About GIST

The Grantmakers Income Security Taskforce (GIST) was established in 1992 as an informal association for grantmakers at the national, regional and local level that are active in alleviating poverty, expanding economic opportunity, and building assets among low-income families in the United States. GIST has focused on three key areas: welfare and workforce development; work supports for low-income working families; and tax and budget policies as they relate to low-income families

GIST is a recognized affinity group of the Council on Foundations and operates as an umbrella group for participating funders and philanthropic advisors, providing a forum for strategic discussion and acting as a vehicle to encourage co-investment among foundations and facilitate cooperation among grantees on high priority issues.

Since 2002, GIST has focused on three key areas: welfare and workforce development; work supports for low-income working families; and tax and budget policies as they relate to low-income families. Collectively, GIST members have provided the vast majority of non-governmental support for the nation's efforts to reform welfare and income security policy over the last decade.

Since its creation, more than 250 grantmakers and philanthropic advisors have participated in GIST.