Funder Learning Cohort
Across the country, many states are leading the charge in ensuring large corporations and the ultra-wealthy contribute their fair share to fund public education, health and childcare, affordable housing, and other public services. State-level campaigns are proving that ambitious reforms are possible—and that revenue fights are central to broader movements for economic equality, democracy, and community well-being.
The Better Taxes Funder Learning Cohort, coordinated with the State Revenue Alliance, is an initiative to engage more funders, donors, and philanthropic advisors in this movement.
Through site visits and deep engagement with local coalitions, policymakers, and grassroots organizers, participants gain a nuanced understanding of how state-based campaigns are winning revenue fights, building power for everyday people, and shaping national conversations about taxation and economic fairness.
State Partners
The initiative is grounded in the real-world experiences of state-based coalitions fighting for fairer tax policies. Across multiple site visits, the cohort learns from organizations at the forefront of revenue campaigns, examining the political landscape, coalition strategies, and lessons from past organizing.
The Power and Potential of State-Based Tax and Revenue Campaigns
Better Taxes for a Better America brought together national and place-based funders, donor advisors, and labor leaders for a six-month learning series — visiting Arizona, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota to learn from the organizers, advocates, and policymakers winning real revenue fights on the ground.
This report is a distillation of what works, why it matters, and the role for philanthropy in supporting the movement for fair taxes.
The stories here make a compelling case that fair taxation is the foundation of everything funders care about.
Site Visit Memos: Lessons From and For Funders
Building a Fair Future: The Story of Taxes & Revenue in Minnesota
Minnesota’s long-term investment in organizing, narrative strategy, and coalition infrastructure has made it a national model for linking tax policy to democracy and shared prosperity. We Make Minnesota and ISAIAH demonstrate how labor, faith, and community organizations can drive sustained, people-centered revenue reform. This memo offers key takeaways for funders on how to resource durable coalitions and narrative power to advance fair taxation.
A Fair Share for Massachusetts: From Coalition to Victory
Massachusetts made history in 2022 by passing a millionaire’s tax through a constitutional amendment — one of the most significant progressive tax victories in decades. The Fair Share Massachusetts campaign built a powerful coalition of labor, grassroots, and policy partners that reframed tax justice as a matter of fairness and public good. This brief captures lessons from our virtual convening on how funders can help scale and sustain such transformative state-based wins.
The People's Budget: Lessons from Pennsylvania's Tax Fight
Pennsylvania’s tax justice movement is gaining momentum through the Pennsylvanians Together coalition, uniting labor, community, and policy organizations to demand fair revenue and fight regressive tax cuts. Working alongside the Penn Policy Center, advocates are pushing for new investments in education, housing, and infrastructure by ensuring corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share. This memo captures insights from our Philadelphia convening and explores how philanthropy can help strengthen the state’s revenue infrastructure and narrative power.
How New Mexico Became a National Model for Equitable Tax Reform
New Mexico has emerged as a national leader in equitable tax reform, passing policies that generate billions in new public revenue while centering racial, gender, immigrant, and economic justice. A coalition of grassroots organizers, policy experts, and advocates has worked together over years to shift narratives, influence lawmakers, and secure lasting wins. This memo captures key takeaways from our virtual visit, offering lessons and leverage points for funders across issue areas and geographies.
A People First Economy: Lessons from Arizona
Arizona’s tax code is one of the most regressive in the country, favoring corporations and the wealthy while underfunding education, housing, and healthcare. The People First Economy coalition — led by grassroots, policy, and labor organizations —is building power to shift that reality through bold campaigns, deep community organizing, and co-governance with legislators. This memo captures key takeaways from our trip, offering lessons and leverage points for funders across issue areas and geographies.
Learn More
Contact Jonathan Osler, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives: jonathan@bettertaxes.org
Image credit: Ted Eytan
