LIFT

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.

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

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

• Economic mobility coaching
• Anti-poverty nonprofit services
• Direct cash assistance
• Two-generation family support
• Financial coaching programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core 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

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and major.

• Martha's TablecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIFT 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 OpportunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIFT-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 CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIFT-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 ServicesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to strengthen financial coaching across citywide systems that serve vulnerable families. Building tailored tools, training, and ongoing support.
• Rising Tide CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for entrepreneurship program providing Community Business Academy, coaching, and peer network for entrepreneurs in Los Angeles.
• United Way of Greater Los AngelesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner working to advance solutions that build long-term financial stability for families in California.
• End Child Poverty CaliforniamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner advocating for policies that strengthen cash assistance and expand access to capital for small businesses.
• CUNY (City University of New York)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIFT-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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner advancing policies that better support working families and student parents in NYC.
• Start EarlycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting student parents in balancing school, work, and family, helping parents persist in education and achieve higher success rates.
• The Network: Advocating Against Domestic ViolencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership integrating economic coaching into services for IPV survivors, combining direct cash assistance with financial coaching and support.
• Richmond's Office of Community Wealth BuildingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for Truist Foundation-funded expansion in Richmond, Virginia, focusing on coaching, financial, and educational support.
• United Planning Organization (UPO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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

Broad 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

• Xx.com/LIFTcommunities
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/liftcommunities
• Facebookfacebook.com/LIFTcommunities
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lift-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/liftcommunities

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LIFT