Welcome to Economic Opportunity Funders (EOF)

Law & Social Policy Legacy Award. Presented by Economic Opportunity Funders. Nominations due by October 17, 2024. Recognizing organizations defending and advocating for low-wage workers' rights.

2025 Call for Nominations for Now Open!

Know an organization that works tirelessly to defend and advocate for low-wage workers’ rights? Nominate them to receive $10,000.

This award is open to any organization working in the field of law and social policy to advance low-wage workers’ rights in the United States. Nominated organizations may be of any size or budget and work may have just started or occurred over years.

Anyone can make a nomination, and self-nominations are allowed. All nominations must be submitted using EOF’s online application.

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Advancing effective government and equitable policies for shared prosperity.

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What We Do

CONVENE

EOF brings funders together through in-person meetings and webinars to deepen their understanding of the cross cutting issues of poverty and economic opportunity, support for low-wage workers, and adequate public resources.

CONNECT

EOF staff make connections among funders pursuing similar objectives or working in similar regions through outreach and mapping efforts.

CATALYZE

EOF supports the coordination and alignment of investments through funder networks and pooled funds.

COLLABORATE

EOF regularly partners with other funder affinity groups on programming to highlight the intersectionality of our work, improve our reach, impact, and effectiveness and to reduce duplication of efforts.

Our Mission

Established in 1992, Economic Opportunity Funders (EOF), is a network of national, regional, and local level funders working to advance economic equity and opportunity in the United States. We believe in building an economy that works for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, immigration status, education, income, religion, gender identity, disability or age. We support a strong public sector and policies that create a healthy, fair and just economy where opportunity and prosperity are broadly shared.

More than 350 funders and philanthropic advisors representing almost 200 philanthropic institutions participate in EOF. We provide a platform for funders to share information, exchange ideas and best practice, and collaborate around identified areas of interest.

Our network is free to join and much of our programming is made available at no cost.

Focus Areas

This country is built on the idea of opportunity for all, regardless of where you come from or what you look like. However, our economy is out of balance, with persistent income inequality across race and gender and more than 40 million people living in poverty and many more unable to afford the basics or care for their families. Too often systems and structures create barriers instead of opportunities and prevent people from fulfilling their potential, sharing in economic gains or fully contributing to our economy.

We need to protect and improve programs and policies that ensure all people have access to food, housing, education, employment, health care and other basic needs so they can move out of poverty and have a chance at a better future.

Work is a shared American value, central to individual well-being, sense of purpose, and ability to provide for loved ones. Millions of Americans, especially women and people of color, are working in jobs with low pay, unpredictable schedules, few if any benefits, and limited opportunities for advancement or growth.

Strong supports are needed in this rapidly changing economy to help create jobs, boost wages, modernize benefits, and ensure safe, healthy, and fair conditions at work.

Government services, structures and systems are an essential foundation for a healthy economy where opportunity and prosperity are broadly and equitably shared. Public budgets and the revenue systems that support them are some of the most important policy instruments of our government. They reflect our values and priorities through decisions on how to tax residents and businesses and spend these collective resources.

Supporting adequate public resources to meet the needs of struggling families, workers and communities is essential to ensure we build an economy that works for everyone.

Join EOF

Our network is free to join and much of our programming is made available at no cost. Join EOF and get connected!

Participate in funder briefings and webinars.
Share information, ideas, strategies and best practices.
Collaborate with other funders on aligned areas of interest.
Leverage philanthropic investments and advance effective grantmaking practices.

Supporting Members

Voluntary grants and dues help finance meetings, events, and staff support. We are grateful for the generous support of our Supporting Members!

  • The Annie E. Casey Foundation
  • Blue Shield of California Foundation
  • Ford Foundation
  • The George Gund Foundation
  • The Kresge Foundation
  • New Economy Initiative
  • Public Welfare Foundation
  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  • The Rockefeller Foundation
  • Stoneman Family Foundations
  • W.K. Kellogg Foundation
  • Wellspring Philanthropic Fund