The American Dream

The American Dream Overview

Did you know The Rockefeller Foundation is working with communities across the United States to expand opportunity by strengthening tax systems, unlocking capital for small businesses, and investing in innovation that supports both people and planet?

In this chapter, we look at the Economic Opportunity Coalition, a groundbreaking collaboration incubated by the Foundation that brings together unlikely partners, corporate giants, community organizations, and bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress to help America’s small businesses access capital and customers.

We also share lessons from our work with Invest in Our Future, a philanthropic coalition helping communities unlock investments for clean energy, and explore how, through our Big Bets for America initiatives, which aim to unlock job development, education, and more, ensuring that everyone benefits from progress.

Read the full chapter to learn more about what we are doing and lessons learned along the way.

Deep Dive:

Economic Opportunity Coalition

Every working person in the United States should be able to meet their family’s financial needs and have a path to a better future. But right now, too many people and communities are falling behind — deepening a wealth gap that has cost the United States $22.9 trillion over the last 30 years. One tool for closing that gap is increasing opportunities for economically underserved small businesses (defined as businesses that are majority owned by or employ low-income people, located in low-income census tracts, or otherwise lack access to capital at an affordable rate).

To help, since 2022 the Foundation has supported (and later incubated via RF Catalytic Capital) the Economic Opportunity Coalition (EOC), a groundbreaking collaboration that brings together unlikely partners — from corporate giants to community organizations, and with bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress — to help America’s small businesses access capital and customers.

Optus spent nearly three years helping Dr. Damon Daniels open his new office location. Now he serves 14,000 patients. (Photo Credit: Masha Hamilton)

Today, the Economic Opportunity Coalition has partnered with more than 30 foundations and corporations to invest in economically undeserved individuals and communities — for example, Goldman Sachs, which created a $140 million warehouse credit facility for small business loan, and American Express, which committed $35 million in equity investments to mission-driven financial institutions.

Securing those commitments was not easy. By overcoming stigma and bringing unlikely partners together, the EOC has opened doors for investment in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) like Optus Bank in Columbia, South Carolina, which was founded with the mission to fuel businesses that create jobs and build a better future for their communities. Thanks to RFCC and the EOC, Optus has seen explosive growth, with its deposits increasing from $50 million in 2022 to $662 million in 2024, and has supported economic opportunities across 48 states.

With EOC’s progress, it is being positioned to spin-off as an independent entity in Summer 2025. That progress is thanks to its ability to cultivate and lean on partners around the country, united by a single vision of a country where every American can build a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities. We hope the EOC can act as a beacon for future changemakers by demonstrating how bridging divides and working together can keep the American Dream alive.

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grantee spotlight story

Stories from the field: Oregon

A civic assembly considers youth homelessness — and democracy.

It was the death of her father that triggered the events that left Brenda Gail Hudson homeless as a teenager and struggling with addiction to drugs and alcohol.

Brenda is now 12 years clean, and using her lived experiences to contribute to policy ideas to combat youth homelessness as part of a Citizens’ Assembly in Oregon.

The assembly was part of the Foundation’s work to foster democratic innovations to bridge differences and nurture dialogue. In Oregon, this resulted in 22 core recommendations.

“It’s the first time in my life that I ever felt my voice mattered.” — Brenda Gail Hudson

read the grantee impact story

Brenda Gail Hudson, who lived on the streets herself as a teenager, was among the Citizens' Assemby participants (Photo Credit Masha Hamilton)

Brenda Gail Hudson, who lived on the streets herself as a teenager. (Photo Credit: Masha Hamilton)

Transformational Numbers

Opportunity Results

In 2024, our U.S. Economic Opportunity and Innovation teams, along with our grantees, helped Americans find new ways to thrive. This work is strengthening communities and ensuring that workers have access to the resources needed to unlock the American Dream.

14.4kAdvocates
trained or supported to mobilize support for a pro-working family tax system
5.2Million
U.S. tax filers benefited from programs to increase tax credits and help navigate tax systems
$208Million
mobilized to advance the United States' climate and pro-working tax efforts

On Reflection

What We Are Learning From Our U.S. Economic Opportunity Work

As the gap widens between data owners and data users, longer, stronger bridges are needed to unlock data for social good.

Utilizing data to inform advocacy efforts has the power to enhance credibility and effectiveness in influencing policy outcomes. At the same time, the rapid evolution of data science and AI necessitates continuous adaptation of ethical strategies to remain relevant and drive the impact we hope to see.

While we prioritize staying current as technology transforms and social needs evolve, we must ensure that we are being thoughtful in promoting ethical data management approaches throughout this evolution.

Kristen Crowell and Carolyn Martinez-Class talk during a convening of leaders working on state tax campaigns in August 2023. (Photo Courtesy of Kristen Crowell)

Download the American Dream chapter or our full impact report now.

Download the American dream chapter

Download the full 2024 Impact Report

Jump to Other Chapters

CH.01

Power Results

Reliable Power

Abundant energy is out of reach for billions of people. Our mission is clear: to ensure everyone on the planet can access the power needed to unlock a brighter future.

CH.02

Food Results

Good Food

Too often, food in the United States and around the world contributes to poor health for both people and the planet. This needs to change.

CH.04

Finance Results

Catalytic Finance

The world has no shortage of solutions to improve human well-being, but it lacks sufficient financing to scale them. We’re taking steps to improve that.

CH.05

Health Results

Resilient Health

Around the world, people are facing mounting and increasingly complex threats to their health. These crises call for new partnerships that can build a resilient approach to today’s health threats.

CH.OV

Overview

2024 Impact Report

Delivering results for people in the United States and around the world has not been easy. Across energy, food, health, finance, and economic opportunity, the Foundation uses its convening power to show that collaboration is the fastest route to impact.

Delivering Results:
The American Dream