Coummunity Action Project (CAP)
Harness the Power of Local Leadership
to Overcome Challenges in Your Organization
The Community Action Project (CAP) is a cornerstone of the Leadership Louisa experience. Each year, the Leadership Louisa class works together on a community project designed to help participants apply their leadership skills, build teamwork, and practice problem-solving in real-world settings.
To do this, we partner with a Louisa County nonprofit organization that provides a clearly defined challenge. The class then works independently to research, brainstorm, and propose a potential solution.
Important: CAP is primarily a leadership development exercise. The end result may or may not be something your organization chooses to implement. Instead, you’ll receive a fresh, outside perspective from a diverse group of leaders — and the class will gain invaluable hands-on learning through working with your challenge.
Why Participate?
Fresh Perspectives: A diverse team of professionals brings curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills to your challenge.
Support Local Leadership: Help cultivate Louisa’s next generation of leaders by giving them a real-world challenge to tackle..
No Cost: CAP is a pro bono experience. There is no cost to participate, and no expectation that you will implement the class’s solution.
Community Impact: Share your challenge and contribute to building stronger leadership capacity in Louisa.
What's Required?
Eligibility
Nonprofit organizations must:
- Be a registered 501(c)(3), AND
- Be based in Louisa County or demonstrate significant impact or involvement in Louisa.
Expectations
The selected organization will:
- Attend February CAP Kickoff Session
- Engage in occasional communication from February–June.
- Attend June Final Pitch Competition
Problem Statement
What is one challenge that inhibits your ability to deliver on your mission (not including fundraising)?
Examples:
“Our volunteer onboarding process is inconsistent, leading to high turnover and confusion.”
“We struggle to coordinate logistics for distributing resources across the county.”
“Our communication strategy is outdated, making it hard to reach the community we serve.”
“We lack training tools to equip volunteers for specific tasks.”
Selection Process
Apply by October 28. The Leadership Louisa Committee will review all applications and select one nonprofit partner based on:
- A clearly defined and compelling problem statement
- Alignment with the organization’s mission and impact in Louisa County
- Feasibility of the challenge for the February–June project timeframe
Nonprofits will be notified in November.
Apply to CAP
PRIOR CAP ORGANIZATIONS
Bracketts Farm
Bracketts Farm is a working agricultural operation; offers educational, interpretive, relevant, and enriching experiences at many natural and historic sites; and serves as a friend to both the general public and those from local, state, and broader communities seeking a historical, community, and a social destination.
Louisa County Resource Council
LCRC provides hunger relief and life-sustaining services for residents of Louisa County, a 525 square mile community in Central Virginia with a population of 42,109 and a poverty rate of 9.4%.
Louisa Arts Center
As the center of performance, visual, musical, and cultural arts in Louisa, Virginia, the Louisa Arts Center provides high-quality entertainment and art exhibitions to brighten the lives of the residents of Louisa County and its surrounding areas.
Miss Louisa Organization
The Miss Louisa Organization is dedicated to empowering young women through scholarship opportunities and personal development, serving as a preliminary to Miss Virginia and Miss America.
Beautiful Brokenness
Beautiful Brokenness is a Jesus centered discipleship and teaching ministry offering practical help for families and individuals who desire a deeper awareness of, and intimacy with, Jesus
LASER - Louisa Area Students Educational Robotics
LASER's mission is to provide students with STEAM skills for life through robotics.
Lake Anna Rescue
Lake Anna Rescue, Inc. (LARI), provides high quality emergency medical service in Louisa VA
Louisa Rotary Club
For over eight decades, members volunteer to carry out Rotary's motto, "Service Above Self." Business leaders, doctors, lawyers, and retirees have given of themselves for the betterment of Louisa's youth.
Louisa Education Foundation
Educational nonprofit that engages community partners to fund and promote initiatives that enhance Louisa County Public Schools.
Pony Partners
Biblically based equine assisted learning. We teach basic unmounted horsemanship and help children to develop a friendship with one or more of our miniature horses.
Fluvanna/Louisa Housing Foundation
A private non-profit organization dedicated to helping residents of both Fluvanna and Louisa Counties with their housing needs.
Giving Words
Giving Words comes alongside single mothers to provide car repairs, community, and faith-based family support.
Adult Community Education
Provides personally relevant life-long learning opportunities for Louisa County residents in a safe, confidential, and non-discriminatory environment.
The Journey Home
Transitional home locatied in Mineral where guests receive spiritual, financial, vocational, and practical education to prepare them for their next step towards permanent housing.