LIFT
LIFT is a U.S. nonprofit providing one-on-one economic mobility coaching, $150 quarterly unrestricted cash transfers, technical assistance, and policy advocacy to underserved families in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., and Richmond.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What LIFT does
LIFT is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that pairs economic mobility coaching with direct cash support to help underserved families break the cycle of poverty. Founded in 2001 (firmographics indicate 1998) and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the organization operates a three-pillar service model: Direct Service (one-on-one coaching plus $150 quarterly unrestricted cash transfers through the Family Goal Fund), Technical Assistance (embedding coaching into hospitals, schools, government agencies, and early childhood programs), and Policy & Advocacy (amplifying family voice to advance economic justice). Services are delivered free of charge in English and Spanish across four metropolitan markets — Chicago, Los Angeles, New York (Bronx), and Washington, D.C. — with a recently launched fifth market in Richmond, Virginia. Member outcomes include an average $17,880 annual income increase, $3,600 savings increase, $4,000 debt decrease, and 92% of members progressing in income or education goals.
LIFT's technology footprint is purpose-built for human services delivery rather than software productization. Key operational components include a Salesforce-based member interest form, the Family Goal Fund cash distribution system (over $1M disbursed across 1,400+ families over 10 years), and the Benefits Explorer Tool, a one-stop online portal that connects families of pediatric patients to anti-poverty public benefits programs and has served roughly 7,000 families through the Medical Financial Partnership with UCLA and the LA County Department of Health Services. Strategic partnerships span healthcare (Harbor-UCLA, LA County DHS), higher education (CUNY across 18 campuses via the EDGE program, Kennedy-King College), government (DC DHS Office of Work Opportunity, City of LA Community Investment for Families Department), and community-based organizations (Martha's Table, Start Early, Rising Tide Capital, The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence).
The organization is funded through a diversified mix of foundation grants (Truist Foundation, Blue Shield of California Foundation, Share Our Strength), corporate sponsorships (Capital One), individual donations across multiple vehicles (one-time, monthly sustaining, donor-advised funds, stock, planned/legacy gifts), and government contracts. LIFT holds a Platinum Transparency designation from GuideStar/Candid and a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, signaling strong financial accountability. Governance is provided by a board of directors, with day-to-day leadership under CEO Michelle Rhone-Collins and a national leadership team that includes a Chief of Strategic Initiatives, Chief Program & Strategy Officer, Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy, and Senior Vice President of Development, alongside regional Executive Directors in each market.
LIFT firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LIFT
- Legal name
- LIFT, Inc.
- Website
- https://whywelift.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- LIFT is a U.S. nonprofit providing one-on-one economic mobility coaching, $150 quarterly unrestricted cash transfers, technical assistance, and policy advocacy to underserved families in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., and Richmond.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LIFT industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Economic Mobility Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services (BPAGAEAK), Dislocated Worker & Rapid Response / Reemployment Programs (EDAAAOAF)
Keywords
Where LIFT is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
LIFT business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Foundation and Corporate Grants: LIFT receives significant grant funding from foundations and corporations. Example: Truist Foundation awarded $500,000 grant to expand services in Richmond, Virginia.
- Individual Donations: LIFT accepts one-time donations, monthly sustaining gifts, donor-advised fund grants, stock donations, and planned/legacy gifts. The organization is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit with Federal Tax ID 52-2168409.
- Government Contracts and Partnerships: LIFT partners with government agencies including DC Department of Human Services, City of Los Angeles' Community Investment for Families Department, providing technical assistance and embedded coaching services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free services for underserved families |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
LIFT product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LIFT is a national nonprofit that empowers families to break the cycle of poverty through three interconnected service pillars: Direct Service (one-on-one economic mobility coaching paired with $150 quarterly unrestricted cash transfers via the Family Goal Fund), Technical Assistance (embedding coaching into hospitals, schools, government agencies, and early childhood programs), and Policy & Advocacy (centering family voice to advance economic justice). All services are provided free of charge to qualifying low-income families and are available in English and Spanish.
Product overview
LIFT is a nonprofit organization offering a three-pillar service model: Direct Service (economic mobility coaching paired with direct cash support), Technical Assistance (embedding coaching in partner institutions), and Policy & Advocacy (driving systemic change). Key program features include the Family Goal Fund providing $150 quarterly cash transfers, Medical-Financial Partnerships integrating coaching into healthcare settings, Entrepreneurship Programs supporting small business development, and CUNY partnerships for student parents. All services are free to families and available in English and Spanish, with outcomes including average income increases of $17,880 and 92% progress in income or education goals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Direct Service LIFT's primary service pairing economic mobility coaching with direct cash support to help families achieve stability. Includes goal-setting across financial stability, career growth, and education/training areas. Free to qualifying low-income families.
- Technical Assistance LIFT partners with hospitals, schools, government, and early childhood programs to embed economic mobility coaching into existing service systems. Includes the Medical Financial Partnership with UCLA/LA County, CUNY EDGE program across 18 campuses, partnerships with Kennedy-King College, Start Early Educare sites, DC Department of Human Services, and LA Community Investment for Families Department.
- Policy & Advocacy LIFT advances policies shaped by families, centering family voice to expand economic justice through locally-grounded advocacy and a national policy agenda. Includes DC Council testimony, coalition work with Fair Budget Coalition, End Child Poverty California, United Way of Greater Los Angeles, and Bronx Leadership & Organizing Center.
- Family Goal Fund Unrestricted cash transfer program providing $150 every three months to families, paired with coaching, to reduce financial stress and accelerate progress toward long-term goals. Over $1M distributed directly to 1,400+ families over 10 years.
Quantifiable outcome
- Average annual income increase of $17,880 among members who make progress
- +8 more outcomes
Companies that use LIFT
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
LIFT technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
LIFT partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and major.
- Martha's TablecoreLIFT and Martha's Table partnership evolved from 2017 referral connection into deeper collaboration focused on systems change. Through training and capacity building, LIFT supports Martha's Table to embed economic mobility coaching into their everyday work.
- DC Department of Human Services' Office of Work OpportunitycoreLIFT-DC partnered with the Office of Work Opportunity to shift from traditional case management to coaching-centered approach for families receiving TANF. Expanded to SNAP Employment & Training team.
- Fair Budget CoalitioncoreLIFT-DC partners with Fair Budget Coalition to advance tax credits and economic mobility policies shaped by family voice.
- UCLA and LA County Department of Health ServicesflagshipMedical Financial Partnership integrating financial coaching directly into pediatric care at Harbor-UCLA and LA County clinics. Strong early results have fueled expansion to additional clinics. Findings published in Pediatrics journal.
- City of Los Angeles' Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD)corePartnership to strengthen financial coaching across citywide systems that serve vulnerable families. Building tailored tools, training, and ongoing support.
- Rising Tide CapitalcorePartnership for entrepreneurship program providing Community Business Academy, coaching, and peer network for entrepreneurs in Los Angeles.
- United Way of Greater Los AngelesmajorCoalition partner working to advance solutions that build long-term financial stability for families in California.
- End Child Poverty CaliforniamajorCoalition partner advocating for policies that strengthen cash assistance and expand access to capital for small businesses.
- CUNY (City University of New York)coreLIFT-NY partnered with CUNY to better support student parents. Grew from Bronx Community College to 18 campuses through EDGE program, equipping advisors with coaching approaches.
- Bronx Leadership & Organizing Center (BLOC)coreCoalition partner advancing policies that better support working families and student parents in NYC.
- Start EarlycoreLong-standing partnership designing and testing two-generation model at Educare sites in Chicago. Multi-layered partnership supporting families, strengthening systems, and expanding through shared policy efforts.
- Kennedy-King College (City Colleges of Chicago)corePartnership supporting student parents in balancing school, work, and family, helping parents persist in education and achieve higher success rates.
- The Network: Advocating Against Domestic ViolencecorePartnership integrating economic coaching into services for IPV survivors, combining direct cash assistance with financial coaching and support.
- Richmond's Office of Community Wealth BuildingmajorGovernment partner for Truist Foundation-funded expansion in Richmond, Virginia, focusing on coaching, financial, and educational support.
- United Planning Organization (UPO)corePartnership on benefits cliff summit to educate DC community on implications of losing benefits when earning more, working collaboratively on legislative and budget actions.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
LIFT competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- National Urban League: Large national civil rights and economic empowerment organization with workforce, education, and financial empowerment programs — overlaps with LIFT's mission but operates at significantly broader geographic and programmatic scale.
- United Way: National umbrella funder/intermediary for family stability, financial coaching, and 211 benefits navigation — overlaps with LIFT's services and convenes many of LIFT's institutional partners (e.g., United Way of Greater Los Angeles).
- UnidosUS (formerly NCLR): National Latino civil rights and advocacy organization with economic mobility programs — comparable mission focus on economic justice and policy advocacy for families, with deeper policy infrastructure than LIFT.
Regional players
- Heartland Alliance: Chicago-based anti-poverty nonprofit offering economic mobility, housing, and benefits services — directly comparable service portfolio to LIFT-Chicago with overlapping regional footprint and target population.
Direct peers
- EMPath (Economic Mobility Pathways): Nonprofit providing economic mobility coaching, direct cash supports, and benefits navigation for low-income families — directly comparable model to LIFT's Direct Service pillar in Boston and nationally.
- Prosperity Now: National nonprofit focused on helping low-income families build wealth and financial stability through coaching, asset-building programs, and policy advocacy — highly comparable mission and multi-pillar approach.
- Single Stop USA: Connects low-income families to public benefits, tax credits, and financial coaching via embedded sites in colleges and community organizations — comparable benefits-navigation and coaching model to LIFT's Benefits Explorer Tool and TA partnerships.
- Compass Working Capital: Provides financial coaching and asset-building services to families with low incomes, including matched savings and benefits access — directly comparable to LIFT's economic mobility coaching and Family Goal Fund.
Emerging players
- Mission Asset Fund: Nonprofit providing zero-interest lending circles and financial coaching to low-income immigrants and families — comparable cash-plus-coaching approach to LIFT's Family Goal Fund but focused more on credit-building.
- Rising Tide Capital: Provides entrepreneurship training and coaching for low-income entrepreneurs through Community Business Academy — LIFT-LA explicitly partners with Rising Tide Capital, making it a close peer in the entrepreneurship pillar.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
LIFT social profiles
Digital presenceLIFT financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LIFT leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
LIFT funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LIFT M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LIFT
What does LIFT do?
LIFT is a national nonprofit that empowers families to break the cycle of poverty through three interconnected service pillars: Direct Service (one-on-one economic mobility coaching paired with $150 quarterly unrestricted cash transfers via the Family Goal Fund), Technical Assistance (embedding coaching into hospitals, schools, government agencies, and early childhood programs), and Policy & Advocacy (centering family voice to advance economic justice). All services are provided free of charge to qualifying low-income families and are available in English and Spanish.
Is LIFT a public or private company?
LIFT is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was LIFT founded?
LIFT was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is LIFT based?
LIFT is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does LIFT make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Foundation and Corporate Grants are the primary driver. The others are individual Donations and government Contracts and Partnerships.
Who are LIFT's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are National Urban League, United Way and UnidosUS (formerly NCLR). Heartland Alliance is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are EMPath (Economic Mobility Pathways), Prosperity Now, Single Stop USA and Compass Working Capital. Emerging players are Mission Asset Fund and Rising Tide Capital.
Does LIFT have an API?
No public API is recorded for LIFT.
What industry is LIFT in?
LIFT's product category is Economic Mobility Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAC, Family & Parenting Support Services, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAK, Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services. Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.