The End of an Era- Announcing the Closure of the EITC Pooled Fund
After thirteen incredible years, the EITC Pooled Fund will close at the end of 2025.
Launched in 2012 by Economic Opportunity Funders and the Tax Equity Network, the EITC Pooled Fund has awarded more than $9 million to organizations in 36 states and 11 national networks to advance economic opportunity for low-income workers and their families across the country through the defense, creation, and expansion of state and federal tax credits.
Awardees have been among the first to promote the expansion of the EITC to younger and older workers as well as to immigrant workers or those who file with an individual taxpayer identification number. Beyond improving existing state tax credits, the Fund has helped support the creation of at least twelve new tax credits in states across the country. Thanks to these efforts, hundreds of thousands of low-income families will get more money back at tax time to help purchase food and school supplies, pay for rent, child care, and health care, enroll in school, and afford other essentials. A record of our work together can be found on the EOF website.
We express deep appreciation to the charitable foundations that have contributed to the Pooled Fund over the years:
- The Annie E. Casey Foundation
- Bernard and Anne Spitzer Charitable Trust
- The Rockefeller Foundation
- Wellspring Philanthropic Fund
- W.K. Kellogg Foundation
We’d also like to thank the Pooled Fund Technical Assistance partners, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and The Hatcher Group, for their leadership, guidance, and support of the field.
The Fund is not closing due to a lack of support in the philanthropic sector. In fact, the opposite may be true. When the Fund launched in 2012, there were very few philanthropic resources dedicated to policy, advocacy, and communications work on state tax credits. Multiple individual philanthropic efforts and pooled funds now actively prioritize and resource state and federal tax credit work.
We step away with deep gratitude and immense pride that a thriving field of tax credit advocacy now exists for this vital work and will continue to deliver economic security for low-income workers and families nationwide for years to come.
Working together to increase public support for the federal and state EITC, CTC and other tax credits.
Launched in 2012, the EITC Pooled Fund has awarded more than $9 million to organizations in 36 states and 11 national networks helping to advance economic opportunity for low-income workers and their families across the country through the creation and expansion of tax credits. Economic Opportunity Funders and the EITC Funders Network administer and oversee the State EITC Rapid Response, Campaign and Policy Development Fund and the Federal EITC Campaign Fund to advance tax fairness and economic opportunity for low-income workers and families through the promotion, protection and expansion of the federal and state EITC, CTC and other tax credits. The four funds – together known as the EITC Pooled Fund – are guided by an advisory group, supported by five national funders and administered by EOF and the EITC Funders Network in partnership with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and The Hatcher Group.
To date, $9,477,000 has been awarded to organizations in 36 states and 11 national networks: $8,132,000 in state EITC rapid response, campaign, and policy development funds and $1,345,000 in federal EITC campaign funds.
Rapid Response Fund
The EITC Rapid Response Fund (EITC RRF) was established in 2012 and focuses on quick infusions of support to help an existing effort overcome a communications challenge or opportunity. Awards range from $15,000-$30,000.
Campaign Fund
The EITC Campaign Fund (EITC CF) was established in 2017 and focuses on supporting a year-long effort where a window of opportunity to promote or defend a state EITC seems urgent. Awards are made in the early Fall and range from $30,000-$50,000.
Policy Development Fund
The EITC Policy Development Fund (EITC PDF) was established in 2015 and provides multi-year support to state-based policy groups laying the groundwork to develop or improve state EITCs. Awards are made in the early Fall at $75,000 a year for two years.
In 2022, the Pooled Fund celebrated 10 years of supporting the protection and expansion of state EITCs.
A Decade of Advancing Tax Fairness and Economic Opportunity
Read our 10-Year Report to learn more about the EITC Polled Fund’s history, structure, impact, lessons learned, and the work that lies ahead.
EITC Pooled Fund Timeline
View our 10-Year Timeline of activities to advance tax fairness and economic opportunity for low-income workers and families through promotion, protection, and expansion of the federal and state EITC, CTC, and other tax credits.