Campaign for American Workers

The Rockefeller Foundation’s $70 million Campaign for American Worker supports the development of new rules and tools for the 21st century economy through innovative products and policies to increase economic security within the U.S. workforce, particularly among poor and vulnerable workers. NY Times story | Time coverage | Executive summary | Press release

Why do 78% of Americans believe we need a new social contract? Time has released the landmark Rockefeller Foundation/Time Survey, a wide-ranging gauge of Americans’ perceptions regarding their economic security. This groundbreaking poll of 2,008 Americans highlights potential paths for resolving the current economic crisis. Judith Rodin on CNN | Read more

Supporting Economic Security
Featured Grantees: Developing Policy and Products

The Tax Policy Center is analyzing how tax policies affect retirement security.

The Freelancers Union models affordable health and retirement plans for independent workers.

Qvisory offers online advocacy to support health, savings, and debt products for Americans, aged 18-34.
› More Grantees
Other Areas of Work
Policy | Products | Data and Communication
Campaign Coverage

Now Is No Time to Skimp on Retirement Plans
June 5, 2009, WSJ op-ed by Janice M. Nittoli
...before we can make the situation better we need to stop making it worse.

Recession Hits Young Adults in US Hardest
April 8, 2009; Qvisory, Press release
Survey paints grim picture for those entering the workforce now. Coverage: US News; MSNBC

Freelancers Union: In Search of Safety Net
April 1, 2009; PBS NewsHour: transcript & video
A former labor lawyer has organized freelancers into a union that offers affordable health insurance...

In From the Cold?
March 12, 2009; The Economist -- Excerpt
Capitalism’s crisis gives the labour movement a chance to revive and reinvent itself

Story of the Week 7/2/09
Mexico Challenges Calls to Buy American
The Rockefeller Foundation has funded Public Radio International (PRI) to expand coverage and increase awareness of economic security in the American workforce.  This week’s story

Campaign Objectives
  • Develop portable, affordable products that provide adequate health coverage, savings opportunities and retirement security to poor and vulnerable workers
  • Ascertain the extent to which economic security is increasing or decreasing within the United States and how this insecurity affects different parts of the population
  • Frame economic security as a universal problem that affects all working Americans, while advancing solutions that intentionally and effectively serve poor and vulnerable populations
  • Identify and publicize the fiscal trade-offs and distributional consequences of current and proposed policies that target economic security within the U.S. workforce
  • Advance policy proposals that will increase economic security within the U.S. workforce.
FEATURED GRANTEE
Strengthening Social Security for Vulnerable Groups

Overview           Full report
FEATURED GRANTEE

The Rising-tide Tax System

A Rockefeller Foundation/
Time Survey: Gauging Americans’ perceptions regarding their economic security

VIDEO
Video from Doorways to Dreams: A 'new' tool to boost savings for low-income workers

Judith Rodin discusses the Rockefeller Foundation/Time Survey on CNN | transcript