Aisha Nyandoro

Aisha Nyandoro, Ph.D., a national leader in the guaranteed income movement, is dedicated to equipping mothers to exit poverty and to changing the national narrative around who is deserving of our trust and care. She helped found Springboard to Opportunities, which connects families living in federally subsidized affordable housing with resources to address barriers to economic mobility. In 2018, Dr. Nyandoro launched Magnolia Mother’s Trust (MMT), the first guaranteed income program for Black mothers in the U.S.

MMT provides $1,000 per month to select residents in federally subsidized housing communities supported by Springboard, as well as social services and enrichment experiences for both mothers and children; a 529 education savings account for each participant’s school-age child; and the opportunity for mothers to opt in to a built-in savings plan. Outcomes validate the program’s impact, with the percentage of mothers able to pay all bills on time increasing from 27% to 83%; capacity to provide sufficient groceries rising from 64% to 81%; families with health insurance rising by 25%; and children more likely to perform above grade level rising by 20%.

Dr. Nyandoro’s advocacy work has informed national policy initiatives such as the expanded Child Tax Credit, our country’s single-most effective tool for alleviating child poverty. She co-founded and co-chairs the Guaranteed Income Community of Practice, which convenes policy experts, advocates, researchers, funders and elected officials to learn and collaborate on unconditional cash programs. MMT has inspired dozens of additional programs, including Project Home, Maine; Mother Up, Washington, D.C.; and In Her Hands, Georgia.