Franklin County People's Fund

The Franklin County People’s Fund is an all-volunteer solidarity fund that redistributes resources to those who need them most in our community. All funds raised go directly to community members. Your donation provides immediate support to people in Franklin County facing financial emergencies and family separation due to deportation, incarceration, and housing instability. Every donation makes a big impact. Monthly recurring donations especially help us to continue our work sustainably. 

How we work:

The People’s Fund offers short-term financial support to families facing the threat or reality of family separation, as well as families and individuals navigating sudden job loss, medical issues, or other personal emergencies. 

We fund families on a case-by-case basis. We know family means different things for different people. We consider each person’s situation as a whole and strive to maintain a relationship-based, human spirit in the project. We don’t require people to go through a long bureaucratic process to request and receive funds. People know their own needs better than anyone else, and we believe that trust and solidarity is the best way to ground our work.

Your role: 

The People’s Fund does not receive any grants or outside funding. It is completely dependent on people in our community who want to support neighbors who are experiencing hardship. To make this work sustainable for the long-haul, please consider giving a recurring donation. If you would like to receive occasional email updates from us, please get in touch with us at [email protected]

Our background:

The People’s Fund began in 2017 as a community response to an increase in the targeting of community members due to immigration status and race, and the increased threat of forced family separation. Since then, our mission has broadened to provide people with money either at times when they are in crisis, or at a crossroads in which financial support could shift their circumstances for the better. During the COVID-19 pandemic we responded by increasing our fundraising efforts in order to offer financial support to a greater number of families. Over the years, the People’s Fund has offered assistance to hundreds of people in moments of crisis and has distributed over $275,000, allowing folks to stay in their homes, pay the legal fees to fight deportation cases, obtain urgent medical care, and keep their families together.