Welcome to Economic Opportunity Funders (EOF), formerly known as GIST.

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Welcome to EOF

Advancing effective government and equitable policies for shared prosperity.

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 (formerly known as GIST), 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.

EOF focuses its work in three key and intersecting areas: poverty and opportunity, protecting and supporting workers, and tax and budget policies. We provide a platform for funders to share information, exchange ideas and best practice, and collaborate around identified areas of interest.

Poverty and Opportunity

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.

Protecting and supporting workers

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.

Tax and Budget Policies

Government services, structures and systems are an essential foundation for a healthy economy where opportunity and prosperity are broadly and equitably shared. Budgets are moral documents that 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.
Marcia Egbert, George Gund Foundation

EOF is a genuinely safe space. A space for candid conversations among peers and for honing skills. Through it, we have access to the most current research and analysis and the opportunity for dialogue, learning and camaraderie.

Sandy Ambrozy, formerly with The Kresge Foundation

Many organizations provide information about federal, state, and local policies and programs. Economic Opportunity Funders provides a unique forum for philanthropy to better understand its critical role in informing these policies, stimulating innovation, and undertaking research and evaluation to support the populations and issues we care about.

EOF Member

Impressive – both the range of activities and the clarity of the reporting.  Might be a good benchmark for ‘best practices’ in affinity groups. I especially applaud their efforts to work collaboratively with other philanthropy networks and organizations.

HOW WE WORK

Meetings

EOF holds two in-person meetings a year, including an Annual Budget and Tax Briefing. Meetings include a mix of presentations and discussions with leading national thinkers, practitioners, and advocates as well as funder updates and strategy sessions.

Webinars

Virtual meetings are scheduled as needed to raise awareness of emerging issues and enhance connection and information sharing among members between in-person events.

Mapping

Since 2011, EOF has been engaged in geographic mapping efforts to help illustrate to funders where investments are being made in policy, advocacy and communications work in the states, and to help foster cross-funder dialog and collaboration.

Pooled Funds

EOF provides a table around which multiple funders can align support for key ideas and grantees. Sometimes these funds are pooled with EOF while other funders work collaboratively but deploy their own funds directly. EOF currently administers a pooled fund focused on increasing public support for state EITCs.

Funder Networks

Private listservs and working groups offer members the opportunity for information sharing and learning as well as the coordination and alignment of investments among identified areas of interest.

Partnerships

EOF activities and events engage new funders as well as other funder affinity groups in poverty alleviation, economic opportunity, worker supports, and tax and budget issues and lift up the intersectionality across our work.

Outreach

EOF staff keep informed of areas of interest and giving among members and make connections among funders pursuing similar objectives or working in similar regions.

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.
Not a Member? Join now, it’s free!