Building on the strong interest generated at our March Ideas Showcase on reimagining public benefits—and the significant implications of HR1 for benefits access—EOF will host a series of activities this fall to continue exploring the evolving landscape of public benefits transformation.
We’ll highlight emerging ideas, promising approaches, lessons from the field, and key insights for funders.
Ideas Showcase Update
In March 2026, Economic Opportunity Funders and the Tax Equity Funders Network hosted an Ideas Showcase featuring forward-looking ideas for creating more equitable, effective, and sustainable revenue systems and transforming how people access public benefits.
Six months later, we checked back with the featured organizations to learn what has changed, what they are learning, and what comes next.
EOF Funder Learning Series Session 4: Accelerating the Transformation of Public Benefits Delivery in Colorado
September 28, 2026 | 2:00 PM – 2:50 PM ET
This session explored why the W.K. Kellogg Foundation is investing in public benefits delivery transformation in Colorado in partnership with Gary Community Ventures and supporting a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernize benefit systems in Colorado and establish a national model for replication. Launched in January 2026, the Benefits Transformation Fund is a time-limited, impact-oriented fund co-governed by philanthropic partners and state leadership that will deploy $5–10M in Colorado over approximately three years to reimagine and rebuild the technology, infrastructure, and capacity that enable households to access critical public benefits with speed, dignity, and accuracy.
Guest Speakers:
- Erin Currier, Senior Program Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
- Elise Henson, Director of Strategy, Ventures, Gary Community Ventures
- Tracey Patterson, Director, Colorado Benefits Transformation Fund
Public Benefits Transformation Quick Takes
Join us for two Quick Takes offering a closer look at innovative approaches to public benefits transformation. Each Quick Take will spotlight a different organization or effort, highlighting emerging ideas, promising approaches, lessons from the field, and key insights for funders.
Benefits Futures Studio Quick Take
NEW DATE! December 1, 2026 | 1:00 -1:45 PM ET
The Benefits Futures Studio, a project from the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program and the National Academy of Social Insurance, is a new initiative connecting research, policy, and leadership to advance a more effective, equitable, and people-centered public benefits system.
Join us for a Quick Take exploring what the election outcomes mean for the future of public benefits and how the Studio is supporting the leaders, ideas, and experiments needed to reimagine America’s benefits system. Come ready to share your ideas about gaps in the system and where the Studio could help!
Guest Speakers:
- Tim Shaw, Director of the Benefits Transformation Initiative at the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program
- Rebecca Vallas, Chief Executive Officer of the National Academy of Social Insurance
Public Benefits Innovation Fund Quick Take
NEW DATE! December 3, 2026 | 3:00 – 3:30 PM ET
The Public Benefits Innovation Fund, run by the Center for Civic Futures, is a philanthropic venture fund and R&D lab providing seed funding and technical support for researchers, nonprofits, academic labs, startups, and technologists working to improve social service delivery. Join us for a Quick Take on what they are learning from two open calls that generated hundreds of proposals for novel applications of emerging technologies to solve persistent problems in public benefit delivery.
Guest Speaker:
- Eleanor Davis, Director, Public Benefits Innovation Fund