Metamorphosis - Annual Report, FY24

Transcript

1. FY24 ANNUAL REPORT
2. 3 2 Before there is flight, there is transformation. The caterpillar eats and grows until it can no longer stay the same—then, inside the chrysalis, it breaks down completely, becoming something unrecognizable before it becomes something new. That same creature—once grounded and ravenous— emerges determine and ready to soar. At LIFT, we know this journey well. In a time of growing uncertainty, where economic instability, attacks on equity, and systemic barriers threaten the futures of the families , we are built for both the breakdown and the breakthrough. As Bayo Akomolafe once said, “I think we’re here because something else wants to be born, we just don’t have the language for it. I think we are here to be broken open. There’s something about the sacred that enters through a crack and invites us to perform new thinking, new thought, new lives, new futures.” We are built for both the breakdown and the breakthrough. Like the monarch butterfly that migrates over 4,000 miles through perilous terrain to carry life forward, we believe parents—when given the resources and respect they deserve—can soar higher and farther. As you will see in this report, many have used their journeys by advocating for others, making it easier for those who follow similar paths, and building businesses that uplift their communities. After 25 years of partnering with these families on their path to economic mobility, as we stand at the precipice of our next chapter, we find ourselves in a chrysalis moment—poised for transformation. What began as a direct service organization is unfolding into a force for systems change, expanding our reach, deepening our impact, and ensuring that economic opportunity is not the exception, but the expectation. Over the last four years, LIFT has expanded our impact through technical assistance, equipping service providers to embed economic mobility coaching into their work. Through policy and advocacy, we elevated parent voices to drive legislative change and create lasting economic opportunity. These two pillars, alongside our model for direct service, are the foundation of LIFT’s transformation. With our new strategic plan, we are emerging stronger than ever, committed to a bold vision that integrates our direct service, technical assistance, and policy and advocacy work. We’re ready to lead with purpose, confidence, and an unshakable belief in what we can accomplish together. This is our metamorphosis: not a departure from who we are, but an expansion of what we can achieve. Our transformation is not just necessary, it is urgent. We are not merely responding to the moment; we are shaping what comes next. This transformation is possible because of you—our LIFT community. Your belief in our mission, your investment in families, and your commitment to breaking cycles of poverty empowers us to create lasting change so that dreams can take flight. In a time marked by compounding attacks on vulnerable communities and the helpers who serve them, LIFT’s work stands as a beacon of resilience and a call for change our society so desperately needs. With gratitude, Michelle Rhone-Collins, Will Darman, Emilio Diez Barroso CEO AND BOARD CHAIRS OPENING LETTER
3. 5 4 In FY24, Among LIFT members who increased their income, savings and reduced their debt: LIFT BY THE NUMBERS LIFT DIRECTLY PARTNERED WITH 855 PARENTS IN OUR FOUR REGIONS THE AVERAGE INCREASE TO ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME WAS $18,060 THE AVERAGE INCREASE IN THESE MEMBERS’ SAVINGS WAS $3,614 THE AVERAGE DECREASE IN DEBT FOR THESE MEMBERS WAS $3,605 58% OF LIFT MEMBERS REPORTED AN INCREASE IN SOCIAL WELLBEING 174 MEMBERS REACHED THROUGH LIFT-LA’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM 15134 FAMILIES REACHED THROUGH LIFT’S TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIPS 93% OF MEMBERS ARE WOMEN 97% OF MEMBERS ARE BIPOC
4. 7 6 LIFT has been a radical force for change, providing Hope, Money, and Love as an antidote to systemic wealth-stripping policies that have historically blocked Black and Brown families from economic prosperity. Our coaching model equips parents in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington, DC, with the tools to navigate broken systems, reduce financial stress, and build long-term economic security. LIFT partners with parents for one-on-one coaching, empowers parents to set and achieve goals, such as going back to school, improving credit, eliminating debt, or securing a living wage – that put their families on the path to economic mobility. Paired with direct cash infusions, LIFT’s model gives families the breathing room they need to stay committed to their long-term goals. Our model doesn’t just change lives, it’s shaping policies and partnerships that drive systemic economic mobility. And at the heart of this change is our members. Throughout this report, you’ll find quotes from interviews conducted with LIFT parents across our four regions—parents who have set ambitious goals, achieved success, and used their voices to advocate for policies that uplift their communities. Their insights and leadership are not only transforming their own futures but also shaping a more just and equitable system for families everywhere. To read the full interviews and learn more about these inspiring parents, visit our website. LIFT’s Technical Assistance (TA) work evolved from the continued success of our direct service model, shifting our approach from supporting individuals who walked into our brick-and-mortar locations to focusing on influencing systems to provide long-term coaching for all parents of young children, allowing us to amplify our impact and address the root causes of poverty. FROM STABILITY TO MOBILITY: THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF COACHING CATALYSTS OF CHANGE: LIFT’S TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS SHAPING SYSTEMS Ayanna LIFT-DC member: “When I walked into LIFT, I was treated as a human being— someone dimensional, of value, of worth. It was like dropping a diamond in a muddy puddle... they saw past the mud and said, ‘Come on in, diamond.’ That experience stayed with me. Now, no matter who walks through the door, I remember—they’re a diamond too. Even if they don’t show up like one, every day is a new chance to brush off the mud.” LIFT’s commitment to transforming systems through TA is not just about scaling services—it’s about fundamentally changing how we think about and deliver support for families. As we continue this work, we are deepening our commitment to fostering meaningful partnerships that will ultimately contribute to a world where all families can thrive. In 2021, LIFT launched a strategic plan aimed at expanding our reach by partnering with organizations that can integrate economic mobility coaching into their core services. Four years later, we have yielded amazing results, dramatically increasing LIFT’s footprint and expanding our technical assistance across four priority sectors: pediatric healthcare, higher education, government agencies, and early Elsa LIFT-NY member: “That’s what I love about the LIFT community — it’s a place where we uplift each other. Just as other moms encouraged me, I now encourage others. I always ask about expanding LIFT because I know so many women from my country who are struggling and don’t know where to turn. I dream of the day when more people can benefit from what LIFT has to offer.” Belen LIFT-LA member: “The Community Business Academy helped me with what the model would look like for my future business—things I hadn’t considered. The Entrepreneur Program and being able to talk to Carlos about applications and things I need to do has also been helpful. As a mother, and with my partner always at work, having that support meant I didn’t have to tackle everything on my own.”
5. 9 8 childhood services. Now, with a new strategic plan and a new partnership with The BridgeSpan Group, we’re building on this momentum and preparing for seismic scale by fully integrating all three pillars of LIFT’s work across the organization. Monique LIFT-DC member: “In an ideal world, the social service system would be a supportive, safe space to grow. It would not feel punitive, but congratulatory. Vocational education and trainings and being taught how to monetize them once they are received. There would be no restrictions on your potential for growth while receiving services.” PEDIATRIC HEALTHCARE Our longest Technical Assistance partner- ship is with Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where we train coaches to integrate financial coaching within the LADHS clinics’ prenatal and pediatric services. This partnership has expanded to other clinics including Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Pediatrics, UCLA Department of Pediatrics, and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. HIGHER EDUCATION In New York, we piloted a partnership with the CUNY EDGE program at Bronx Community College to train advisors to provide wraparound support to low-income students and extended this model for CUNY EDGE teams across all 18 campuses. We are launching a third-party evaluation of our work in higher education with Dallas College, where we will assess the impact of integrating LIFT’s coaching model by measuring the effects on student outcomes. We are additionally partnering in the higher- education sector with peer student advisors at University of North Texas Dallas, Parent Success Coaches at Hope Chicago, and training Jeremiah Program alumni to become economic mobility coaches to serve their own communities. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES To shift from case management to a holistic coaching approach with TANF-recipient families, LIFT supported DC’s Office of Work Opportunity through Technical Assistance. After working with LIFT, 100% of TANF case managers felt comfortable having conversations with their clients about money and career planning, leading to a similar partnership with the SNAP Employment & Training team. We replicated our government support in Richmond, Virginia with the city’s Office of Community Wealth Building. EARLY CHILDHOOD Supported by a five-year federal grant with the Office of Head Start, LIFT built the capacity of Head Start staff nationwide as the Family Economic Mobility and Community Engagement expert, helping parents achieve personal, financial, and social wellness. LIFT has also partnered with Acelero Learning and regional anchor institutions, Martha’s Table (D.C.) and Sheltering Arms in Atlanta. Monique LIFT-DC member: “As a student parent and advocate, I’m pulled in many directions— acquiring information and resources not just for myself, but for others like me. I have the skills and education, and I use my voice to uplift those who don’t have access.” Shennet LIFT-NY member: If everybody comes together and they use their voice, I feel like the system will run smoother and run a little bit better. If we speak up, change will be made. So, I’m going to continue to use my voice. I’m going to continue to speak up. I’m going to continue to tell my story and I’m going to continue to try to get everything changed. So, it could be better for other single moms out there, other single dads, parents in general that need help. Belen LIFT-LA member: “Looking at the world more realistically—not just lost in my own world—and having a son, a son with disabilities, and being a Mexicana, there’s so much at risk. I want to be a conscious business owner. I want our people to rise, not live in fear. I don’t want my son’s services taken away—they’re essential for his development.”
6. 11 10 TRANSFORMING ADVOCACY: ELEVATING PARENT VOICES FOR POLICY CHANGE LIFT’s Policy and Advocacy work is rooted in the same humanity that underpins our direct service model, recognizing both the inherent wisdom of parents and the systemic inequities that hinder economic mobility. By working alongside influential policy partners, we amplify the voices of LIFT members—parents and caregivers with lived experience—ensuring that their insights drive meaningful policy change. In 2023, LIFT deepened its policy commitment by staffing a dedicated Policy & Advocacy team, shifting from ad hoc engagement to a strategic, sustained effort to inform local and state policy. Our approach is centered on equipping members with the tools to advocate for themselves and their communities through civic engagement, media training, public speaking, and direct policymaker engagement. With a dedicated team and a clear strategic vision, LIFT is committed to transforming advocacy into lasting systemic change. At the heart of LIFT’s policy work is our unwavering commitment to the self-determination of families, ensuring that parents are not just included but are driving the conversation on policy change. Through our Member Listening Tour and biannual Member Feedback Survey, we’ve engaged hundreds of members to identify and refine our policy priorities, grounding our advocacy in real, lived experiences. Members consistently named four top priorities—basic needs, cash policies, childcare, and employment—and emphasized the deep, interconnected nature of these issues. More than just input, member insights shape our agenda at every step, embedding lived expertise into policymaking and providing community-led solutions to drive meaningful, systemic change. Our members don’t just inform our strategy — they represent it. Cristina, a LIFT-NY member, spoke at the Moms First Summit to spotlight the challenges facing single mothers. Shennet, also from LIFT-NY, served as a parent advisor at Aspen’s ThinkXChange, contributing to conversations on removing systemic barriers and how to advance a holistic, 2Gen approach. In D.C., Mellie spoke at the Benefits Cliff Conference and participated in a LIFT- hosted webinar to share her lived experience with funders and partners as part of our new strategic plan rollout. Their voices power our work, and we are proud to stand beside them. In just one year, LIFT-DC worked in coalition with the Fair Budget Coalition, Mother’s Outreach Network and other local organizations to introduce a transformative $14.6 million investment to establish the District’s first Child Tax Credit to the budget cycle, which would provide $420 per child for families with young children. Rooted in our members’ insights, this victory proves the power of community-driven advocacy. While current federal realities force cities to rethink their commitments to families, such as the recent Mayoral cut to the Child Tax Credit and Baby Bonds. DC is working with coalitions and Council members to bring it back. But policy change is about more than just cash relief; it’s about ensuring families have the tools to build long-term stability. That’s why LIFT has championed our Cash + Coaching model, advocating for holistic support alongside direct payments. Khadijah Williams, LIFT’s National Director of Policy and Advocacy, and Neils Ribeiro-Yemofio, LIFT- DC’s Executive Director, testified before the D.C. Council, engaged in coalition efforts, and in partnership with United Planning Organization convened over 120 policy experts, government leaders, and community advocates at our October 2024 summit to address solutions to the benefits cliff. “Esperanza” LIFT-LA member: “Para mí la abogacía es algo que en el cual puedes apoyar a una persona que piensa que su voz no se escucha. Esa persona piensa que su voz no tiene poder. No solo apoyarla, pero también encaminarla e ir con ella. Eso es la abogacía. Ayudar a otra persona alce su voz. Buscando soluciones, no problemas.” Amanda LIFT-Chicago member: “I’m passionate about advocacy through storytelling. In today’s world, more people are struggling than not, and personal stories can be more powerful than statistics. When people hear a real experience, they connect with it, and that connection can spark real change. I believe if more people who have been directly impacted by policies were given the platform to speak about how these issues affect them, we’d see more meaningful change.” Amanda LIFT-Chicago member: “I’m passionate about advocacy through storytelling. In today’s world, more people are struggling than not, and personal stories can be more powerful than statistics. When people hear a real experience, they connect with it, and that connection can spark real change. I believe if more people who have been directly impacted by policies were given the platform to speak about how these issues affect them, we’d see more meaningful change.” Ayanna LIFT-DC member: “Having coaching included to these programs, I think is essential so that people can actually take advantage of the opportunity that’s there for them… having that education and having organizations that can pass on that knowledge, it’s essential.” MEMBER DRIVEN POLICY & ADVOCACY CHILD TAX CREDIT IN WASHINGTON D.C.
7. 13 12 LIFT-Chicago has been at the forefront of advancing bold, family-centered policy work, championing guaranteed income as a pathway to economic stability. In 2021, alongside LIFT families, we partnered with the Economic Security Project of Illinois to advocate for direct cash support, working with policymakers and facilitating parent testimonies that underscored the impact of guaranteed income. These efforts helped secure funding for Chicago’s Resilient Communities Pilot in 2022, a $31.5 million initiative providing $500 monthly payments to 5,000 households— one of the largest guaranteed income pilots in the country. Today, LIFT-Chicago continues to drive this work forward. As a co- leader of the pilot-to-permanent working group, we are shaping the future of guaranteed income in Illinois. With the City of Chicago expanding its program in 2024 and the Illinois legislature passing a multi-year Child Tax Credit, our coalition- building efforts have helped direct over $100 million to as many as 850,000 families. GUARANTEED INCOME IN ILLINOIS Stephanie LIFT-Chicago member: ”Guaranteed Income truly did allow us to stick to our plan and be at ease. We didn’t have to really wonder where this extra $200–$300 is going to come from. And it was always for the mere motivation of having food on the table for my kids, for paying the bills for my children, for being a mom and that provider. I just know that there are families that it will bring literally so much encouragement and hope for their everyday lives. Yes, it’s about money, but it’s about hope.” We are deeply grateful to everyone in the LIFT community who has generously contributed their time, resources, and unwavering support for LIFT families. Your commitment has been game-changing, empowering families with the essential resources and the social support they need to advance toward economic mobility and well-being. Your contributions—whether large or small—are the driving force behind our mission to break the cycle of poverty. With your help, we continue to uplift families and build a stronger, more equitable future for all. We believe in the transformative power of community. Together, we are turning dreams into reality, breaking down barriers, and building systems that work for everyone. It is our deepest hope that, 25 years from now, LIFT will no longer be needed because we will have fostered a social service system rooted in hope, money, and love— one that ensures every family can thrive. Thank you for standing with us and supporting our mission. Link to FY24 Audited Report