Who We Are

Our Mission

The mission of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley is to improve the quality of life by building a community in which all people have access to economic opportunity, the ability to pursue that opportunity, and a voice in the decisions that affect their lives.

Why Community Action?

Community Action Agencies (CAA) are private non-profit or public organizations whose development was encouraged by the federal government in 1964 to combat poverty in their local communities. They involve all sectors of the community—elected officials, public sector representatives, and especially low-income residents—in developing programs that address the causes and conditions of poverty in their communities.

CACLV’S HISTORY STARTED WITH THE WAR ON POVERTY

While Lyndon Baines Johnson is the president who signed the Economic Opportunity Act into law in August, 1964, there was considerable pressure to enlist the federal government in the effort to take on poverty well before President Johnson signed the law.  Johnson’s predecessor…

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Learn more about us

By supporting CACLV, you are making an investment in your community, and your neighbor’s.  From the minimum wage (and it sure is minimal!) to banking services access (or credit), CACLV is actively speaking out with and for low-income people and their communities. CACLV has earned its reputation as an outspoken advocate, one that is driven by a clear set of values and the need to make a difference.

Annual Report

It’s all in there: the difference we made, stretching every dollar, engaging every volunteer and being accountable to our entire community.

Strategic Plan 2012-2017

We are in the process of developing our next five-year strategic plan. It will be responsive to the community’s needs, thoughtful about our future, and intent on making it better for all of us, especially our most vulnerable neighbors.

CACLV's Work Plans 2017-2018

We would drive our agenda with urgency as we seek to push the Lehigh Valley in the direction of economic and social justice.

IRS Form 990

As a non-profit organization, we value responsible stewardship of the funds entrusted to us and the resources available to us.

View subsidiaries' IRS 990
CACLV Budget 2017-2018

We stretch every penny we have, whether it comes from our donors or your tax dollars.

Financial Audit Report

Clean as the proverbial whistle!

View Subsidiaries' Financial Audits

CACLV Values Statement

As an Advocate

  • We are partners, coalition-builders and team players.
  • We conduct professional research on poverty and its causes, understanding issues as the first step in the problem-solving process.
  • We define the cutting edge in the problem-solving process.
  • We speak out, challenging government, social and economic institutions to move towards social and economic justice, even at the expense of our own institutional preservation.
  • We pursue justice.
  • We believe charity is something a society must provide when there is no justice.

As a Community and Economic Development Organization

  • We encourage all people to participate in civic life because we believe that good citizenship is the highest form of self-sufficiency.
  • We believe that it is far more threatening for society when poverty leads to apathy and dependence than when it leads to anger and activism.
  • We want businesses to make a fair and honest profit in our neighborhoods.
  • We want jobs that pay wages that enable workers to maintain safe, self-sufficient households that are within reasonable proximity to neighborhoods.
  • We want institutions to be humane, respectful and responsive to human needs.
  • We want neighborhoods to be culturally rich, fun and healthy.

As a Human Services Agency

  • We first seek to identify needs and to push the community to respond to the needs of its residents, rather than offering less critical services simply because resources for those services are easier to come by.
  • We give people the tools to solve their own problems, rather than solve those problems for them. We treat people equally, with courtesy, compassion, respect, patience and dignity.
  • We safeguard our clients’ confidentiality.
  • We believe that people deserve another chance but expect personal responsibility in taking advantage of that extra chance.

As a Non-Profit Corporation

  • We want taxpayers and our donors to be certain that their funds are invested wisely.
  • We will not waste resources, including natural ones.
  • We expect our Board of Directors to maintain the highest ethical standards.
  • We want our audits to be flawless.
  • We strive to maintain a balanced budget.

As an Employer

  • We respect the needs of our employees and their families.
  • We offer employment opportunities that are personally fulfilling.
  • We strive to pay fair wages and offer good benefits.
  • We strive to make our workplace safe.
  • We value longevity, creativity, dedication, honesty and hard work.
  • We are serious about equal opportunity and celebrate diversity.
  • We have high standards of personal and professional conduct and ethics.
  • We expect our employees to understand that they are role models.
  • We respect our co-workers and treat them as we would want to be treated.
  • We have fun.

The Difference We Make

We don't just count the people we serve, we measure the difference we make. Count on CACLV to be there, strengthening the resolve of people to succeed, speaking out for the voiceless, and challenging those who would otherwise sit on the sidelines.

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Homes Weatherized

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Million Pounds of Food Distributed to Non-profits

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Families Assisted in Purchasing Homes

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Start Your Business Clients Served 2016

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CACLV Board Roster

The governing body of the Corporation is the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has supervision, control, and direction of affairs of the Corporation.

The governing body of the Corporation is the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has supervision, control, and direction of affairs of the Corporation.

At least one-third of the Directors represent organizations designated by the Board whose membership is predominately composed of low-income persons. They are chosen in accordance with democratic selection procedures adequate to assure that they represent the low-income in the area served by CACLV. They need not be low-income themselves, but the selection procedure assures that they represent low-income persons.

One-third of the Directors are either elected public officials currently holding office or their representatives. The remainder of the Directors are private individuals.