Economic Security Project
Economic Security Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 that convenes academics, organizers, and practitioners to advocate for guaranteed income, expanded tax credits, affordability, and antimonopoly policy through campaigns, state affiliates, and field-building, with measurable wins across 35 states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Economic Security Project does
Economic Security Project (ESP) is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 2016 by Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes and Natalie Foster, alongside more than 100 entrepreneurs, activists, researchers, and philanthropists. The organization convenes academics, organizers, practitioners, donors, and culture makers to advance four policy work areas: guaranteed income, cash tax credits, affordability, and shaping markets (antimonopoly). Its portfolio comprises eight active campaigns (Federal CTC and EITC, State CTC and EITC, Combating the Price Crisis, Tax Fight 2026, Free and Simplified Tax Filing, Universal Public Childcare, Public Options, and Cash as Care), two state affiliates (Economic Security California and Economic Security Illinois), and the annual Guaranteed Income Now conference. ESP has invested over $25 million cumulatively into research, pilots, coalitions, and narrative work since inception.
The organization does not develop technology products. Its outputs are policy research, coalition organizing, campaign execution, and field convening, with measurable wins including the expanded Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan (2021), IRS Direct File scaled to 25 states reaching an estimated 32 million taxpayers (2024-2025), 18 states passing cash-boosting tax credits in 2023, 22 states plus DC enacting new or expanded tax credits, California AB 325 against algorithmic price collusion, and support for 100+ guaranteed income pilots reaching 75,000+ participants across 35 states. ESP operates as a virtual office with staff distributed nationally and a mailing headquarters at 228 Park Avenue South, New York. It raises funds through foundation grants and individual donations.
ESP's business model is philanthropic, not commercial: it accepts charitable contributions (federal ID 85-3888872) and deploys them into grants, research, and direct advocacy. It is governed by a Board chaired by Chris Hughes, with co-founder Natalie Foster also serving on the board, alongside board members from Springboard to Opportunities, Community Change, and the Roosevelt Institute. Day-to-day operations are led by Executive Director Taylor Jo Isenberg.
Economic Security Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Economic Security Project
- Legal name
- Economic Security Project
- Website
- https://economicsecurityproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Economic Security Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 that convenes academics, organizers, and practitioners to advocate for guaranteed income, expanded tax credits, affordability, and antimonopoly policy through campaigns, state affiliates, and field-building, with measurable wins across 35 states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Economic Security Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Policy Advocacy
- NAICS
- Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ), Trade, Industry & Economic Development Administration (BPAIAAAL)
Keywords
Where Economic Security Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Economic Security Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Others, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Foundation Grants and Philanthropic Funding: ESP receives support from foundations and philanthropists to fund research, campaigns, and field-building initiatives. The organization was founded by over 100 entrepreneurs, activists, researchers, and philanthropists.
- Individual Donations: 100% of donations go to advancing strategies for an economy that works for everyone. ESP is a 501(c)(3) public charity with federal ID 85-3888872.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Economic Security Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Economic Security Project is a nonprofit policy advocacy organization that catalyzes ideas to build economic power for all Americans. It runs issue campaigns, develops research products, and convenes academics, organizers, practitioners, donors, and culture makers to advance policies around four work areas: guaranteed income, cash tax credits, affordability, and antimonopoly/shaping markets. The organization also operates state affiliates in California and Illinois and convenes the annual Guaranteed Income Now conference.
Product overview
The Economic Security Project is a policy advocacy organization, not a software product company. Its offerings consist of a portfolio of issue campaigns, research initiatives, and state-level affiliates organized around four core work areas: Guaranteed Income advocacy (promoting unconditional cash payments), Cash Tax Credits advocacy (expanding EITC and CTC), Affordability (addressing broken markets and incomes), and Shaping Markets/Antimonopoly (countering corporate consolidation). These are executed through national campaigns (Federal CTC/EITC, State CTC/EITC, Tax Fight 2026, Combating the Price Crisis, Free Tax Filing, Universal Childcare, Public Options, Cash as Care) and two state affiliates (Economic Security California and Economic Security Illinois). The organization also convenes the annual Guaranteed Income Now conference and publishes research products including the Affordability Framework, Direct File reports, and policy briefs. There are no software products, applications, or technology platforms offered.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Guaranteed Income Now Conference Annual convening of guaranteed income advocates, practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to coordinate activities and share learning across the field.
- Economic Security California California-focused state affiliate working on guaranteed income pilots, state tax credits (CalEITC, Young Child Tax Credit), and antimonopoly policy in California.
- Economic Security Illinois Illinois-focused state affiliate advocating for cash programs, tax credits, and market-shaping initiatives including public options such as grocery stores.
- Guaranteed Income Advocacy Program Ongoing policy advocacy and coalition-building service to promote guaranteed income policies, including research on pilot programs such as the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) and Magnolia Mother's Trust.
- Cash Tax Credits Advocacy Program Campaign service to expand and modernize the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC), including advocacy for monthly payments and broader eligibility.
- Affordability Initiative Research and advocacy service addressing the dual drivers of unaffordability through broken markets and broken incomes, including the Affordability Framework diagnostic tool.
- Shaping Markets / Antimonopoly Program Advocacy service to counter corporate consolidation and monopoly power through research, coalition-building, and policy interventions, including the Public Options for America Fund.
- Free and Simplified Tax Filing Campaign Campaign service advocating for IRS Direct File, a free public tax filing option, and opposing commercial tax preparation companies.
Quantifiable outcome
- Child poverty decreased significantly in 2021 due in part to CTC expansion
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Economic Security Project
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Economic Security Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Economic Security Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Mayors for a Guaranteed IncomecoreMayors for a Guaranteed Income joined the New Jersey Cash Alliance, a coalition of more than a dozen organizations advocating for cash-based policies to support families in New Jersey. Coalition members argue that cash assistance programs have proven effective at reducing poverty and economic inequality.
- United Way of Greater NewarkcorePart of the New Jersey Cash Alliance coalition advocating for cash-based policies to support families in New Jersey, building on existing guaranteed income pilots and the state Child Tax Credit.
- New Jersey Citizen ActioncoreCoalition partner in New Jersey Cash Alliance advocating for cash-based policies to support families in New Jersey, building on existing guaranteed income pilots.
- Code for AmericacoreCoalition partner in Free and Fair Filing coalition. Code for America works shoulder to shoulder with community organizations and government to build digital tools and services, change policies, and improve programs.
- Center for the Study of Social PolicycoreCoalition partner working to achieve a racially, economically, and socially just society in which all children, youth, and families thrive.
- Groundwork CollaborativecoreCoalition partner fighting to change economic policy and narratives to build public power, break up concentrations of private power, and deliver opportunity and prosperity for all.
- NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social JusticecoreFaith-based political advocacy coalition partner that prioritizes racial equity and thriving lives for all people and communities.
- Public CitizencoreNonprofit consumer advocacy coalition partner championing the public interest in the halls of power.
- RESULTScoreCoalition partner - a movement of passionate, committed everyday people using their voices to influence political decisions that will bring an end to poverty.
- Community ChangecoreHost sponsor for Guaranteed Income Now conference. National organization that builds the power of low-income people, especially people of color, to fight for a society where everyone can thrive.
- UpTogethercoreHost sponsor and systems change organization working to disrupt the status quo approach to ending poverty. Co-host of Guaranteed Income Now conference.
- TechEquitycoreCalifornia-based partner working on AI and Affordability initiatives, helping develop the California Antimonopoly Table.
- Illinois Climate BankcorePartner for Illinois grocery initiative and community development projects in Economic Security Illinois work.
- Springboard to OpportunitiescoreCommunity-based organization implementing the Magnolia Mother's Trust program providing $1,000/month to Black mothers in Jackson, MS.
- City of StocktoncorePartner for Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) - America's first mayor-led guaranteed income pilot providing $500/month to 125 families.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Economic Security Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Open Society Foundations: Large global grantmaking foundation that funds economic justice, tax fairness, and antimonopoly work. Functions as both a peer (in setting economic security narrative) and a likely funder of ESP-aligned grantees.
- Center for Economic and Policy Research: Established left-leaning economic policy think tank producing research on inequality, labor, and social policy. Operates in a broader macro-economic mandate than ESP but with substantial overlap on tax credit, wage, and antimonopoly analysis.
- New America Foundation: Large nonpartisan policy institute with programs covering economic policy, labor, and family supports. A broader incumbent in the economic policy think tank space, with overlapping work on child tax credits, family economic security, and AI-and-work policy.
Direct peers
- Mayors for a Guaranteed Income: Coalition of mayors running guaranteed income pilots, co-founded alongside ESP and a core ESP coalition partner. Operates the same policy niche (mayor-led cash assistance) and shares staff networks and funders with ESP.
- Public Citizen: National consumer advocacy nonprofit and ESP coalition partner on free and fair tax filing. Comparable as a multi-issue advocacy shop using research, litigation, and coalition campaigns to influence federal economic and regulatory policy.
- Groundwork Collaborative: ESP coalition partner focused on changing economic policy and narratives around corporate power, tax fairness, and worker power. Operates a near-identical advocacy and narrative-shifting model to ESP's Shaping Markets and Affordability work.
- Code for America: Nonprofit that builds digital tools for government benefit programs; ESP coalition partner on the Free and Simplified Tax Filing campaign. Comparable in deploying a mix of research, advocacy, and product-style interventions to improve public benefits delivery.
- Community Change: National organizing group for low-income people and people of color, whose Co-President (Dorian Warren) serves on ESP's board. Co-hosts ESP's Guaranteed Income Now conference and shares ESP's cash assistance and tax credit policy agenda.
- Roosevelt Institute: Progressive economic policy think tank whose President & CEO (Felicia Wong) sits on ESP's board as Treasurer. Roosevelt conducts research and advocacy on economic inequality, labor, and antitrust — directly overlapping with ESP's Shaping Markets and Cash Tax Credits work.
- Springboard to Opportunities: Mississippi-based nonprofit running the Magnolia Mother's Trust guaranteed income program, an ESP partner; its CEO (Aisha Nyandoro) sits on ESP's board. Operates at the implementation end of ESP's guaranteed income advocacy, providing the on-the-ground pilots ESP elevates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Economic Security Project social profiles
Digital presenceEconomic Security Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Economic Security Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Economic Security Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
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Economic Security Project 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 Economic Security Project
What does Economic Security Project do?
Economic Security Project is a nonprofit policy advocacy organization that catalyzes ideas to build economic power for all Americans. It runs issue campaigns, develops research products, and convenes academics, organizers, practitioners, donors, and culture makers to advance policies around four work areas: guaranteed income, cash tax credits, affordability, and antimonopoly/shaping markets. The organization also operates state affiliates in California and Illinois and convenes the annual Guaranteed Income Now conference.
Is Economic Security Project a public or private company?
Economic Security Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Economic Security Project founded?
Economic Security Project was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Economic Security Project based?
Economic Security Project is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Economic Security Project make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Foundation Grants and Philanthropic Funding is the primary driver. The others are individual Donations.
Who are Economic Security Project's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Open Society Foundations, Center for Economic and Policy Research and New America Foundation. Direct peers are Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, Public Citizen, Groundwork Collaborative, Code for America, Community Change, Roosevelt Institute and Springboard to Opportunities.
Does Economic Security Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Economic Security Project.
What industry is Economic Security Project in?
Economic Security Project's product category is Nonprofit Policy Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAN, Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPADAMAJ, Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory. Its NAICS code is 8133 and its SIC code is 8300.