Economic Inequality Initiative

The economic divide in the US is sharp and rising. In the decade since the Great Recession, middle-and-lower classes saw their collective wealth shrink by over 20%, disproportionately affecting women, people of color, and young people. Meanwhile, the country’s most affluent families grew their median net worth by over 13%, making America the most financially unequal nation in the Western world.

At Uncharted, we’re elevating solutions that create transformational opportunities for people to increase wealth in the near term while building towards a long-term vision to address the root causes themselves. That’s why we've launched a six-month initiative this spring to support eight very early-stage social entrepreneurs, movement builders, and nonprofit innovators who are tackling wealth inequality in the U.S. From universal basic income pilots to rent-to-own home programs, we’re seeking radical ideas with proof of concept and the potential to create a profound impact. Selected participants will receive $25k in unrestricted funding, access to subject-matter experts, mental health resources, introductions to potential funders in our network, and other personalized support.

Read the cohort announcement →

ventures

Meet the selected participants

Benefits

What participants receive

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$25k in Funding

Each participant will receive a $25k unrestricted grant.

A Ecosystem of Support

Plug into our network of 200+ subject-matter experts, ecosystem partners, and institutional funders.

Peer-to-Peer Community

Ask questions, share knowledge, and connect with other participants bringing their ideas to life.

Top of Its Class Personal Coaching

Sharpen your leadership skills with regular coaching sessions.

World-Class Mentors

Curated mentor matches for personalized advice.

Financial Experts

Meet with a financial expert who understands your organization.

Mental Health Resources

A suite of resources and a facilitated space to care for your mental wellbeing.

Pro Bono & Discounted Legal Services

Get your legal questions answered.

Mentors

Meet a sampling of world-class mentors supporting this initiative

They are dedicated to personalized mentorship, guidance, and pro bono work to help tackle your organization’s trickiest challenges.

Ai-jen Poo

Co-founder and Executive Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance

Linda Wilson

Executive Director of the Fund II Foundation

Darrick Hamilton

Professor of Economics and Urban Policy at The New School

Edgar Villanueva

Founder & Principal, Decolonizing Wealth Project

Nim Patel

Chief Strategy Officer - Colorado Enterprise Fund

Alison Lingane

Co-founder at Project Equity

Justin Kang

Co-Founder & General Partner, Visible Hands

Pascal Finette

Co-founder, be radical group

Mark Cabaj

President, Here to There Consulting Inc.

Teju Ravilochan

Founder at GatherFor

Jada Mclean

Co-founder/CEO of Ethically

Nancy Park

Program Officer at the Robin Hood Foundation

Timeline

Timeline of events

Application Period (May 10th - June 28th)‍

We're seeking social entrepreneurs, nonprofit innovators, and movement builders tackling economic inequality in the U.S.

Participants Announced (August)

We'll select and announce eight participants who are the best fit for the economic inequality initiative.

Intensive Programming (September 27th - December 16th)

The first three months of the initiative will help you clarify your mission, vision, team structure, and operations.

Light Programming (January 3rd - March 24th, 2022)

In the second half of the initiative, you'll execute your strategic plan with the help of new connections and capital.

Initiative Wrap-Up (March, 2022)

It's not "goodbye"; it's "see you (on zoom) later."

FAQs

You have questions. We have answers.

Why economic inequality?

Economic inequality poses the greatest threat to America's future over the next 25 years. At Uncharted, we believe that if we can create an economy that serves people (and not the other way around), we'll all be better off. That's why we're elevating solutions that aim to close the race, gender, generation and class wealth gaps.

What will I get out of the Economic Inequality Initiative?

Our team will help you accomplish three key objectives throughout the six-month initiative:

Clarity about your organization's mission, vision, team, and strategic plan. We'll help you get there with customized workshops, executive coaching services, free and reduced-cost legal services, and mental wellness resources.
Connections to a community of peers, world-class mentors, and ecosystem partners.
Capital to take your organization to the next level, including $25k in unrestricted grant funding and a financial advisor to help inform your spending and prepare you to take on investment.

Why work with Uncharted?

Since our founding in 2009, we've helped over 200 ventures raise $254M and impact 47.5M lives. Our team brings decades of experience connecting problem solvers to the resources and support they need to scale their solutions. We use a multidisciplinary approach that mobilizes a diverse network of mentors, funders, partners, and communities. And we're just getting started.

Does it cost anything to participate?

Nope! Participation in this program is free, thanks to generous donors in our network. And unlike some of our peers, Uncharted does not require equity or a percentage of your future profits.

Can I apply if my organization is headquartered outside of the U.S.?

Yes, you can apply if you're headquartered outside of the United States. However, your organization must be committed to serving beneficiaries and creating a profound impact in the U.S.

What if we're focused on economic inequality outside of the U.S.?

Unfortunately, we're looking for people and organizations focused on creating impact in the U.S. We'll be rooting you on, though!

What do you mean by "early-stage"?

Early-stage means that you've designed a solution addressing economic inequality and validated it with beneficiaries, funders, or partners. Perhaps you've created a prototype, launched a pilot program, built an audience online, or raised small amounts of money from friends and family. And we don’t have a limit on the amount of time your organization has been around — even if you’re well-established and piloting something new, we encourage you to apply!

What types of organizations can apply? Do I need to incorporate?

We're incorporation agnostic, meaning that we work with all types of people and organizations. You can apply as an individual, nonprofit, for-profit, hybrid, etc. It doesn't matter to us, as long as your solution directly addresses economic inequality.

Supporting early-stage solutions addressing economic inequality in the United States.