How everyone can climb the economic ladder and achieve their American dream
It’s time to empower everyone to discover their skills, pursue their passions, and unleash innovation and progress from the bottom-up.
Millions think the American dream is a myth. And the typical attempts to uplift people too often make things worse.
Break barriers blocking people from finding jobs, starting businesses, and solving big challenges like poverty.
Our partners aim to solve the root causes of poverty, spur innovation, and close the opportunity gap.
1 million people breaking the cycle of poverty, 2 million jobseekers empowered, and 125 policy victories in 2021 alone.
The American promise is simple: Where you begin in life shouldn’t dictate where you end up.
Generations have climbed the economic ladder, spurring the innovation that has benefited us all. But now the economy is faltering, putting opportunity out of reach for millions of people and stifling society’s progress.
Stand Together is tackling this challenge with partners who are building an economy where everyone can achieve their American dream.
There’s no such thing as an ordinary person. Everyone is capable of extraordinary things.
The Challenge
This crisis has been building for decades.
Policymakers, business leaders, and philanthropists have increasingly tried to control progress and create opportunities, instead of trusting people from all walks of life to do so. This top-down approach has failed — and its costs are astounding.
Annual federal spending for each person in poverty — more than $1 trillion total, but the poverty rate has hardly budged
Drop in new business formation over the past 30 years, showing a faltering economy
Annual lost income for American families due to government regulations
Attempts to solve poverty have made it easier to endure, but harder to escape. Government economic restrictions and regulations on what people can and can’t do cost Americans $13,000 in lost income every year, while crippling start-ups and small businesses. And big businesses lobby for subsidies, bailouts, tax breaks, and other corporate welfare, propping themselves up at everyone’s expense.
Of Americans think the system is rigged. They’re right.
Americans are unhappy with the status quo. At Stand Together, we know there’s a better way.
The Partnerships
Our work to promote a fair economy started with a handful of efforts to ensure a level playing field for all.
Now we work with a vast array of partners to unleash a new era of economic progress. Our efforts promote a culture of innovation, optimism, and opportunity for all. Everything we and our partners do empowers people to rise.
Community-based groups tackling the root causes of poverty
Scholars researching the barriers to opportunity and the best ways to break them
Organizations providing economic opportunities and workforce training
Innovators developing cutting-edge advances in health care, energy, housing, and other fields
Grassroots activists promoting economic opportunity
Our partnerships span every aspect of society. These mutually reinforcing efforts help our partners do more good for more people — and drive lasting change.
The Progress
In collaboration with our partners, Stand Together is building momentum to transform the economy.
Our partners are making it significantly easier for people to climb the economic ladder, realize their incredible potential, and contribute to society’s progress.
People in poverty who our partners are empowering to rise
Workers connected with job opportunities yearly, through workforce development programs
Other partners are also achieving substantial policy victories — stopping measures that stifle economic progress while supporting measures that empower jobseekers, entrepreneurs, and families.
Jobseekers and entrepreneurs freed from occupational licenses, enabling them to find jobs and start businesses
Pro-progress policies passed in 2021 alone — from rolling back unnecessary regulations to cutting taxes
Many barriers still stand in the way of true economic progress and innovation that would dramatically improve lives. We’ll keep strengthening and multiplying our partnerships to make the American dream a reality for all.
An unbelievably better future is possible. Empowering everyone is the key to reaching it.
