Left Behind Workers Fund
The Left Behind Workers Fund (LBWF) was a coalition-led, one-time cash assistance program launched in Denver in April 2020 to support workers excluded from federal COVID-19 relief, primarily undocumented immigrants. It was incubated and fiscally hosted by the nonprofit Impact Charitable, with critical partnership from Social Venture Partners Denver, the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, and the Village Exchange Center. Funding combined public dollars from the City of Denver and later the State of Colorado with private philanthropic contributions. Eligible individuals received a one-time $1,000 grant, and the fund ultimately distributed tens of millions of dollars statewide before evolving into new state-level initiatives.
COVID-19, Undocumented Immigrants, Coalition-Led, Colorado, Direct Cash Assistance, Excluded Workers
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Impact Charitable
- City
- Denver
- State / Province
- Colorado
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Number of recipients
- 26,000
- Funding type
- Government, Philanthropic
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 1,000 USD
- Payment frequency
- Lump Sum
- Distribution Type
- Direct Deposit, Money Order (Western Union)
- Benefit details
The core benefit was a one-time $1,000 direct cash grant per eligible individual, first piloted with 200 grants between April 7-24, 2020, then scaled statewide. Recipients with bank accounts received direct deposit, while unbanked recipients received a money order via Western Union, which accepted many forms of international ID. As the fund grew, it also distributed a separate pool of rental assistance ($7.9M supporting 2,400 households) alongside the direct cash aid ($15.1M+ in direct aid to households with 27,000+ children across 40 Colorado counties). Total funds distributed reached an estimated $38 million to over 26,000 Coloradans and their families by 2023.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Applicants had to demonstrate a pandemic-related loss of income, through layoff, a reduction of more than 20 work hours/week, or inability to work due to caregiving needs or COVID-19 quarantine/exposure. Eligibility was based on proof of lost work rather than an income test, a deliberate design choice to avoid triggering federal 'public benefit' restrictions on undocumented immigrants under 8 U.S.C. Section 1621. Applicants also had to not be receiving unemployment insurance or CARES Act stimulus funds and, in the initial Denver pilot, had to reside in the City of Denver (later expanded statewide). The fund served workers of any immigration status but was designed specifically to reach the undocumented immigrant workforce, largely concentrated in hospitality, restaurant, and service industries.
Housing
- Recently laid off
- Yes
Health
- Health conditions
- Covid
Financial
- Currently receiving government benefits
- Disqualifying
- Employment status
- Unemployed, Underemployed, Gig / Informal
- Banked status
- Banked, Unbanked
Citizenship
- Citizenship / immigration status
- Undocumented
Geography
- US states covered
- Colorado
- Countries covered
- United States
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Application Process
- How to apply
Applicants were initially pre-screened by community organizations and unions with trusted relationships in immigrant communities (e.g., Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, Village Exchange Center, El Centro Humanitario), who directed them to nonprofit service-provider partners for formal screening and approval. As the program scaled, Impact Charitable built a custom digital application platform (accessible via mobile devices, with support in multiple languages) that reviewed applications and issued payments typically within 7-10 days of submission.
- Selection process
Eligibility was verified by trusted nonprofit community service providers acting as screening partners, who confirmed proof of pandemic-related income loss, non-receipt of unemployment insurance or CARES Act funds, and residency, working in partnership with community-based and union pre-screening partners across more than 40 statewide organizations.
