Call for Innovations
Reimagining Revenue Systems & Public Benefits Access
Submission Deadline: November 7, 2025 (11:59 PM ET)
The call for innovations has closed.
Background: The 2026 Budget and Tax Briefing
Since 2004, Economic Opportunity Funders (EOF) has hosted an Annual Budget and Tax Briefing to provide funders the opportunity to learn about and discuss pressing political developments, federal and state budget and tax battles and opportunities, and how the current landscape impacts families, workers, and communities. It is the only event of its kind focused on philanthropy and budget and tax policy.
Each year, we convene 40-50 national, regional, and local funders for an intimate in-person program in the Greater Washington, DC area. Since 2014, we have expanded our reach to hundreds of additional funders by web-streaming our plenary sessions and organizing local watch parties across the US.
Economic Opportunity Funders and the Tax Funders Equity Network will host the 2026 Budget and Tax Briefing on March 26-27, 2026, in Arlington, VA. This two-day funder briefing begins with an Ideas Showcase (March 26) on visionary and actionable approaches to revenue generation and public benefit access, followed by an analysis of the federal and state budget and tax landscape and strategizing for what comes next (March 27).
We will explore:
- The stakes: What’s happening at the federal and state levels and how it impacts workers, families, and our communities.
- The response: Strategies underway to shape the budget and tax fights ahead.
- The solutions: Policy and program changes needed to create stronger and more equitable revenue systems and public benefits access at every level of government now, and the visionary strategies to build a better set of policies and programs for workers, families, and our communities, in the years to come.
- The opportunity: The critical role and responsibility of funders in meeting the challenges of the moment and supporting bold solutions to build a more inclusive and equitable future.
Call for Innovations
Economic Opportunity Funders and the Tax Funders Equity Network have launched an open call for proactive, future-focused program and policy innovations at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels to feature in an Ideas Showcase on March 26, 2026. We are seeking submissions on two key topics:
- Reimagining Revenue Systems: What would a robust and equitable revenue system look like, where everyone pays their fair share, no one pays more than they can afford, and the government raises enough money to fund public goods that benefit us all, like childcare, education, housing, transportation, and health care?
- Reimagining Public Benefits Access: What would it take to create a more equitable and efficient system of public benefits that streamlined and expanded equitable access and uptake of public benefits, reduced administrative burdens, targeted resources to those most in need, and supported a smoother transition to economic security?
Call for Innovations 1: Reimagining Revenue Systems
The tax code touches nearly every aspect of American life and impacts the well-being of our families, communities, and our democracy. Tax policy, if designed well, can be a critical lever to create a more inclusive economy in which all people can achieve economic security, mobility, and well-being. Our present tax system disproportionately benefits a powerful and wealthy minority, which exacerbates racial inequalities and deprives the public of essential resources for our common good.
What would a robust and equitable revenue system look like, where everyone pays their fair share, no one pays more than they can afford, and the government raises enough money to fund public goods that benefit us all, like childcare, education, housing, transportation, and health care?
Economic Opportunity Funders and the Tax Equity Funders Network are seeking six proactive, future-focused program and policy innovations to feature in the Reimagining Revenue Systems Ideas Showcase at the 2026 Budget and Tax Briefing on March 26, 2026.
Submission Guidelines
- This is an open call for proactive, future-focused revenue systems program and policy innovations at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels.
- Only one application per institution will be accepted.
- All applications must be submitted through an online application via our Submittable platform.
- You can preview the application questions here. Unless otherwise noted, all questions are required.
- Applications are due by November 7, 2025, 11:59 pm ET.
Selection Process
Submissions will be reviewed by an Advisory Committee. Committee members include:
- Ami Nagle, Economic Opportunity Funders and Tax Equity Funders Network
- Cema Siegel, Economic Opportunity Funders
- Cuong Hoang, Stonemen Family Foundations
- Michael Cassidy, Annie E. Casey Foundation
- Parita Patel, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Innovations are aligned with our values of promoting robust and equitable revenue systems.
- Core ideas in your program or policy innovation are supported by evidence in the public domain.
- Selected innovations will collectively offer a balance of perspectives, including:
- Initiatives that grow revenues equitably at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels.
- Short-term (1–3 years), medium-term (4–9 years), and long-term (10+ years) approaches.
- Insights from the academic, policy, and grassroots organizing sectors.
Call for Innovations 2: Reimagining Public Benefits Access
Public benefits help millions of families and households afford daily life—covering food, child care, rent, and healthcare. Yet each year, an estimated $140 billion in public benefits go unclaimed. Fragmented and complex systems, daunting paperwork, outdated technology, and other burdensome administrative requirements like restrictive eligibility rules and disincentives for recipients to increase their earnings make it harder for eligible people to access and maintain critical benefits and challenge the government’s ability to deliver these benefits efficiently and effectively. Solving access and delivery problems in the public benefits system is one of the most direct, immediate routes to reduce poverty in the United States and support economic security.
What would it take to create a more equitable and efficient system of public benefits that streamlined and expanded equitable access and uptake of public benefits, reduced administrative burdens, targeted resources to those most in need, and supported a smoother transition to economic security?
Economic Opportunity Funders and the Tax Equity Funders Network are seeking six proactive, future-focused program and policy innovations to feature in the Reimagining Public Benefits Access Ideas Showcase at the 2026 Budget and Tax Briefing on March 26, 2026.
Submission Guidelines
- This is an open call for proactive, future-focused public benefits access program and policy innovations at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels.
- Only one application per institution will be accepted.
- All applications must be submitted through an online application via our Submittable platform.
- You can preview the application here. Unless otherwise noted, all questions are required.
- Applications are due by November 7, 2025, 11:59 pm ET.
Selection Process
Submissions will be reviewed by an Advisory Committee. Committee members include:
- Aimee Ramirez, Chicago Community Trust
- Ami Nagle, Economic Opportunity Funders and Tax Equity Funders Network
- Cema Siegel, Economic Opportunity Funders
- Erin Currier, W. K. Kellogg Foundation
- Tyonka Perkins Rimawi, Families & Workers Fund
- Yuri Kim, Gates Foundation
Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Innovations are aligned with our values of creating equitable and efficient systems of public benefits* that streamline and expand access and uptake of public benefits, reduce administrative burdens, target resources to those most in need, and support a smoother transition to economic security.
- Core ideas in your program or policy innovation are supported by evidence in the public domain.
- Selected innovations will collectively offer a balance of perspectives, including:
- Federal, state, local, and tribal strategies.
- A mix of short-term (1–3 years), medium-term (4–9 years), and long-term (10+ years) approaches.
- Solutions for both the user experience (front-end) and administrative efficiency (back-end).
- Strategies addressing single-benefit and multi-benefit outcomes.
*For the purpose of this project, we define public benefits (also known as public assistance or social safety net programs) as forms of government support—including early care and education, food, healthcare, housing, internet, income supports/assistance, and utilities—provided to eligible individuals and families to help them meet basic needs and achieve economic security.