Send money directly to low-income Americans,
with no strings attached.
Giving cash is a direct, dignified, and proven way to reduce poverty.
Since 2017, GiveDirectly has delivered unconditional cash transfers to 220,000+ low-income Americans and proven that cash can have positive impacts for people in need. By running some of the country’s largest cash programs, we aim to demonstrate the power of cash to help families build wealth and eliminate poverty in the wealthiest country in the world.
220,000+
families reached
51
states and territories reached
$250M+
delivered
9
programs implemented
Our Partners
Interested in partnering on our work in the U.S.? Get in touch.
Our programs deliver donor and government dollars directly to Americans in need.
We aim to create meaningful change for low-income families while informing the policies that impact them. Our programs include research designed to grow the evidence base around the effects of cash and optimize the design of cash programs across contexts.
ACTIVE Programs
FLINT, MICHIGAN
Cash for Parents and Babies
Rx Kids, the first citywide prenatal and infant cash allowance program in the U.S., aims to reduce child poverty and improve maternal and infant health in Flint.
Transfer Sizes
$1,500 prenatal transfer to expectant parents + $500 monthly for their baby’s first year of life
Households Reached
~6,000 over 5 years
Research Goals
In the first evaluation of a citywide cash program aimed at mothers and babies, we’ll measure impacts at the individual and community level, including on maternal and infant health, local employment and investment, the rate of people moving in and out of Flint, and more.
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GEORGIA
Guaranteed Income Program
In Her Hands is the largest program in the U.S. focused on supporting Black women through no-strings-attached cash transfers and the largest guaranteed income program in the South; led in partnership with the Georgia Resilience and Opportunity (GRO) Fund.
Transfer Sizes
Average of $850 monthly for 2 years
Households Reached
654 to date
Outcomes
In Her Hands aims to support Black women experiencing financial insecurity in Georgia to achieve greater income stability and overcome wealth decelerators. The evaluation of this program uses a mixed methods approach that centers recipients’ voices and aims to generate insights to promote more racially inclusive, just, and sustainable social safety net models and policies in the U.S.
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NATIONWIDE
Emergency Relief
We respond to large-scale natural disasters that threaten the livelihoods of low-income families in the U.S. Since 2017, we’ve distributed one-time emergency cash relief to over 10,000 families in the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, Ian, and Fiona.
Transfer Sizes
Varies by response
Households Reached
11,100 to date
Outcomes
When natural disasters hit, the sooner affected families receive cash, the sooner they can begin to put their lives back together. Through A.I. damage predictions and remote targeting, enrollment, and payment in partnership with Google.org and Propel, we can deliver disaster relief that’s quicker, more targeted, and better for survivors than in-kind aid. Read more→
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COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Guaranteed Income Pilot
In partnership with Cook County, the Cook County Promise Pilot aims to inform the design of a permanent, countywide guaranteed income program.
Transfer Size
$500 monthly for 2 years
Households Reached
3,250
Outcomes
This program will build on the success of guaranteed income programs across the country in increasing residents’ financial stability. The Promise Pilot aims to improve participants’ financial and health outcomes, as well as understand the impacts of direct cash assistance on both individuals and their communities.
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PAST Programs
NATIONWIDE
COVID-19 Response
The largest privately-funded cash transfer program in U.S. history, which reached nearly 200,000 families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Transfer Size
$1,000
Households Reached
Nearly 200,000
Outcomes
Between March 2020 and October 2021, GiveDirectly digitally delivered one-time relief payments to nearly 200,000 low-income households. Recipients waited ~2 days between enrolling in the program and receiving payments. In recipients’ own words, these transfers helped provide fast, flexible relief, allowing them to keep their homes, reduce stress, and avoid debt. Read more→
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Guaranteed Income Pilot
In partnership with the City of Chicago, the Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot delivered monthly financial assistance to city residents and serves as a template for future anti-poverty programs.
Transfer Size
$500 monthly for 1 year
Households Reached
5,000
Outcomes
The City of Chicago is partnering with the University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab on a mixed methods research study to understand how the program affects residents’ financial and overall well-being. There are three aspects of the research: surveys, interviews, and linkages to administrative data, like education records or credit scores. Read more→
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In the News
People use cash to meet short-term needs and unlock future plans.
Giahnni is paying off student debt
“Getting these payments feels amazing, it alleviates a lot of pressure. First thing I want to do is pay people back for helping me out the past few years. And I want to invest in myself. Pay down past-due bills, my student debt as well…I want to go back and finish school at a HBCU.”
Carmen bought food and gas after a hurricane
“You have to throw away all the food when there are power outages, [so] we’re spending $25-30/day for the generator. I spent my transfer on gas for the generator, food, water, and also to pay my bills. I applied for aid from FEMA, but they denied my application.”
Tiesha is saving for an apartment
“I’m working on grounding myself and my life. Set up a credit repayment plan, so they take the money out each month right when I get these $850 payments in. I want things to be good so my kids can come back and live with me. Gonna get a 3 bedroom apartment, a room for the two boys and a room for the two girls.”
Fostelle is supporting his family
“Mostly my plan is to help my mom out right now. Maintain my bills and help her with hers… Once in a lifetime you get something like this. The help is here, it’s nice to know the city does care.”
Cirilo is covering household expenses
“The money will help with my household expenses. I live by myself but I want to help my children more than anything. I am a carpenter and there is not much work. Jobs last one month, one week, or three days. I am grateful more than anything to receive this support.”
Poverty in the U.S.
1 in 5
children live in poverty
1 in 5
Black Americans experience multi-generational poverty
1 in 10
adults live in poverty
1 in 20
deaths in the U.S. are linked to poverty
The U.S. spends about what most wealthy countriesspend on social protection, yet 37.9M Americans are still living in poverty. The U.S. currently has thesecond highest poverty raterelative to national income of any wealthy country in the world.
Much of this social spending is poured into poorly designed programs that carry excessive bureaucratic burden, leaving a quarter of eligible families unable to access the support they need to meet their basic needs and invest in their future. And when programs do reach people in need, they often comes with invasive, time-consuming applications and paternalistic conditions.
We know unconditional cash works to dramatically reduce poverty, without imposing excessive and unhelpful barriers to entry. With your support, we can continue building the case for cash-based government interventions and shift more aid directly into the hands of families in need.
1 in 5
children live in poverty
1 in 10
adults live in poverty
1 in 5
Black Americans experience multi-generational poverty
1 in 20
deaths in the U.S. are linked to poverty
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply to receive money?
At this time, we are not accepting applications for cash transfers. Our U.S. programs are targeted to specific populations, who are then invited to participate in a program. More information here.
If you are currently enrolled in one of our programs, please submit your questions here and we’ll respond within three business days.
If you are currently enrolled and would like to share concerns about your interactions with our staff, please email us here and we will respond as soon as we are able.
Can I choose who receives my donation?
No. As a donor, you cannot choose an individual recipient. Practically speaking, if we did, we would risk being regulated as a money transfer service and losing our charitable status. Philosophically, we work to target people in greatest need, and not those with the most compelling profiles or narratives.
Don’t donations go further overseas?
Objectively, a dollar will have more impact on a Kenyan living on under $2.15/day than an American living on ~$50/day.
However, we believe working in the U.S. gives us an opportunity to create meaningful change in the lives of low-income Americans and the policies that impact them. It also drives innovation and grows donor-support for our international work. Read more on why we work in the U.S.
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