Dismantling the Systemic Barriers to Prosperity

Since 1922 we’ve fought for those who have been marginalized and ignored and pushed for transformative change in the halls of power.

worker coops for nyc protesting to advocate for a living wage
workers coop in nyc rally with signs that say "economic democracy now" and "invest in day laborer centers"

Systemic Change Through Advocacy

FPWA boldly interrogates the lies we have collectively been told about poverty in this country. In our search for truth, FPWA is creating pathways to find the structural solutions that will set us free.

Through our policy and advocacy work, FPWA is generating sustainable solutions to transform laws and institutions with the goal of creating a stronger New York, free of poverty.

Economic Security and Well-Being for All

FPWA leads and co-leads a number of advocacy coalitions and task forces to improve the lives of New Yorkers with lower incomes.

Among the issues we address are necessary income and potential for asset building, ensuring an equitable, justice and appropriately resource human services sector and dismantling the unjust structures and systems that inhibit New Yorker’s rights to dignity and power — all so lower income New Yorkers can thrive, not merely get by.

smiling group at historic racial justice proposal in nyc
Change
smiling father sitting with a toddler playing on a laptop

Necessary Income and Potential for Building Assets

FPWA advocates at the city, state and federal levels to establish accurate and effective measures of poverty while advancing policy and legislation to eliminate wage and occupational segregation, increase wages and enforce pay equity. Essential alongside these efforts is ensuring income supports close income gaps and allow for wealth building for lower income New Yorkers.

Equity and Justice

True economic security is dependent upon racial equity and justice for all. FPWA’s work is built upon the need to dismantle the unjust structures and systems that inhibit New Yorkers’ rights to dignity and power. These structures maintain deprivation, perpetuate racial disparities and disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, and all People of Color (BIPOC) communities.

speaker talking into a microphone at a women coop for NYC event
activists holding a meeting

Strengthening the Human Services sector and Disproportionately-Impacted Communities

We invest in and support community non-profits and faith-based organizations in a number of ways. Through grants, capacity building, advocacy, and education, we work to ensure an equitable, just, and appropriately resourced sector that can be responsive to the needs of New Yorkers including food and housing security, health, and successful aging.

How We Do it

Creating change requires taking the right strategic actions.

NYC Funds Tracker Dashboard and Analysis

The interactive open data dashboard helps you visualize and track the city budget, with a specific focus on the critical human services funding we rely on.

Don’t forget to also check out our new analysis

FPWA has recently been receiving claims from members of the public emailing and calling our offices that individuals posing as FPWA agents have contacted them claiming that in order for the recipient to claim grant monies from FPWA they must first send the agent personal information, a cell phone number, gift card codes or money.

FPWA does not use social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), text messages or direct phone contact to solicit, review, or make awards. FPWA staff will not call or message you requesting money in order to be eligible for an award.

Further, FPWA does not make grants directly to individuals. FPWA works with its member agency partners and other reputable community-based organizations to direct support to families and individuals in our community.

If you or someone you know has been contacted by someone posing to be an “FPWA Agent” or staff person requesting money to release a grant, please do the following:

If you have questions prior to reporting your incident, view the IC3 FAQs for more information.

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