The purpose of the Economic Security grantmaking area is to help low-income working adults and families achieve upward mobility and economic security . The program's goals focus on increasing incomes and assets, achieving economic benefits for low-income people from neighborhood economic development activities, and building social and professional networks.

Incomes: To help low-income adults and families meaningfully increase their incomes and strengthen their social and professional networks.

• 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. Programs must be developed in partnership with business and should encourage business practices that support the advancement of entry-level workers.
• Programs to improve access to services and subsidies that increase the incomes or reduce the expenses of low-wage workers.
• 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.
• Research and policy work to evaluate and support these kinds of activities.

Assets: To help low-wealth adults and families gain the financial assets and create the social networks that support long-term economic security.

• Programs that teach financial planning and increase access to financial institutions and products.
• Programs that promote individual savings 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.
• Research and policy work to evaluate and support these kinds of activities.

Economic Development: To ensure that economic development activities in and near low-income neighborhoods result in income and asset gains for low-income residents and small business owners.

• Programs that develop leadership skills and an understanding of economic development processes among affected residents and business owners.
• Programs that engage local businesses and residents in the design of economic development projects to ensure that appropriate community benefits are achieved, particularly employment, ownership, and business opportunities.
• Community development projects that are creating income, assets and/or ownership opportunities for low-income residents and business owners.
• Research and policy work to evaluate and support these kinds of activities.

* How To Apply: For a step-by-step guide to the Fund's grant application process, please see the For Grantseekers section of our Web site.