This section provides lessons learned from the LA GICC on the type of leadership, technical assistance, funding, and adaptation strategies a coalition needs to support its members.
Convene Members
Strategic convenings among guaranteed income coalition members can provide important learning opportunities. Regular meetings can provide guaranteed income implementers and advocates an opportunity to build networks, strengthen evaluation approaches, and develop compelling policy narratives based on program results.
Convenings have been instrumental to the growth and success of the LA GICC. The coalition hosts workshops and regular business meetings on a quarterly basis and occasional special events.
In 2023, Westat and the Urban Institute hosted a workshop that taught participants how to develop theories of change that clearly articulate pilot goals. It also covered how to create evaluation frameworks connecting individual pilots to broader systems.
A summit in July 2024 in Los Angeles County brought together officials, advocates, policymakers, and pilot recipients to share evidence and center equity in pilot design.
Building on this foundation, the coalition hosted a policy planning session in the fall of 2024. There, pilot members created a plan to connect on-the-ground experiences and evidence from the pilots to policy proposals at multiple government levels.
LA GICC’s approach demonstrates the power of convenings to help programs transition from guaranteed income implementation to policy change.
Combine Strategic Storytelling Efforts
Coalitions provide a unifying voice and hub for strategic storytelling for programs. This is crucial to shifting negative narratives (PDF) about people with low incomes, which often paint poverty as a result of personal failure. Real-life examples and stories about program participants can be an effective way to raise awareness about the benefits of direct cash assistance among policymakers, funders, and the public.
Coalitions can raise the profile of all programs within a jurisdiction through blogs, vlogs, press releases, and social media posts. They can also create communication guides that help program members use unified messaging, cite credible sources, and recognize their membership.
To centralize communications efforts, the Stanford Basic Income Lab and UPenn Center for Guaranteed Income Research created a Guaranteed Income Pilots Dashboard that features participant success stories and data from evaluations of pilots nationwide for an audience of policymakers, media, and the general public. From Breathe, we learn about Jeff, Kipp, and Patric. From BIG:LEAP, we learn about Antonio, Ashley, Micaela, and Twonna.
To learn more about effective communications strategies for guaranteed income programs, see the Economic Security Project’s A Window of Opportunity to Frame the Guaranteed Income Narrative.
Secure Ongoing Investment
Coalitions can help sustain guaranteed income initiatives by sharing funding strategies, attracting policymakers and funders, and amplifying positive narratives. They can encourage philanthropic investment by organizing networking opportunities with funders.
Coalitions can also bolster fundraising by pooling efforts. For example, Economic Security California and Social Finance—a statewide guaranteed income coalition—banded together to enlist support for a pooled fund. This helped grantees in the California Department of Social Services’ statewide pilot meet their 50 percent matching requirement for state funds.
Link the Coalition to Other Coordinated Efforts
Strengthen your local coalition by connecting with national and state partners who can offer expertise and share resources. Maintaining ties with broader networks can also enhance your coalition’s learning and advocacy capabilities. Share key insights from these networks with local members who can’t engage in every event or task force.
LA GICC maintains relationships with pilot members and the following organizations:
- The Guaranteed Income Community of Practice, which is sponsored by the Economic Security Project and provides regular presentations from recognized experts on guaranteed income, organizes peer-to-peer conversations, and offers a wealth of technical assistance products. Complete this form to join the Guaranteed Income Community of Practice.
- Economic Security CA, which is a subsidiary of the California Guaranteed Income Community of Practice.
- Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, which advocates for all Americans to have an income floor, is a network of cities and counties that have sponsored guaranteed income pilots. The organization helps localities communicate about their goals, shares technical assistance across jurisdictions, and maintains tools like the Guaranteed Income Pilots Dashboard.
Sustain the Coalition through Dedicated Staff and Stakeholder Engagement
The success and longevity of any coalition relies on dedicated staff and key stakeholders who provide consistent support and coordination.
LA GICC leaders like LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell have played pivotal roles in influencing other legislators and funders to continue to support the LA GICC. Additionally, the LA County Chief Executive Office helped connect county departments, such as the Public Health, Social Services, and Children and Family Services departments, with representatives from local pilots. Aligning LA GICC with other county supports helped to root these programs within county systems for the long term.
Adapt the Leadership Structure as the Coalition Grows
To build a lasting coalition, use adaptive leadership that evolves with the initiative. Start with a convening organization skilled in strategy, then shift to a steering committee to broaden ownership. When you’re ready to scale your policy efforts, transition leadership to an implementation-focused agency.
For example, LA GICC began with the Center for Strategic Partnerships at the helm, moved to a steering committee, and finally transferred leadership to the Chief Executive Office’s Poverty Alleviation Initiative. This approach keeps momentum and aligns leadership with the coalition’s changing needs.