The Gro Fund

In Her Hands 1. POLICY LEARNING:THE ORGANIZATION WILL SHARE THE FINDINGS AND RESULTS OF THE IN HER HANDS PROJECT WITH VARIOUS AGENCIES TO EDUCATE THEM ON INCOME STABILITY AND WEALTH-BUILDING PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON ECONOMICALLY MARGINALIZED/LOW-INCOME GROUPS. THE GOAL OF THESE PROGRAMS WILL BE EDUCATION. THE ORGANIZATION MAY WRITE WHITE PAPERS OR DO LIMITED ADVOCACY FOR STATE-EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT AND SOCIAL SAFETY NET REFORM.THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTS LIMITED LOBBYING ACTIVITIES AND SPEAKS WITH VARIOUS POLITICAL FIGURES FROM TIME TO TIME. THE ORGANIZATION'S MAIN FOCUS WILL BE TO EDUCATE GEORGIA-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER ENTITIES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE IN HER HANDS PROJECT AND ITS RESULTS, AS WELL AS THE THEORY AND POLICY BEHIND A GUARANTEED INCOME PROJECT. THIS WORK WILL BE DONE BY ORGANIZATION STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS.2. DIRECT SERVICE PROVISION FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN:IN HER HANDS IS A COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE OF BOTH THE ORGANIZATION AND GIVE DIRECTLY, AND IT PROVIDES 654 LOW-INCOME WOMEN ACROSS THREE COMMUNITIES IN GEORGIA WITH AN INCOME SUPPLEMENT BY PROVIDING AN AVERAGE OF $850 PER MONTH FOR TWO YEARS.THE PROGRAM SERVES LOW-INCOME WOMEN IN THE OLD FOURTH WARD AREA OF THE CITY OF ATLANTA, SOUTHWESTERN PART OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, AND COLLEGE PARK. THE PROGRAM IS EXPANDING TO ADDITIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS IN ATLANTA.IN HER HANDS WILL NOT JUST PROVIDE A GUARANTEED INCOME FOR TWO YEARS, BUT ALSO THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS TO PARTICIPANTS: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH; COORDINATION WITH PUBLIC BENEFITS AGENCIES; PROVIDING BENEFITS COUNSELING; DOING EXIT INTERVIEWS AND OFFBOARDING ACTIVITIES TO ESTABLISH THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT AND HELP TRANSITION OUT OF IT.

Baby Bonds 1. POLICY LEARNING:THE ORGANIZATION WILL SHARE THE FINDINGS AND RESULTS OF THE BABY BONDS PILOT PROGRAM WITH VARIOUS AGENCIES TO EDUCATE THEM ON INCOME STABILITY AND WEALTH-BUILDING PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON ECONOMICALLY MARGINALIZED YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS. THE GOAL OF THESE PROGRAMS WILL BE GENERATING EVIDENCE ON WEALTH BUILDING AND EDUCATION. THE ORGANIZATION MAY WRITE WHITE PAPERS OR DO LIMITED ADVOCACY FOR STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS WEALTH DISPARITIES SUCH AS A STATE BABY BONDS PROGRAM.THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTS LIMITED LOBBYING ACTIVITIES AND SPEAKS WITH VARIOUS POLITICAL FIGURES FROM TIME TO TIME. THE ORGANIZATION'S MAIN FOCUS WILL BE TO EDUCATE GEORGIA-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER ENTITIES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE BABY BONDS PILOT PROGRAM AND ITS RESULTS, AS WELL AS THE THEORY AND POLICY BEHIND DIRECT YOUTH WEALTH BUILDING STRATEGIES. THIS WORK WILL BE DONE BY ORGANIZATION STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS.2. DIRECT SERVICE PROVISION FOR LOW-INCOME YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS:THE BABY BONDS PILOT PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE 50 LOW-INCOME YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN ATLANTS WITH A GUARANTEED INCOME OF $500/MONTH FOR FOUR YEARS AND A LARGE LUMP SUM OF APPROXIMATELY $40,000 FOR WEALTH BUILDING PURPOSES SUCH AS BUYING A HOME, STARTING A BUSINESS OR ENROLLING IN HIGHER EDUCATION. THE YOUNG PEOPLE ALSO RECEIVE FINANCIAL ADVISING AND MENTORSHIP THROUGHOUT THEIR FOUR YEARS IN THE PROGRAM.THE GOAL OF THE PILOT IS TO SUPPORT THE YOUNG PEOPLE ENROLLED AND TO GENERATE INSIGHT ON HOW THESE INTERVENTIONS IMPROVE YOUTH AND YOUNG PEOPLES FINANCIAL STABILITY AND WEALTH POSITION.

Comms and RepTHE COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM SUPPORTS GROS WORK BY ELEVATING PROGRAM LEARNINGS FROM EVALUATION AND PARTICIPANT STORIES. THE COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM USES DATA AND EVIDENCE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HARMFUL NARRATIVES ABOUT POVERTY AND THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP AND HOW TO CREATE NEW NARRATIVES THAT EMPHASIZE HOW THE ECONOMY CAN WORK FOR ALL OF US.