December 5, 2012 — Messaging Matters: New EITC Polling Webinar
How do we talk about the EITC? Against the backdrop of a recession that doesn’t feel over, budget battles in Congress and presidential campaigns, many organizations feel like their messages to protect or promote the EITC are falling flat. Hart Research investigated voter opinions, efficacy of current messaging, and ways to improve messaging in this particular political climate. Join us to learn about how new messaging will help improve communications around the EITC.
**Contact us at info@eitcfunders.org for the password to view webinar video.
- Agenda — Click here
October 3, 2012 – When the Economy Goes Down, Does EITC Receipt Go Up? The Impact of the Great Recession on the EITC
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the nation’s largest poverty alleviation policy — lifting more than 6.3 million people out of poverty in 2010. But what happens during a recession? Does the EITC help more people? Do the characteristics of EITC recipients change?
- Agenda — Click Here
- Powerpoints — Click Here
April 26, 2012 — The Story behind the Demise of RALs: Good News for EITC Families but Challenges Remain
Refund Anticipation Loans, or RALs, were popular short-term loans that tax preparers offered to clients–especially low-income taxpayers–so that they could get their tax refunds fast. Unfortunately, RALs usually came with extremely high interest rates, and diverted hundreds of millions of dollars from working Americans’ tax refunds. Over the past several years, however, strong advocacy efforts drove policy changes that has dramatically reduced the availability of RALs. Are RALs a thing of the past? What challenges are emerging as the RAL industry declines?
- Agenda —click here
- Powerpoints — click here
- Resources Page — click here
March 13, 2012 — State EITC Policy Update and Enabling Rapid Response in the States
State EITCs are now available in 23 states and DC. Given challenge state budgets, are state EITCs being threatened with reduction or elimination? What opportunities are head for expansions? In this webinar the EITC Funders Network and national and state experts explored developments in state EITC policies and learned about the new EITC Rapid Response Fund that will be helping groups in four states develop communications-related responses to policy developments.
- Agenda — Click here
- Powerpoints — Click here
- Additional Resources — Click here