Ohio Mothers Trust
Ohio Mothers Trust is a guaranteed income pilot that provides 32 single mothers in Franklin County (Columbus), Ohio with $500 unconditional monthly cash payments for 12 months, beginning in December 2024. It is a three-way partnership between Motherful, a Columbus-based collective of single mothers; RISE Together Innovation Institute, a Franklin County anti-poverty organization; and UpTogether, a national direct-cash nonprofit. RISE Together and UpTogether jointly fund the $211,200 initiative, while Motherful identified and selected the eligible participants. UpTogether and researchers from The Ohio State University are conducting the accompanying research to evaluate the program's impact. No government/public funding source was identified in available reporting.
Guaranteed Income, Single Mothers, Franklin County, Columbus Ohio, Three-Way Nonprofit Partnership, Ohio State University Research
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Motherful; RISE Together Innovation Institute; UpTogether
- City
- Gahanna
- State / Province
- Ohio
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Phone
- +1 614-735-8467
- info@motherful.org
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 32
- Funding type
- Nonprofit, Philanthropic, Research Pilot
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 6,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 500 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 12 months
- Distribution Type
- Direct cash payments via UpTogether's disbursement platform (exact payment method breakdown, e.g., direct deposit/debit card, not itemized in primary sources for this specific program)
- Benefit details
Each of the 32 selected mothers receives $500 per month, unconditional and unrestricted in use, for 12 consecutive months (up to $6,000 total per participant). Payments began the week of December 2, 2024. The $211,200 total program cost is funded jointly by RISE Together Innovation Institute and UpTogether. This is a single fixed-term cohort rather than a rolling or ongoing benefit.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Eligible participants were single mothers/guardians living in Franklin County (Columbus), Ohio with household income at or below 80% of the area median income (AMI). The program's focus on single mothers implies a dependent child requirement, consistent with seed data. Participants were identified and selected by Motherful from its community rather than through an open public application process. No additional eligibility criteria (age, citizenship, housing status, etc.) were specified in available sources.
Demographics
- Sex
- Female
- Gender
- Female
Family
- Family Status
- Single Parent
- Number of dependents (minimum)
- 1
Financial
- Income as % of Area Median Income
- 802,024 %
Geography
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Columbus
- Counties covered
- Franklin County
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Required
- Research / participation requirements
UpTogether and researchers from The Ohio State University conduct regular surveys and interviews with the 32 participants to study impacts on ability to afford basic necessities, stress levels and emotional well-being, and effects on their children. Findings are intended to help RISE Together and partners advocate for broader unrestricted cash investment in Franklin County families.
Application Process
- How to apply
No public open-application process was reported; participants were identified and selected directly by Motherful from within its single-mother community/membership base.
- Selection process
Motherful, a community-driven collective of single mothers, identified and selected the 32 program participants from Franklin County based on eligibility (single mothers with income at or below 80% AMI).
