Baltimore CASH Campaign: Leveraging a Diverse Coalition

The Baltimore CASH  Campaign (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) came alive in 2000 to provide local Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) outreach, free tax preparation services, and connections to asset building activities. The coalition was created to build on the statewide work of the Maryland EITC Outreach Campaign, a project of Maryland Committee for Children.

Member Organizations

Key to its success, the Baltimore CASH Campaign has leveraged the diverse interests and strengths of its member organizations, including building capacity for CASH through non-tax season work, such as providing IDA programs, hosting 2 IRS Low Income Tax Clinics, teaching financial literacy classes, and helping recruit clients for those services. Tax preparation clients are referred to the sites for specific program offerings both during the tax season and through communications outside of tax season.

Money Power Day

In addition to providing services through partner organizations, the CASH Campaign hosts an annual financial fitness fair called Money Power Day, which provides free workshops and access to financial services such as credit report and counseling, financial planning, tax preparation, legal consultation, public benefits screening, job readiness and resume assistance—services often available only to wealthy individuals.

“We had clients that had already gotten their taxes done prior to [the event] and they were thrilled that someone had taken the time to take care of taxes and credit with them," said Joanna Smith-Ramani, director of the Baltimore CASH Campaign. "No one had ever sat down and explained all those aspects of savings and credit reports to them."

At Money Power Day, participants attend workshops on budgeting, credit/debt management, and small business development and investment and meet with vendors representing the best in financial services, money management, housing and homeownership, legal services, and workforce development.

Raising Awareness

The campaign also works to increase general awareness about issues impacting working families, including the positive impact of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Toward that end, the campaign will continue to partner with the Job Opportunity Task Force (JOTF) to hold monthly forums on issues impacting low-income workers in the city. Topics covered include Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs) and other predatory tax loan products, check cashing and fringe financial services. The partnership hopes to attract nearby leaders from Washington, D.C., to add a national perspective to issues affecting the city.

Policy and advocacy work is a growing component of Baltimore CASH’s work. Working with the Maryland EITC Outreach Campaign, Baltimore CASH co-convened a group called Maryland CASH, a coalition of tax and asset-building groups from around the state. They hope to harness their cumulative leadership to affect state and federal policy on behalf of low-income workers. In addition, Baltimore CASH serves as the state contact for NCTC’s advocacy network.