The pandemic and its economic fallout have exposed our economy’s structural weaknesses and inequalities, deeply rooted in racism and discrimination, with starkly unequal opportunities and outcomes in education, employment, health, and housing. This is an important set of issues for philanthropy to attend to, but we can’t do this alone. We need a strong public response that addresses the long-standing racial and ethnic disparities in our nation. The American Rescue Plan provides significant investments helping struggling families and state and local governments weather the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis. But we can’t stop there. The recovery legislation that policymakers will consider this year marks a historic opportunity to build a stronger, more equitable economy and ensures everyone can thrive, no matter what we look like or where we come from.
Our 2021 Fall Funder Learning Series explored the critical role of income supports – tax credits, cash supports and unemployment insurance – in building a stronger, more equitable recovery and how funders can show up to meet this moment.