What We Do
Our Work
- The Challenge
- Our Approach
- Impact
- Partnership
- Policy Change
The Challenge
We believe in an economic system that supports all people to unlock their potential and build a life of meaning on their own terms.
To do this, we all need assets to invest in the future and move our families forward.
Yet many families with low incomes are also living in asset poverty, meaning they do not have the financial resources to cover three months of basic living expenses without income.
Financial assets are a stronger predictor of economic well-being and mobility than income. They provide a cushion in times of distress and enable families to invest in opportunities like homeownership, education, and entrepreneurship.
Yet many families with low incomes are also living in asset poverty, meaning they do not have the financial resources to cover three months of basic living expenses without income.
Financial assets are a stronger predictor of economic well-being and mobility than income. They provide a cushion in times of distress and enable families to invest in opportunities like homeownership, education, and entrepreneurship.
For families living in asset poverty, the opportunity to build assets is out of reach. Anti-poverty programs often discourage or penalize savings, and these penalties intersect with systemic and historic barriers to wealth building for Black and/or Latina women.
Our Approach
Our work begins and ends with a fundamental, unwavering belief in people and in their ability to achieve their goals and dreams.
We partner with families with low incomes to build assets as a pathway out of poverty. We focus on reaching families led by Black and/or Latina women.
To achieve our mission, we:
Impact
Since launching our first FSS program in 2010, Compass has partnered with
6,000
families to build
families to build
$27,000,000
in savings
in savings
Compass FSS graduates save $8,500 on average in their FSS escrow accounts. 75% of graduates also have $400 or more in additional personal savings - last year, only 63% of all US households could say the same.
Compass-run FSS programs significantly outperform other FSS programs nationally, and Compass FSS graduates significantly increase the financial security of their family:
Compass-run FSS programs significantly outperform other FSS programs nationally, and Compass FSS graduates significantly increase the financial security of their family:
Compass FSS Graduate Outcomes
Outcome Metric
Result
Increased annual income
70%
Average income increase
$21,500
Improved or established credit score
70%
Average credit score increase
75
On-time debt payments (3+ months)
80%
Low credit utilization (<30%)
50%
3rd-Party Evaluation
Independent research shows that our model for the FSS program works. Compared to benchmarks and their peers, Compass FSS participants earn higher incomes, receive less welfare payments, and improve their credit and debt situations. Studies also show that the program's benefits to families far outweigh what it costs Compass and the government to run it.
*Compass collects and analyzes a significant amount of data about our programs. Limited data is available regarding FSS program performance nationally and is included where available. Compass program data is current as of 8/31/2024. The data above includes both active and past partnerships with the following partners: Boston Housing Authority, Cambridge Housing Authority, The Caleb Group, Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development, Mercy Housing, Metro Housing|Boston, Philadelphia Housing Authority, Preservation of Affordable Housing, Related Companies, and WinnCompanies.
Partnership Opportunities
If you have a vision to fully harness the power of the FSS program in your community, Compass Working Capital can be your trusted partner on that journey.
We currently offer two types of training and technical assistance:
Compass FSS Link (most popular)
Join a community of over 2,400 FSS practitioners on our online learning platform. Access tools and resources to increase the impact of your program.
If you are looking for information on how to contract Compass to operate your FSS program, these types of partnerships are rare. We only pursue a direct service partnership when a specific set of conditions are present.
In-depth support
FSS Launch Training and TA
For Multifamily Owners & Operators: FSS Launch Training and TA
Get help launching your own FSS program from our “How to Launch a Multifamily FSS Program” course, a 12-module training series on the nuts and bolts of starting up an FSS program.
Key Benefits
Full Partnership
Let Compass deliver a comprehensive program launch and ongoing management, including outreach and enrollment, financial coaching, and program management.
Cost: $1,500 - 2,000 per enrollee per year plus a one-time launch fee.
Policy Change
We can't truly serve our clients without working to fix the systems holding them back.
Our top policy priority is to expand the scope and impact of the federal Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program – both in its current form, and by testing whether automatically enrolling eligible families in FSS (while letting them opt out anytime) could help the program reach more of the 2.2 million families who could benefit from it.
We also support other programs that help families with low incomes build wealth, improve public benefits, and deliver reparations for descendants of enslaved Africans in America.
We also support other programs that help families with low incomes build wealth, improve public benefits, and deliver reparations for descendants of enslaved Africans in America.
Locations
8 Penn Center, 1628 JFK Boulevard, Suite 1303 Philadelphia, PA 19103
89 South Street, Suite 804 Boston, MA 02111
Contact
Tax ID number: 20-3975100
617-790-0810
General inquiries:
Media inquiries:
© 2025 Compass Working Capital