From the Urban Institute's Upward Mobility framework

Empowering Upward Mobility

At Rochester Area Community Foundation, we are deeply committed to fostering upward mobility in our community. We agree with the Urban Institute’s definition of Upward mobility which includes the ability to improve your financial situation, make decisions about your own life, and feel included and valued in your community. The goal of this work is to help individuals move beyond economic security, to where people have adequate income and assets to support their and their family’s well-being.  

Community support for the Upward Mobility Fund is driving meaningful change and positioning us as leaders in this important work. Here are some recent developments and stories of impact.

National Recognition and New Tools for Upward Mobility

In September 2024, the Foundation was selected by CFLeads, a premier national resource for community foundations, to participate in the Economic Mobility Action Network. This cohort program is designed to help us build up the technical skills and knowledge to be more effective changemakers and community partners. Our staff will learn from peers and experts about proven strategies for engaging residents, working across sectors, collecting and using data, and marshalling resources to meet community needs. We will leverage resources from this national initiative to develop local strategies that increase upward mobility in our region. 

Additionally, our team has adopted the Urban Institute’s Upward Mobility Framework to guide our discretionary grantmaking and initiatives portfolio, which uses 24 metrics to help understand current conditions, change policies and practices, and track progress. These measures help us focus on initiatives that foster long-term economic success, autonomy, dignity, and belonging. 

Recent Grantmaking Highlights 

Reconnect Rochester – Transportation Impact Collective ($14,700) 

Reconnect Rochester’s Transportation Impact Collective (TIC) addresses transportation challenges by focusing on systemic solutions to create a community where people can move around easily and safely, regardless of economic status or physical ability. The TIC helps create opportunity-rich neighborhoods and ensure that all residents have access to jobs, education, healthcare, and other critical services. This grant is our first major investment in the Collective, which is laying the foundation for healthier, more inclusive communities in Rochester. 

Empire Justice Center’s CASH Program – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance ($50,000) 

Empire Justice’s CASH Program provides free tax preparation and financial education to low-income families, particularly those from diverse and marginalized backgrounds. The program employs bilingual staff and contracts with American Sign Language interpreters to be culturally responsive to the residents it serves. One success story involves a single mother of three who hadn’t filed taxes in four years. After working with a CASH volunteer for just five hours, she walked away with $14,000 in tax refunds. These dollars gave her stability and peace of mind for the months ahead. CASH stands for Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope — and that’s just what the program does.

Wayne County Action Program – STEADY Work Youth Program ($20,000)

STEADY Work Youth Program, operated by Wayne County Action Program, provides comprehensive support to at-risk youth ages 14 to 24 through paid pre-apprenticeships and wraparound services. The program, which serves over 400 youth annually, pairs participants with case managers who develop individualized plans and match them with local employers for paid internships where they earn livable wages while building crucial skills. With a proven track record of increasing youth employment by 10% and expanding business partnerships by 20%, the program effectively combines job training, academic support, and social-emotional development to help youth become independent, thriving community members, ultimately leading to higher graduation rates, sustained employment, and reduced risk factors among participants.

Looking Ahead 

The stories above highlight how contributions from you and your clients can combine with other resources to create real pathways to upward mobility. With your partnership, we can do even more. 

We invite you and your clients to support this transformative work through the Upward Mobility Fund. Your generosity fuels innovative programs that break down barriers, provide resources, and create opportunities for all. 

As we build on this framework and expand our efforts in the coming years, we invite you to dream with us about the impact that additional resources could have — not just for Rochester, but for our entire region. Together, we can amplify opportunity, access, and stability for countless individuals and families across the community.