Founded in 1998, LIFT is a national nonprofit headquartered in D.C. with sites across the U.S. Its mission is to break the cycle of poverty by investing in parents. LIFT’s one-on-one coaching program 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. LIFT advocates for policy that centers the voices of low-income families and partner with health systems, colleges, and local and national governments to deliver our services across the country.
Why We Invested
Research shows that a $3,000 increase in annual income for parents with low incomes boosted their children’s lifelong earnings by 17%. Through direct service work, technical assistance, and policy reform, LIFT’s two-generation approach to breaking the cycle of poverty supports the economic mobility and well-being of families in communities across the U.S. Our partnership with LIFT acknowledges that learning does not happen in isolation. By investing in models like LIFT that support the success of the entire family, we aim to nurture the development of more equitable learning environments where all learners can reach their full potential.
All families deserve a better future – no matter their race, ethnicity, or zip code. Poverty, like wealth, is passed down from generation to generation and decades of racial inequity and underinvestment in our communities have kept families trapped in a cycle. Our mission is to break this cycle by investing in parents with an antiracist approach, an investment of Hope, Money, and Love that it is direct response to historical and generational poverty.
Michelle Rhone-Collins, CEO LIFT