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Economic Security Project logo concept showing guaranteed income and anti-monopoly work
Economic Security Project funds guaranteed income pilots and antitrust campaigns

The Economic Security Project became my go-to source when I tried to track who funds guaranteed income pilots in the US. I kept seeing ESP everywhere.

Founded in 2016 by Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes, it now runs the biggest cash-policy network in progressive politics.

It doesn't just talk. It seeded Stockton's $500 checks, pushed the Child Tax Credit, and bankrolls antitrust fights.

The Economic Security Project is a progressive nonprofit founded in 2016 by Chris Hughes, Natalie Foster, and Dorian Warren. It funds guaranteed income pilots, campaigns for cash tax credits like the expanded Child Tax Credit, and runs a $10M Antimonopoly Fund to curb corporate power.

Table of Contents

1. What ESP Actually Is

Why confusion happens: people mix it with a think tank or PAC.

Takeaway: It's a 501(c)(3) Grantmaker and campaign hub, not a direct service provider.

  • Official name: Economic Security Project Inc., founded in 2016.
  • Abbreviation ESP, website economicsecurityproject.org.
  • It convenes funders, gives seed grants, and runs advocacy – it doesn't cut checks to you directly.

2. Who Founded It and Why

Why confusion happens: Hughes' Facebook past overshadows the team.

Takeaway: Three co-founders, not one billionaire.

  • Chris Hughes (Facebook co-founder), Natalie Foster (President, former Obama organizing), Dorian Warren (co-president of Community Change).
  • Initial belief statement signed by Robert Reich, Alicia Garza, and Alaska Sen. Bill Wielechowski.
  • Goal in 2016: research and experiment with cash programs to make the economy work for all.

3. Core Mission: Cash and Competition

Why confusion happens: ESP talks about both income and antitrust.

Takeaway: Two pillars, one theory.

  • Pillar 1 – Guaranteed Income: fund pilots, expand tax credits, push monthly payments.
  • Pillar 2 – Anti-Monopoly: curb corporate concentration so cash isn't eaten by high prices.
  • They argue that giving people money works only if markets are competitive.

4. Signature Wins You Can Track

Why confusion happens: pilots are local, impact is national.

Takeaway: ESP helped scale from 12 pilots to 100+.

  • Stockton SEED: $1M seed grant for 125 people getting $500/month 2019-2021. Showed more full-time work, less anxiety.
  • Magnolia Mother's Trust: funded Black mothers in Jackson, MS, getting $1,000/month since 2018.
  • Child Tax Credit 2021: ESP advocacy helped create monthly payments that cut child poverty 46% and lifted 3.7M kids.
  • Emergency Money: petition for $2,000 monthly checks got nearly 3M signatures during COVID.

5. How It's Funded

Why confusion happens: dark-money fears.

Takeaway: Big philanthropy, transparent grants.

  • Core funders: Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Omidyar Network, Gates Foundation ($752K for IRS Direct File research 2024), Hewlett Foundation.
  • Antimonopoly Fund launched in 2019 with $10M from ESP, Omidyar, and Open Society.
  • Lobbying arm: Economic Security Project Action (PAC), spent ∼$190K in 2024 per OpenSecrets.

6. Structure and Leadership in 2026

Why confusion happens: titles shift.

Takeaway: Foster runs day-to-day, Hughes co-chairs.

  • Key people: Natalie Foster (President), Chris Hughes (Co-Chair), Aisha Nyandoro, Dorian Warren, Felicia Wong.
  • Works via fellows (e.g., Lenore Palladino at UMass) and grantee network.
  • Not a membership org – you engage via grants or campaigns.

7. How to Engage or Research It

Why confusion happens: the website is advocacy heavy.

Takeaway: Go to primary sources.

  • For pilots: check ESP's guaranteed income map and Inside Philanthropy reporting.
  • For policy: read their Cost-of-Living Refund plan and Direct File campaign pages.
  • For funding: search OpenSecrets for "Economic Security Project" and the Ford Foundation grants database.

Comparative Matrix

Problem Immediate Root Cause Quick Fix
Thinking ESP gives you cash directly Confusing funder with pilot operator Contact a local pilot like SEED or Magnolia, not ESP
Assuming it's Hughes' personal foundation the media focuses on Facebook's money Check board: Foster, Warren, Nyandoro co-lead
Mixing ESP with ESP Action Similar names 501c3 = research/grants; Action = lobbying/PAC
Can't find the budget No public 990 in snippet Search ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer for Form 990

Pro-Tips & Edge Cases

  • Track the Antimonopoly Fund. In my experience, this is ESP's sleeper power. It funded the Open Markets Institute, whose legal director, Lina Khan, became FTC Chair in 2021.
  • Use their pilots as data. SEED's published results (more employment, less depression) are cited in Congress. Download the PDF, don't rely on summaries.
  • Watch Direct File. ESP's 2024 Gates grant supports IRS Direct File – this is their current tax-credit delivery strategy.

Common Pitfalls

  • Calling ESP a think tank only. It researches, but its power is grantmaking and organizing funders.
  • Ignoring the Wikipedia warning. The page notes paid editing in 2023. Cross-check with original sources like Vox and NYT.
  • Overstating the Child Tax Credit win. ESP helped pass the 2021 expansion, but Congress let it expire. Their campaign is now about renewal.

FAQ

What does the Economic Security Project do?

It funds and advocates for guaranteed income pilots and cash tax credits and runs an anti-monopoly program to reduce corporate power.

Who funds the Economic Security Project?

Major funders include Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Omidyar Network, Gates Foundation, and Hewlett Foundation, plus Chris Hughes' initial seed funding.

Is Economic Security Project the same as Economic Security Project Action?

No. ESP is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit. ESP Action is its affiliated advocacy organization that can lobby and run political campaigns.

Did ESP create the Stockton $500 payments?

ESP provided the initial $1 million seed grant for SEED, the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration, but the city and Mayor Michael Tubbs ran the pilot.

How can I get a guaranteed income from ESP?

You can't apply directly to ESP. It funds local pilots run by cities and nonprofits. Check their website for active pilot locations in your state.

Sources: Economic Security Project, Wikipedia; OpenSecrets profile.