The Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy.

We recognize that race, gender, and place intersect with and intensify the challenge of economic inequality and we address these dynamics by advancing an inclusive vision of economic justice. For over 25 years, EOP has focused on expanding individuals’ opportunities to connect to quality work, start businesses, and build economic stability that provides the freedom to pursue opportunity.

We collaborate with national and local leaders across the United States – nonprofit leaders, policymakers, labor leaders, business leaders, educators, academics, and more – and we actively seek input and ideas from individuals and communities affected by proposed approaches to address economic opportunity challenges. Through our leadership and fellowship programs; applied research and evaluation; data and analysis; and dialogue with diverse stakeholders, we work at both local and national levels to build understanding and galvanize action to address the challenge of economic opportunity in America.

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US Microenterprise Census Fast Facts, Fiscal Year 2010
Publications

US Microenterprise Census Fast Facts, Fiscal Year 2010

Access key data and extrapolations on the U.S. microenterprise industry in this concise 2 page fact sheet

Micro Jobs, Fast Facts
Publications

Micro Jobs, Fast Facts

This fact sheet summarizes the experience of entrepreneurs in 2009 that were surveyed by 21 microenterprise programs in 2010.

Marketing for Micro 101: Lessons from around the U.S.
Publications

Marketing for Micro 101: Lessons from around the U.S.

This publication offers an array of marketing experiences and some lessons drawn from microenterprise organizations across the country.

Distance Learning and the Changing Face of Business Development Services
Publications

Distance Learning and the Changing Face of Business Development Services

A long-time challenge facing microenterprise programs is how to reach out to larger numbers of entrepreneurs efficiently despite the distance in proximity to a program office.

Using a Brands Strategy for Scaling Business Development Services 
Publications

Using a Brands Strategy for Scaling Business Development Services 

FIELD’s case study of a brands strategy employed on behalf of both producer and retailer entrepreneurs examines Southeastern Ohio’s ACEnet and its experience creating three brands in the food and arts sectors.

Where Labor Supply Meets Labor Demand
Publications

Where Labor Supply Meets Labor Demand

Is the Price Right? The Role of Pricing in Microenterprise Lending
Publications

Is the Price Right? The Role of Pricing in Microenterprise Lending

This guide explores the issues relating to the pricing of microenterprise loans that funders may want to consider as they engage with lenders.

Results Driven: Using the Business Value Approach to Design and Assess Workforce Services
Publications

Results Driven: Using the Business Value Approach to Design and Assess Workforce Services

This publication details some of the important lessons learned from the strong relationships that have developed over time between 10 sector projects and their employer partners.

Data that Works
Publications

Data that Works

Getting a handle on what data an organization needs, how to store that information and how to use it are core capacities for a nonprofit microenterprise program.

Courses to Employment: Initial Education and Employment Outcomes Findings for Community College-Nonprofit Partnership in Austin, TX
Publications

Courses to Employment: Initial Education and Employment Outcomes Findings for Community College-Nonprofit Partnership in Austin, TX

This report details the initial findings from research on the education and employment outcomes of 991 students who enrolled in the nonprofit Capital IDEA program between 2003 and 2008.

About the Economic Opportunities Program

The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy.

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More from the Economic Opportunities Program

Foundational Skills: National Survey Findings
Publications

Foundational Skills: National Survey Findings

This publication examines how fragmented skills, credentialing, and workforce data systems limit the potential of skills-based hiring and advancement, and outlines a shared vision for building the interoperable infrastructure needed to create a connected skills ecosystem that benefits workers, employers, educators, and governments.

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Podcasts Videos

What Employee Ownership Means to Workers

This conversation is part of our Opportunity in America series, where we take a look at the economy, what’s working, what’s broken, and really how we fix it to make sure that everyone can succeed in today’s economy.

Resource Roundup: Wages and Affordability
Blog Posts
Room for Growth: A Survey of Upskilling Approaches — 2026 Analysis
Publications

Room for Growth: A Survey of Upskilling Approaches — 2026 Analysis

This publication examines how fragmented skills, credentialing, and workforce data systems limit the potential of skills-based hiring and advancement, and outlines a shared vision for building the interoperable infrastructure needed to create a connected skills ecosystem that benefits workers, employers, educators, and governments.

Building Economic Security: A Book Talk with Arindrajit Dube and Carrie Joy Grimes
Podcasts Videos

Building Economic Security: A Book Talk with Arindrajit Dube and Carrie Joy Grimes

Economic security shouldn’t be a lottery. Yet for millions of working families, stagnant wages and precarious jobs collide with the daily grind of managing money on shaky ground — leaving stability feeling less like a plan and more like a gamble. Fixing that takes more than one lever. It takes structural reform and the tools people need to take control of their financial lives, working together.

What Employee Ownership Means to Workers
Publications

What Employee Ownership Means to Workers

Insights from Focus Groups with Employee Owners