CEOC is a non-profit, tax exempt, community-based agency, and is Cambridge’s designated anti-poverty agency. CEOC was founded in 1965 as part of President Lyndon Johnson's War-on-Poverty.

CEOC has a rich history in Cambridge of successful organizing efforts around affordable housing, health care and hunger relief. It is also part of a larger network of 24 Community Action Agencies/Programs (CAP agencies) throughout Massachusetts under the umbrella of MassCAP (Massachusetts Association of CAP Agencies).