This is our once-in-a-generation chance.
In 2020, COVID-19 revealed the struggles workers and families have long faced in the United States – and the ways our economy so often traps talent and potential on the sidelines and out-of-reach of opportunity. In response, there has been new momentum in government and trillions in public and private investments to help strengthen our public benefits system, create millions of career opportunities, and improve job quality.
But this progress only matters if families and workers are able and prepared to access these new job opportunities; if the job opportunities lead to quality, uplifting careers; and if public benefits are more accessible to help ensure everyone has – at minimum – basic economic security. We must work collaboratively, build strategic partnerships, and rely on the firsthand experience of impacted people to guide us to equitable solutions to meet this historic moment.
Drawing on our experienced team and diverse partnerships, we foster large-scale collaboration and make philanthropic investments to deliver good jobs and increase access to more inclusive public benefits. To date, we have committed more than $42 million to nonprofits and other strategic partners on the frontlines of change and, together, have increased opportunity for hundreds of thousands of workers and families.
OUR MISSION
Building a more equitable economy that uplifts all.
Our Impact Goals
Recover Up: Jobs that sustain and uplift.
The American Dream claims that – no matter your background – everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive in the country through hard work and determination. But how can that claim be true when at least one-third of working people can barely make ends meet – let alone reach for the next rung on the ladder of success?
The U.S. is in a job quality crisis, one where working people – especially women, people of color, and people without college degrees – are consistently out of reach of the American Dream and the promise of our country. The good news is that there is a growing movement to solve this problem and transform our economy into one that truly does offer access for all.
Over the past few years, legislators and advocates across the political spectrum have fought to successfully pass legislation generating more than $2 trillion in investments to create and shape millions of economic mobility-boosting jobs for the next decade and beyond. Using these dollars is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to finally expand access to good jobs and change the lives of families and individuals for whom the American Dream has long been a myth.
Here’s how
OUR IMPACT GOALS
21st Century Benefits: Because our benefits system should benefit everyone.
Over the past few years, the U.S. government made significant strides in bolstering the public benefits system through programs like “stimulus” checks, expanded unemployment insurance, and expanded, earned income tax credits (EITC) for working families.
However, despite the clearly demonstrated impacts of a strong social safety net, intersecting barriers continue to prevent millions of people – especially women, people of color, people with disabilities, and those living on the lowest incomes – from accessing the public social safety net benefits that they’re eligible to receive.
Our end goal is clear: now is the time for broadly accessible, equitable, and speedily delivered benefits with as few strings attached as possible, connected to supports that facilitate upward mobility.
Here’s how
OUR RESULTS
Impact So Far.
Grown FWF into a more than $110 million fund backed by 40 funders working together to scale our collective impact.
This makes us one of the largest and most diverse funder collaboratives working on good jobs and workforce.
Our philanthropic investments leveraged more than $15 billion in public and private funding to accelerate the delivery of career pathways, improve careers for working people, and increase access to federal unemployment benefits in states.
Impacted more than 1.48 million people since our inception.
Committed and deployed more than $42 million in grants to strengthen organizations dedicated to equitably improving job quality.
What's New?
Families and Workers Fund Awards $12+ Million for Underinvested Communities to Fill Workforce Gaps as Clean Energy Transition Accelerates
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The Families and Workers Fund’s 2023 Annual Report highlights $14.5 million in new grantmaking, impacting more than 4.5 million people to date.
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Families and Workers Fund Announces $45+ Million Initiative to Help Strengthen U.S. Public Benefits System
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The Aspen Institute Financial Security Program and the Families and Workers Fund Convened Leaders to Strengthen Public Benefits Delivery in Over 25 States
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Families and Workers Fund Launches $50 Million Initiative to Advance One Million Good Careers in Climate and Infrastructure
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The Families and Workers Fund’s 2022 Annual Report Highlights $31 Million in Direct Grantmaking
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