Investing in Our Community
About CP Furniture
CP Furniture is a social enterprise that makes handcrafted furniture for restaurant, office, retail, and residential clients. We are the second stage in a two-stage nonprofit program to help youth (aged 18 to 24) facing barriers to employment.
The first stage starts at our parent organization, the Challenge Program, an entry-level workforce development and construction training 501(c)(3) founded in 1999. Trainees receive wages and wraparound case management services while they work through the program to overcome the barriers imposed by food insecurity, homelessness, physical and mental health issues, and involvement in the legal system.
The effort continues here at CP Furniture (two doors down), which we opened in 2015 with a dual aim: to provide jobs and enhanced training opportunities to Challenge Program graduates, and to support the program financially. All proceeds from CP Furniture sales are reinvested in the program.
Our Values
Craftsmanship
Craftsmanship is an attitude as much as a method. It’s a commitment to do things right, no shortcuts. It’s what we teach our apprentices—and it shows in proper joinery, in high-quality, long-lasting materials, and in the satisfaction of a job well done.
See ShowRoomOpportunity
We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better life. Having a good job is essential, which is why we provide on-the-job training and case management to help our apprentices overcome the barriers they face.
Our impactSustainability
A sustainable job begins with a living wage (our apprentices start at $15/hour). It continues with a commitment to tread lightly. We teach apprentices to minimize the impact of their work by reducing waste and using wood that is sustainably harvested, locally sourced, and reclaimed when possible.
made responsiblyOur Team
Designing and building our furniture demands a high degree of skill. So we offer selected graduates of The Challenge Program full-time, year-long, paid apprenticeships. Working alongside our master furniture makers, apprentices see the whole process: from concept to design, from tree selection to milling, from joining to finishing. They become invested in and take ownership of the pieces they help to make.
Meet the Team
Our Clients
We work with commercial and residential clients throughout Delaware, Philadelphia and the greater mid-Atlantic. From collaborations with DIGSAU Architects outfitting office spaces, to custom woodwork and retail fixtures for Ben Lovell/Sole Provisions, to crafting restaurant tables and decor from reclaimed and salvaged materials for Talula's Garden, we have been fortunate to work with amazing clients who value our craftsmanship and trust us to deliver high-quality furniture.
Our History
We’ve come a long way since 1995 when The Challenge Program (our parent 501(c)(3)) first started. A boat building program to connect with youth has transformed into the full-scale job training program and furniture shop we are today. More than 20 years in, we’ve learned a lot and continue to adapt and grow to support the unique needs of our trainees and apprentices.
See How We Got Here