Economic Mobility Catalog
A free online resource helping local government leaders identify and implement evidence-based strategies to improve upward economic mobility for their residents.
Over 50 high-level strategies and nearly 200 specific programs backed by rigorous research. From early childhood to workforce development, housing to financial security.
Explore the Catalog →
🎬 Watch: Introduction to the Economic Mobility Catalog
About This Resource
The Economic Mobility Catalog is a comprehensive, free online tool created by Results for America to help local government leaders identify and implement evidence-based strategies that improve economic outcomes for residents.
Local governments are on the front lines of advancing economic mobility for low-income youth, families, and communities. But too often, leaders lack access to actionable data and proven solutions. The Catalog bridges this gap.
Why This Matters
A recent survey of 850+ local government leaders found that 75% who became aware of economic mobility resources used them at least once. Leaders used these tools to inform the public, craft legislation, draft policy memos, adjust funding levels, and connect with experts.
Explore Strategies by Issue Area
The Catalog organizes evidence-based strategies across seven major issue areas. Each area includes detailed research summaries, implementation guidance, and real-world case studies.
Early Childhood
Family health, stability, and preparing children for kindergarten. Academic development, social-emotional growth, and health from ages 0-5.
K-12 Education
Academic growth, social-emotional development, and physical and mental health for elementary, middle, and high school students.
Post-Secondary and Workforce
Skills and preparation for higher-quality employment. Improving high school graduation, post-secondary enrollment, and pathways to good jobs.
Health and Well-Being
Good health as a critical foundation to all mobility outcomes. Healthy families and neighborhoods contribute to positive outcomes at every life stage.
Justice and Public Safety
Reducing negative effects of incarceration, supporting successful reentry, facilitating community healing, and reducing crime.
Housing and Community Development
Affordable, stable, and safe housing as foundational to well-being. Improving economic opportunities and neighborhood quality.
Financial Security
Increasing economic strength, incomes, savings, and financial knowledge. Improving family health, housing stability, and educational attainment.
Explore Strategies by Outcome
You can also browse strategies based on the outcomes you want to achieve. Each outcome connects to specific, measurable results that drive upward economic mobility.
Stable and Healthy Families
Supportive Neighborhoods
Kindergarten Readiness
Elementary/Middle School Success
High School Graduation
Post-Secondary Enrollment
High-Quality Employment
Effective Government
How to Use This Resource
The Economic Mobility Catalog is designed as an entry point for local leaders. Here's how to get the most value:
Browse Strategies
Explore 50+ high-level strategies organized by issue area or outcome. Each includes evidence summaries and implementation guidance.
View Strategies →Read Case Studies
Learn from 60+ real-world examples of cities and counties that successfully implemented evidence-based programs.
View Case Studies →Join Solutions Sprints
Participate in 6-12 week intensive programs with expert guidance to accelerate implementation in your community.
Learn More →What local leaders use the Catalog for:
- 40% want implementation toolkits
- 39% want data on their community's conditions
- 38% want funding guides
- 32% want community outreach and messaging guides
- 32% want strategies for partnering with stakeholders
Beyond the Catalog: Technical Assistance
Results for America offers additional support to help governments move from research to action:
⚡ Solutions Sprints
6-12 week intensive programs providing expert guidance on specific topics like tenant right to counsel, guaranteed income, and diversion programs.
💵 Shifting Dollars
Technical assistance helping governments identify what works and shift funding to solutions with the greatest impact.
📊 Evidence-Based Budgeting
Guides and tools helping state and county officials deliver better results through evidence-informed spending decisions.
🤝 Replication Management
Multi-year, multi-jurisdiction scaling plans for promising programs in collaboration with governments and community organizations.
About Results for America
Results for America is a nonprofit organization helping government leaders harness the power of evidence and data to fund solutions that work to accelerate economic mobility and improve lives.
📅 Founded
April 2012 in Washington, D.C.
👤 Leadership
Michele Jolin, CEO and Co-Founder
💡 Mission
Make "investing in what works" the new norm for allocating public dollars
🏆 Impact
Shifted $2.5B+ in government funding to evidence-based programs
The Moneyball for Government Movement:
In 2013, Results for America launched the "Moneyball for Government" campaign—named after Billy Beane's data-driven transformation of the Oakland A's. The campaign encourages governments at all levels to:
- Build evidence about practices, policies, and programs that achieve results
- Invest limited taxpayer dollars in solutions that use data and evaluation to demonstrate they work
- Direct funds away from programs that consistently fail to achieve desired outcomes
Major programs and initiatives include:
- What Works Cities: In partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, helping 100+ mid-sized cities use data and evidence
- Education Policy: Helping states, districts, and schools build and use evidence to improve student outcomes
- Federal Policy: Working with federal leaders to increase use of evidence in budget and policy decisions
- State Policy: Helping governors increase use of evidence and data, and invest in what works
