Economic Mobility

Economic Mobility
Members of the Economic Mobility Action Network touring the new Greater Auburn-Gresham Healthy Lifestyle Hub in Chicago.
Economic mobility is one of the most pressing issues in communities all across the country.

In order for individuals and families to achieve economic mobility, the communities they live in need to provide equitable access to high-quality education and jobs. Increased wages, adequate working hours and reasonable working conditions can help advance economic well-being and provide increased access to opportunities such as buying a house, paying for a college education or investing in a business. 

Because of the complex social, economic and political issues that have affected economic mobility over several decades, solutions that help individuals and families achieve this “American Dream” require a multi-faceted, cross-sector approach designed to impact change at the systems level.  

Now, we’re building on our previous work on family economic security and family asset building to explore how community foundations can use the five competencies of community leadership to help families move beyond economic security and toward upward economic mobility through a new Economic Mobility Action Network

Continued Economic Mobility Work

In November 2023, CFLeads was pleased to receive funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for our continued economic mobility work.

Building on the remarkable success of the pilot Economic Mobility Action Network, CFLeads will continue supporting community foundations that serve as local coalition builders through their economic mobility work. Read more about our continued economic mobility work in the press release below:

Judith Bell, San Francisco Team, places a post it note on a posterboard.

Economic Mobility Action Network

The Economic Mobility Action Network is made up of six community foundation teams coming together to further an economic mobility agenda for their communities.

Related Content

Driving Economic Mobility: Using Urban Institute’s Upward Mobility Framework and Other Resources for CFs

In collaboration with Urban Institute, read about how community foundations can utilize their Upward Mobility Framework and play a key role in cross-sector partnerships.

Empowering Local Communities: Urban Institute’s Upward Mobility Framework and How Community Foundations Can Use It

In the third economic mobility series webinar, hear from Urban Institute about their Upward Mobility Framework and how community foundations can use it.