Event Date
Sep 01, 2025
Event Details
Progress in Motion: This September Is EPI's Giving Month! Our Goal? $100,000.
As I reflect upon the Economic Progress Institute’s journey over the past 26 years, I am extremely proud of the progress we've made with bold and courageous leadership, thanks to your support. Since 2022, the Economic Progress Institute (EPI) has grown markedly. We’ve increased our budget by more than 75%, doubled our team, and dramatically expanded our capacity to produce research, build coalitions, and advocate for equitable and just policies. And with your help, we’re making a difference.
This year alone, together with legislative champions and coalition partners, we celebrated ten major policy wins including predatory payday lending reform, creating Baby Bonds to build wealth for children in low-income families, raising the minimum wage, strengthening paid family leave, investing in child care and RIPTA, and advancing access to health care and protections from medical debt. These victories reflect the collective power of research, advocacy, and community.
EPI is committed to holding the line, and we need your help to keep Progress in Motion. That’s why we’re inviting you to join our first-ever Giving Month: September 1-30, 2025, and our 14th Annual Policy & Budget Conference on September 29.
Our goal is to raise $100,000 to sustain and expand our critical research, policy, and advocacy work. We are already halfway toward our goal thanks to the generosity of our conference sponsors, Sustainability Circle members, and those who have already bought Conference tickets and donated to our Giving Month.
And here’s more good news: EPI’s Board has pledged a $10,000 challenge. They will match every Giving Month donation and ticket/table purchase — dollar for dollar — up to $10,000. That means your gift or ticket purchase will go twice as far in powering progress.
There are several ways you can Power Progress:
- Make a Giving Month Donation during September 1–30 to help us reach our $100,000 goal and power research, policy advocacy, and coalition building. Every dollar helps fuel progress.
- Purchase a Ticket or Table to join us at our conference and network with 300+ community leaders, policymakers, and advocates.
- Sponsor the 14th Annual Policy & Budget Conference. This year’s theme, We the People: The Rhode Forward, will highlight the resilience of communities leading the fight for equity and democracy.
- Become a Sustainability Circle member and join a group of committed supporters making multi-year gifts to anchor EPI’s independence and impact.
- Follow us on social media and spread the word by sharing our work with your networks and community.
Every tax-deductible gift, no matter the size, keeps Progress in Motion and fuels research, advocacy, and coalition power in Rhode Island and beyond.
I look forward to celebrating Progress with you this September!
Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies, Executive Director