All families deserve a better future – whatever their race, ethnicity, or zip code. But financial resources, like the lack thereof, are passed down from generation to generation, and decades of racial inequity and underinvestment have kept some families trapped in poverty. LIFT-DC's mission is to break the cycle by investing in parents. Its holistic, one-on-one coaching helps build families’ well-being, financial strength, and social connections to lift two generations at once. Parents discover LIFT through trusted partnerships like community colleges and early childcare centers and through parent-to-parent referrals. Using action plans created with their coaches and wraparound supports like direct cash assistance, parents set and achieve goals like going back to school, improving credit, eliminating debt, or securing a living wage. Since 2001, over 10,000 LIFT-DC parents have achieved greater financial stability and put their families on the path to economic mobility.

Headquarters: DC-Ward 6

Where They Operate: DC-Citywide; DC-Ward 1; DC-Ward 2; DC-Ward 3; DC-Ward 4; DC-Ward 5; DC-Ward 6; DC-Ward 7; DC-Ward 8; Sursum Corda; U St corridor

Age Groups Served: Young adult (18-24); Adult (25-49); Seniors (50+)

Population(s) Served: Low- to Moderate-Income Community Members


  • Percent of Core members who achieve their goals:   65
  • Number of LIFT-DC members who secured job interviews:   239
  • Number of LIFT-DC members who secured employment:   105
  • Number of LIFT-DC members who achieved a Basic Needs goal:   139
  • Number of LIFT-DC members who actively worked on their housing goals:   394

Awards & Recognition

Selected by CITI Foundation's Community Progress Makers Fund Grant Program to Accelerate Economic Opportunity (2016)

CEO, Kirsten Lodal, named Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow (2015)

CEO, Kirsten Lodal: recipient of the John F. Kennedy New Frontiers Award (2015)

Comcast Digital Literacy Program launched in partnership with CentroNia (2014)

Launched Financial Coaching program in partnership with JP Morgan (2014)

Chosen to launch Shriver Corps Program (2014)

Selected to partner with the Georgetown Law School Community Service Project (2014)

Voted Best Place to Volunteer by George Washington Center for Civic Engagement (2012)

Press

Budget (FY2023)

  • $3 million or higher
  • The current budget for LIFT-DC is: $1 million to $3 million
  • $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to $3 million. This graphic indicates the budget range of the organization featured here. If you see an organizational budget above the $3 million mark, that is because the featured charity has grown in size since it first appeared in the Catalogue. We proudly present on our website the work of these "growth" charities.

About Spur Local

Each year 150+ community advocates review applicants on the basis of governance, equity, and impact. Each featured nonprofit has been successfully site visited and its financials given the thumbs up. Spur Local charges no fees and raises funds separately to support its work. Since 2003, it has raised over $57 million for nonprofits across the Greater Washington region.

Spur Local looks to friends like you to keep our services independent and entirely free of charge. Consider a small contribution to Spur Local to cap off your gift and help the causes you care about get the full support they deserve!

If you like LIFT-DC you might also like



This organization collaborates with