THE DISCOUNT FOUNDATION is a small private Foundation concerned with large social problems. Since 1996, Discount has focused entirely upon alleviating poverty by supporting exemplary and innovative programs that elevate wages and create job opportunities, primarily through community and workplace organizing efforts that include strong leadership development and campaigns to affect both public policy and private market forces.

Discount's primary goal is to make economic opportunity, the “American Dream” for generations of the poor, including immigrants, a reality for all. President Franklin Roosevelt in 1937, proposing the first national minimum wage law, sought to "end starvation wages" by guaranteeing America's "men and women a fair day's pay for a fair day's work". Nevertheless, today, almost 30% of all Americans, many working at one or more jobs, remain poor.

At its recent board meeting, the Foundation continued its focus on promoting jobs and living wages for the poor and reducing income inequality. In support of these objectives, the Discount Board of Directors approved grants for 2008 (see Grants List).

For its 2009 grant cycle the Foundation is concentrating its program focus on Organizing for Worker Justice, with a narrower set of funding priorities. Please read the About Us section of the website carefully and note these changes prior to submitting a Letter of Inquiry. Once you have done so, you may submit an LOI for consideration for our 2009 grants cycle (see Grant Process).

Download Making Work Pay: The Discount Foundation Retrospective Report 1997-2002