Mission and History

The Campaign for Working Families seeks practical ways to improve the economic status of working people in Philadelphia so that working families have the opportunity to increase their income, wisely manage their finances, protect themselves from expensive financial services and build assets.

Artwork by Jermayne Artistries

The Campaign for Working Families was designed in 2003 to help working families move up the economic ladder. Initially created at the Fox Leadership Center at the University of Pennsylvania, the Campaign moved to the offices of the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition in July 2003. GPUAC has served as its managing partner ever since. Supported by a strong group of local partners, The Campaign for Working Families provides free tax services, access to savings products, help with credit counseling, financial education, information about public benefits, and referrals for other services in neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia.

We work to increase the economic viability of Philadelphia's low income working households so that they can plan for stable, secure futures and can participate fully in civic and community life. We promote a fair marketplace for financial goods and services and the ability of the people we serve to operate independently in that marketplace.

Millions to Families

Over the past eight years, The Campaign for Working Families has brought $146 million directly into the homes of low-income working families. And it has saved these families an additional estimated $20.2 million in interest, fees, and charges for tax preparation and check cashing, and loans.

Also over the past eight years, The Campaign has:

• Prepared and e-filed 90,610 tax returns
• Opened over 800 bank accounts and nearly 1,000 prepaid debit cards
• Helped 636 customers save over $93,000 of their tax refunds in U.S. Savings Bonds
• Completed applications for public benefits and financial aid for nearly 500 customers, resulting in over $320,000 in annualized food stamp benefits
• And trained 2,500 volunteers

The Campaign has injected $219.6 million of economic stimulus dollars directly into the Philadelphia economy since beginning in the 2003 tax season.

What We Do

The Campaign boosts the number of people who receive FREE tax filing assistance and insures that people do not have to pay sky-high fees to commercial tax preparers. We are part of a national movement to promote the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), provide free or low cost tax services, and protect taxpayers from rip-offs, including Holiday, Pay Stub and Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs), sometime called "Instant Money" or "Rapid" Loans.