The Changemaker Fund

Empowering local changemakers to chart their own paths toward better futures

Many households across Connecticut struggle to earn a liveable wage, pay bills, and save. The path to a better economic future can become clearer with access to additional cash and the autonomy to use it to create stability, opportunity, and hope.

To address this need, the CT Urban Opportunity Collaborative (CUOC) – a partnership of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven – is working with the national organization UpTogether to launch The Changemaker Fund: A Power Building Initiative.

The Changemaker Fund deploys direct cash payments each month to local changemakers with low incomes who are working to alleviate financial hardship for themselves and their communities. Over three years, 120 Connecticut households – 40 in Greater Bridgeport – will receive monthly payments totaling $12,600 to improve their conditions.

Investing Directly In Communities
This model builds on successful guaranteed basic income initiatives that have proven cost effective for organizations and communities. The Urban Institute reported in April that “historic and current guaranteed income experiments demonstrate excellent outcomes for children, and strong gains in adult mental health, physical health, and parenting, as well as large increases in household food security and housing stability.”

“People need a variety of different tools and flexible opportunities to address their issues,” noted Cesar Aleman, Director of CUOC. “This is a way to invest directly in communities that have been historically under-invested in – to support people’s efforts to build power, not just to change their personal circumstances but also to change the circumstances of their community.”

Making a Real Impact
Lutonya Russell-Humes, VP of Grants & Programs at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, emphasized that while traditional social programs targeting issues like food insecurity remain vital, access to unrestricted cash offers a chance to address other needs or pursue goals.

“Maybe that money can be used to help move to a community that is a bit safer, or has a better school system,” Russell-Humes said. “Better yet, maybe it means a parent has time to show up to school board meetings to fight for the school their child is in now.”

She hopes The Changemaker Fund sparks conversation on how to address systemic challenges “and what it really means to move communities to a place of thriving.”

To date, $1.4 million has been raised to support the pilot program, with a goal of reaching $1.8 million by the end of 2024. Donors can be assured their contributions will significantly impact families’ lives.

Support economic opportunity: FCCFoundation.org/Income