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

logo
Program Features  
Number of Participants155 individuals
Amount$500
Frequencymonthly
Program DatesSeptember 2022-August 2023
EligibilityMadison 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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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

gender

Male

15%

Female

82%

Other

3%

marital status

Married

16%

Single

74%

Partnered/In-Relationship

10%

children in household

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%

ethnicity

Hispanic

18%

Non-Hispanic

82%

primary language at home

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.

Start of Covid-19 PandemicJan 2019MarMayJulSepNovJan 2020MarMayJulSepNovJan 2021MarMayJulSepNovJan 2022MarMayJulSepNovJan 2023MarMayJulSepNovJan 2024MarMayJulSepNovJan 2025MarMayJulSepNovJan 202602468101214161820Unemployment02468101214161820Inflation
Unemployment  
Inflation  
Pilot Timeline
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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%).

Mai Kaw

“This is humanizing. I don’t feel stuck. That is a huge, huge mental break. I feel like I am alive. I am proud to be a mom, and I am proud to be American."

Mai Kaw

Madison Forward Fund

Madison, WI

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