At ATD Fourth World USA, we believe something simple and radical: people who have lived the realities of poverty are not just participants in the fight for justice—they are experts, leaders, and teachers.
Their knowledge, forged through daily resistance to hardship, reveals truths about our society that too often go unseen.
Poverty is not an individual failure. It is a measurement of injustice—a sign that our systems still operate on the belief that some people are worth less than others.
That is why we work alongside people with lived experience of poverty to build solutions together. Through advocacy, participatory research, education, and community-building, activists help shape policies, strengthen institutions, and create a future where no one is left behind.
But this work does not happen on its own.
Your donation helps ensure that community members can continue sharing their expertise, participating in decision-making spaces, and leading efforts to create lasting change.
ATD Fourth World is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are tax-deductible. EIN 23-7135119.
Your gift helps ensure that people closest to poverty are included as co-creators in developing solutions. When their expertise is recognized and valued, the impact reaches far beyond any one room.
National Impact
Activists partnered with the Aspen Institute to help create resources that guide organizations in working ethically and meaningfully with people experiencing poverty.
Impact in New Mexico
Research co-created by activists, educators, and families influenced educational leaders across the state and led to poverty-awareness training for 190 teachers.
By donating today, you help ensure that people with lived experience of poverty have the support and resources they need to continue leading change in their communities and beyond.