Stories of Impact 2022: Direct Cash Assistance

Direct cash assistance is the practice of giving money directly to people in need. This can take many forms, including transfers of cash from nonprofits to community members, guaranteed income programs, and even tax credits.

The Trust has become an advocate for direct cash assistance because research confirms it’s a viable way to help families achieve greater financial independence and stability.

The Trust believes the Chicago region can inspire and lead the rest of the nation on direct cash assistance. We were proud to support key opportunities to do so in 2022.

• Expanding a pivotal tax credit. The Earned Income Tax Credit is one of the most successful policy tools for keeping more money in the pockets of working families. A Trust grant of $150,000 to Economic Security for Illinois supported advocacy that helped broaden the benefits of the Illinois Earned Income Credit and expand eligibility to more residents.
• Evaluating the U.S.’s largest guaranteed income pilot. Two pilot programs led by the City of Chicago and Cook County are providing thousands of residents facing hardship with $500 per month for two years. By scale, these initiatives place the Chicago region at the forefront of guaranteed income pilots, and it’s important that we understand their impact. The Trust made a $500,000 grant to the University of Chicago’s Inclusive Economy Lab to support the evaluation of both programs.
• Supporting returning citizens. The Chicago Future Fund is a guaranteed income pilot for people returning to communities after incarceration. To close a gap in funding, the Trust made a $250,000 grant that was matched by an anonymous Trust donor, allowing the pilot to continue. The Chicago Future Fund will help build our region’s growing knowledge base about guaranteed income while supporting one of our most at-risk populations.