Overview
The EITC Campaign Fund (EITC CF) was established in 2017 and focuses on supporting a year-long effort in which a window of opportunity to promote or defend a state EITC seems urgent. Awards are made through an invitation-only RFP process and range from $30,000-$125,000.
New in 2022: Recognizing that in some places efforts may not result in a desired policy change in one year, the advisory committee decided to solicit proposals for a two-year State EITC Campaign Fund award (at $100,000 per year), where a window of opportunity is identified to promote or defend a state EITC, CTC, or other tax credits. Efforts to support the implementation of recent state EITC, CTC, or other tax credit policy expansions, to ensure new beneficiaries receive the benefit, were also considered.
New in 2021: Given the challenges presented to low-income families because of COVID and the economic downtown, the EITC Campaign Fund expanded its support to include efforts focused on elevating state EITCs, CTCs or other tax credits as part of a larger economic security campaign that includes other emergency cash support policies (such as stimulus, emergency cash for front-line workers or immigrant families, but not Unemployment Insurance). Awards were also increased to up to $125,000 where at least $50,000 would be to support grassroots organizations for community mobilization work in recognition of the critical role community mobilization can play and the value of partnering with grassroots organizations, which are often most representative of constituencies of color in states.
New in 2020. EITC Campaign Fund awards previously ranged from $30,000-$50,000. Recognizing the critical role community mobilization can play and the value of partnering with grassroots organizations (which are often most representative of constituencies of color in states), the EITC Campaign Fund is providing awardees up to $25,000 in additional funding (for a total of $75,000) to support grassroots organizations for community mobilization work.
Resources
Campaign Fund Awards
To date, $3,984,000 has been awarded to 23 states and Puerto Rico in campaign funds.
The California Budget & Policy Center was awarded $75,000 to expand and modernize the California EITC to include immigrant workers and make the credit more robust for tax filers receiving smaller credits.
Colorado Fiscal Institute was awarded $100,000 in 2024 to make permanent the recent EITC expansion to 50 percent, protect expansions made during the 2023 session to the state CTC , and cement tax credit outreach into the state budget.
Colorado Fiscal Institute was awarded $125,000 in 2021 to expand the rate to 20% of the Federal EITC, expand eligibility to younger and older workers and fund the state’s CTC.
Colorado Fiscal Institute was awarded $75,000 in 2020 to create a progressive tax package to expand the earned income tax credit, possibly to include ITIN filers and childless workers under 25, and fund the child tax credit.
The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute was awarded $50,000 to continue efforts to raise awareness of the importance of a new state EITC (locally known as the Georgia Work Credit). This included continuing policy research and analysis on state EITC options, educating and engaging Georgians at a community level, and strengthening and activating the Georgia Work Credit coalition.
Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice was awarded $75,000 to defend the EITC from its planned expiration and advocate to make it refundable, increasing its reach from 8 percent of Hawaii’s population to 15 percent, and nearly doubling its value.
Maine Center for Economic Policy was awarded $200,000 over two years to support efforts to enhance Maine’s EITC and CTC, mirroring federal changes that increase the credit and make them refundable.
CASH Campaign of Maryland was awarded $200,000 over two years to support efforts to make EITC expansions permanent to include immigrant workers and increase the rate for workers with and without children.
CASH Campaign of Maryland was awarded $75,000 in 2020 to expand the value and income eligibility of the EITC for younger workers and to start to assess opportunities to modernize the existing credits.
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center was awarded $100,000 in 2023 to build public support to improve and expand the state EITC, low-income Senior credit, and child/ dependent credit.
Children’s HealthWatch was awarded $70,000 in 2020 to increase the Massachusetts EITC from 30% to 50% of the value of federal EITC, and expand Massachusetts EITC eligibility and access.
Michigan League for Public Policy was awarded $80,000 to support efforts to expand the state EITC to include ITIN filers and childless workers.
Minnesota Budget Project was awarded $100,000 in 2024 to implement a family-centered process to receive advanced periodic payments of Minnesota’s new Child Tax Credit (CTC), and educate and support lower-income, immigrant, and BIPOC Minnesotans and their families to file for new and expanded state tax credits.
Minnesota Budget Project was awarded $89,000 in 2023 to support efforts to create a state Child Tax Credit; create access to the state EITC, homestead status, and homeowner property tax refund for ITIN filers; expand state property tax fund for renters; and expand the state EITC.
One Voice was awarded $250,000 over two years to support efforts to re-engage lawmakers, non-profit organizations, community and business leaders, media, and the general public to raise awareness of the state EITC and influence the enactment of a state EITC in Mississippi.
The Missouri Budget Project (MBP) was awarded $50,000 to pass a state EITC. The MBP used this award to continue to build and convene the EITC Coalition throughout 2018 and to foster coalition partners to conduct outreach, strategic communications and advocacy to both further increase awareness of the issue and engage more Missourians in support of a Missouri EITC. In the last legislative session, the EITC was approved by both the House and Senate by large margins.
Montana Budget & Policy Center was awarded $100,000 in 2023 to support efforts to enact a refundable state child tax credit, expand Montana’s existing refundable state EITC, and build support for a targeted property tax circuit breaker credit.
Montana Budget and Policy Center was awarded $115,000 in 2021 to defeat attempts to repeal the EITC or alter refundability and rebuild understanding and support in order to expand the credit in the future.
New Jersey Policy Perspective was awarded $30,000 to support efforts to expand the state EITC to younger residents without children who are between the ages of 21 and 25. This includes producing materials to raise awareness of the importance of EITC expansion, identifying key audiences and building communications strategies and tactics to reach those audiences; and holding awareness building events, in coordination with partner organizations, to inform residents on the importance of EITC expansion and its benefits for low-income families all across the state.
New Mexico Voices for Children was awarded $125,000 in 2021 to raise to expand the state’s cash assistance program to families who did not receive federal relief, increase and expand the state’s EITC (the WFTC) to include young workers without children and immigrants regardless of status, and increase a state tax rebate (LICTR) that immigrants can claim regardless of status.
New Mexico Voices for Children was awarded $75,000 in 2020 to raise awareness of the value of increasing the amount of the existing state EITC, the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), make the credit more robust for workers with young children, and expand the state credit to immigrant workers and younger workers.
The North Carolina Justice Center, Budget & Tax Center was awarded $200,000 over two years to support efforts to establish public funding for volunteer tax sites and to seed local power behind establishment of an inclusive, refundable state EITC.
The North Carolina Justice Center, Budget & Tax Center was awarded $125,000 in 2021 to create a state refundable EITC that includes ITIN filers.
Oklahoma Policy Institute was awarded $125,000 in 2021 to restore refundability and expand the existing EITC; to keep the EITC from being further eroded due to budget shortfall; and to increase the existing sales tax relief credit.
Oklahoma Policy Institute was awarded $75,000 in 2020 to implement a targeted legislative and grassroots advocacy strategy to protect and reinstate refundability of the Oklahoma Earned Income Tax Credit.
The The Oklahoma Policy Institute was awarded $50,000 in 2018-2019 to support efforts to continue to raise awareness of the importance of restoring the previously eliminated state EITC. This includes grassroots organizing, listening sessions, advertising in traditional and social media, the creation of on EITC-specific action website and building a new coalition around working family tax credits.
The Oklahoma Policy Institute was awarded $50,000 in 2017-2018 to support efforts to restore the refundability of their state EITC (refundability was eliminated in 2016). The Oklahoma Policy Institute used this award to support a coordinated communications campaign and coalition building efforts.
Oregon Center for Public Policy was awarded $100,000 in 2024 to ensure effective implementation of the new Oregon Kids’ Tax Credit (OKTC), renew the Oregon Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and build support for a transformation of Oregon’s tax filing system.
Oregon Center for Public Policy was awarded $75,000 in 2020 to expand the state credit to immigrant workers and institute an innovative approach to boosting EITC participation.
The Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCPP) was awarded $50,000 for public education and coalition work to expand the state EITC in 2018-2019. With one of the lowest EITC participation rates in the nation, OCPP hopes to raise awareness of the current EITC as well as build allies and raise awareness of the importance of expanding the EITC up to 50% of the federal credit.
Pennsylvania Policy Center was awarded $100,000 in 2024 to continue efforts to build public support for a state EITC.
Espacios Abiertos was awarded $250,000 over two years to support efforts to to ensure that families, particularly female headed households, that are elegible for the newly expanded EITC in Puerto Rico, actually get it.
Vermont Public Assets Institute was awarded $100,00 to support efforts to expand Vermont’s EITC and CTC by increasing benefit levels, broadening eligibility, making multiple payments over the year, and simplifying participation.
The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis was awarded $125,000 to establish a refundable and inclusive state child tax credit in Virginia.
The Washington State Budget & Policy Center was awarded $100,000 in 2024 to support efforts to build on the successful launch of the state Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) to ensure that all eligible households get access by supporting automatic eligibility for households accessing other public benefits such as TANF.
The Washington State Budget & Policy Center was awarded $200,000 over two years to support efforts to successfully implement the newly passed Working Families Tax Credit and move $238 million in cash to 420,000 eligible low-income households.
The Washington State Budget & Policy Center was awarded $50,000 in 2018 to support efforts to fully fund the Working Families Tax Rebate (WFTR) – Washington state’s version of the federal EITC. This award was used to support grassroots campaigns as well as policy, advocacy, and communications efforts, including some paid communications to highlight the WFTR’s benefits as part of a comprehensive revenue reform plan.
The West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy was awarded $50,000 to continue efforts to raise awareness of the importance of a new state EITC. This includes research, analysis and communications (including educational videos, blog posts, op-eds, and social media campaigns) and the ongoing engagement of coalition partners.