership programs. Operates in the same geographic market as CBN with overlapping stakeholder networks, often co-funding community development initiatives alongside CDCs that are CBN members.

Others

• CDFI Coalition: National advocacy coalition for community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and mission-driven lenders. Adjacent ecosystem player engaged in similar policy advocacy on federal funding (NMTC, CDFI Fund) that affects the same community development ecosystem CBN serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cbnstl
• Facebookfacebook.com/CBNSTL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-builders-network-of-metro-st.-louis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis