Grant Programs: Economic Security

The purpose of the Economic Security grantmaking area is to help low-income adults and families achieve upward mobility and economic security. The program's goals focus on workforce development and building and protecting financial assets. The Fund supports programs that address these issues through direct services, public policy reform, and field building activities.

Workforce Development: To help low-income people gain the skills and access necessary to secure quality employment and achieve upward mobility.

• Vocational training programs that provide targeted training to move low-skilled workers along identified career paths in a specific industry sector or set of occupations, resulting in family-sustaining incomes. These programs should offer comprehensive support for students and must include strong partnerships with employers.
• Strengthen the capacity of the community college system to partner with employers and offer basic skills remediation and vocational training for students who enter that system with limited skills, low incomes, and other barriers to success.
• Programs that expand personal and professional networks through mentoring, internships, coaching, or other methods.
• Programs that develop leadership skills, encourage mutual support, and cultivate a sense of social responsibility among participants.

Build and Protect Assets: To help low-income individuals and families gain and maintain the financial assets that increase economic security and upward mobility.

• Programs that build financial capability and increase access to quality financial products and services.
• Programs that offer financial recovery training and support specifically for individuals and families who are at risk or have experienced foreclosure.
• Programs that promote individual saving and investment.
• Programs that assist entrepreneurs to establish and grow micro-businesses.
• Programs that expand personal and professional networks through mentoring, coaching, or other methods.
• Programs that develop leadership skills, encourage mutual support, and cultivate a sense of social responsibility among participants.

Public Policy and Systems Change: To encourage changes in public policy, regulatory reform, and the delivery of services to low- and moderate-income people with the goal of increasing opportunities and removing barriers to economic security.

• Support for public policy advocacy, regulatory reform, systems change, and field-building activities that advance the goals of the Fund's Economic Security program.