Since 1965, CVCAC has gained a reputation for leadership in education on poverty issues, advocacy on behalf of low-income families, and developing strategies to reduce poverty. We achieve these objectives by providing training and technical assistance, as well as encouragement and support, so that people can begin to overcome personal and institutional barriers to their economic security and well-being.

Community Action Councils are non-profit private and public organizations originally established under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to fight America's War on Poverty. Today, there are nearly 1,000 CAAs across the United States, in fact CAAs can be found in 98 percent of our cities and counties. CAAs are a primary source of support for the more than 40 million Americans who are living in poverty in both rural and urban areas. Through their innovative programs, these CAAs are able to help thousands of people achieve self-sufficiency each year.

CAAs are governed by uniquely structured tripartite boards of directors whose members come from three diverse segments of each community. Specifically, at least one-third of the board's members must be from the low-income community, up to one-third must be from the private sector, and exactly one-third must be public officials.

The core source of funding for CAAs comes from the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), which was created in 1981 by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. The CSBG channels federal funds through the states to local agencies to fight poverty and promote self-sufficiency. CSBG funding accounts for less than 10 percent of CAA funding. CAAs use these federal dollars to build and attract additional investments in their programs from state, local, and private sources. In fact, CAAs have consistently been successful in leveraging an average of $13 for every $1 of CSBG funding.