National Community Action Partnership (NCAP)

Background

Community Action Agencies were created by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 as part of the federal War on Poverty. ³ The law established a national network of local organizations tasked with administering federally funded anti-poverty programs and coordinating services for low-income communities. ⁴

The National Community Action Partnership was founded in 1986 to provide training, coordination, and policy support for agencies within this network. The organization works with Community Action Agencies, state Community Action associations, and federal agencies responsible for anti-poverty programs. ⁵ According to the organization, the Community Action Network includes nearly 1,000 local agencies operating across the United States. ⁶

Programs and Activities

The National Community Action Partnership provides training, conferences, and technical assistance for Community Action Agencies that administer federally funded social-service programs. These programs include employment and workforce development services, housing assistance, and other public benefit programs for low-income households. ¹

The organization also provides resources for agencies participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) program, which provides job training and workforce services for recipients of SNAP benefits. ⁷

The NCAP also supports agencies administering federal energy-assistance programs. Through its Energy Partnership initiatives, the organization provides guidance and training for Community Action Agencies participating in the Weatherization Assistance Program, which funds home energy-efficiency improvements intended to reduce energy costs for low-income households. ⁷

Climate and Energy Initiatives

The National Community Action Partnership supports federal policies related to energy assistance and climate initiatives affecting low-income communities. Policy materials published by the organization state that fuel-energy use contributes to climate change and supports increased investment in weather-dependent and other energy sources, including wind, solar, and geothermal power. ⁸

The organization also supports federal programs, including the Weatherization Assistance Program and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provide energy assistance and housing efficiency improvements for low-income households. ^{9  10} Through its Energy Partnerships initiatives, NCAP provides training and technical assistance to Community Action Agencies that administer weatherization and other home energy efficiency programs. ²

NCAP policy materials also support community solar projects and other renewable energy initiatives intended to expand access to weather-dependent energy for low-income households. The organization has advocated for government investment in energy-efficiency programs, weather-dependent energy development, and climate resilience efforts affecting vulnerable communities. ⁸

Leadership

Denise Harlow has worked as the chief executive officer of the National Community Action Partnership since 2014. Prior to joining the NCAP, Harlow was the chief executive officer of the New York State Community Action Association, a membership organization representing Community Action Agencies in New York. She previously worked at the New York Council of Nonprofits, a nonprofit association that provides training and advocacy services for nonprofit organizations. ¹¹

Harlow has also served on the boards or advisory bodies of several nonprofit organizations and policy coalitions, including the Coalition on Human Needs, a left-of-center advocacy coalition that supports increased federal spending on social welfare programs, and the National Human Services Assembly, a nonprofit network of human services organizations. ¹¹ According to the NCAP’s 2024 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 990, Harlow received $241,068 in compensation. ¹²

Other senior staff listed on the organization’s 2024 tax return include Jovita A. Tolbert, senior vice president for memberships; Tiffney Marley, senior vice president for practice transformation; Lillie S. Seels, director of practice transformation; Maribeth Schneber-Rhemrev, director of organizational capacity building; and Jennifer Gregory, director of mobile learning design and practice. ¹²

Finances

The National Community Action Partnership receives funding from government grants, foundation grants, membership dues, and other contributions. According to its 2024 tax return, the organization reported $7,413,971 in revenues and $7,776,989 in expenses, with total assets of $12,699,184. ¹³

The organization reported receiving $1,920,906 in government grants and $144,287 in other contributions, gifts, and grants during 2024. ¹⁴ Between 2020 and 2024, the organization reported receiving $19,168,104 in public support through contributions, grants, and membership fees. ¹⁵

In 2023, the NCAP received $1.5 million from the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, a philanthropic foundation that funds environmentalist and left-of-center community initiatives. ¹⁶ In 2023, the organization also received two $300,000 grants from the Kresge Foundation (totaling $600,000), a foundation that funds organizations supporting left-of-center policy positions on issues, including environmentalism, immigration, and social justice. ¹⁷

NCAP has also reported payments to other nonprofit organizations. These include $26,500 to the National Community Action Foundation for conference sponsorship and advertising, and $10,000 to Race Forward, a left-of-center racial equity advocacy organization, for sponsorship of its 2024 “Facing Race” conference. ¹⁸