Madison Forward Fund
Madison Forward Fund was launched in 2022 by Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway.
155
participants
$500
monthly payment
1 Year
duration
$930,000
invested in community
| Program Features | |
|---|---|
| Number of Participants | 155 individuals |
| Amount | $500 |
| Frequency | monthly |
| Program Dates | September 2022-August 2023 |
| Eligibility | Madison residents 18 and older with a household income less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Line, and with a child under 18 years old living at home. |
About the Madison Forward Fund
The Madison Forward Fund (MFF) is a year-long guaranteed income program, providing $500 monthly payments to 155 Madison residents. We know families are still reeling from the pandemic, struggling with rising income inequality, a shortage of childcare and increasing inflation. MFF is founded on the belief that people experiencing financial hardship are best positioned to make informed decisions that efficiently address their household's needs. The Program invests in low-income families, providing the autonomy and flexibility of unrestricted financial support. MFF will also examine the impact on participants’ health and wellbeing, civic engagement, and workforce participation, helping to provide proof of concept for a national policy. The program is a partnership of the City of Madison, Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, TASC, the Institute for Research on Poverty at University of Wisconsin–Madison, and the Center for Guaranteed Income Research at the University of Pennsylvania. The direct cash assistance is funded entirely by private donors and philanthropic organizations.
Pilot concluded in 2023.
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COMMUNITY FEATURES
$44,797
$38,000
Median household income
21.2%
20%
Poverty rate
37.3%
31%
Housing burden
31.2%
40%
Childcare cost burden
8.5%
8%
Unemployment rate
STOCKTON
STATE MEDIAN
Demographic Data for Study Participants
Median Annual Household income
MFF
$14,378
Madison, WI
$73,647
Annual Household Income (Mean)
$16,267
Sample Size
146
Avg. Age of Respondent
36
Avg. Children in Household
2
Avg. Household Size
4
gendermarital statuschildren in household
Male
15%
Female
82%
Other
3%
Married
16%
Single
74%
Partnered/In-Relationship
10%
Yes
100%
No
0%
race
White
23%
African American
49%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0%
Asian
5%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
Latino
3%
Other/Mixed
21%
ethnicityprimary language at home
Hispanic
18%
Non-Hispanic
82%
English
88%
Spanish
10%
Other
2%
Economic Context for Pilot Participants
The guaranteed income pilot launched during a period of dynamic change and economic challenges for pilot participants. The chart below situates this pilot in the context of unemployment and inflation.
Unemployment
Inflation
Pilot Timeline
Spending Breakdown
The data in this pie chart shows aggregate spending for guaranteed income participants in Madison, WI. This includes all non-cash expenditures from the participants' pre-paid debit card that is loaded with guaranteed income payments monthly.
Spending breakdown
Retail sales and services accounted for the largest share of spending, at 28.8%, followed by Food and groceries (26.7%) and Transport related expenses (15.97%).
