Why families stay stuck
Families navigate 10-15 agencies independently. No shared data, no coordinated handoffs. Each agency optimizes for their metrics—not the family's outcome.
How we break the cycle
We connect your leadership team, collective impact partners, and frontline staff into one unified system with shared data and coordinated handoffs.
We help you build the infrastructure to end poverty.
Case Study
Empower Upper Cumberland
14 rural Tennessee counties · $25M investment · 4-year pilot
Total Wage Gains
$0.0M
across 950+ families
When systems work, families thrive.
Exit Rate
0%
exited poverty
Taxpayer ROI
0.0:1
lifetime return
Tax Revenue
$0.00M
/year to taxpayers
Children Impacted
0
lives changed
“These aren't just program outcomes—they're life outcomes. We're watching families build real stability, not just survive another month.”
Megan Spurgeon
Director, Empower Upper Cumberland
Self-Sufficient
0
reached 225% FPL
Families
0+
enrolled
Participant Stories
“Having someone back you up and cheer you on—it makes all the difference.”
Kelly P.
Your community can do this too.
The same methodology that built Empower UC works at any scale. Let's explore what's possible for yours.
See If This Fits
Who we are.
Scott C. Miller
Methodology & Strategy
Our foundation and methodologies are built on the framework developed by Scott and informed by Circles USA. Over four decades, Scott has helped 80+ communities shift from managing poverty to ending it. His work has been featured on CNN, CBS, and NPR, and he's testified before Congress on the policies that keep families trapped.
Becky Tsadilas
Chief Operating Officer
Becky brings deep operational expertise in building and scaling poverty alleviation programs. She oversees day-to-day operations, partner relationships, and program implementation—ensuring that what we design actually gets built and sustained.
Luke Poulsen
Principal Consultant
Luke leads data strategy, technology, and stakeholder communications. He builds the tracking systems, dashboards, and data infrastructure that let communities prove their impact—and tell a compelling story to funders and policymakers.
60+
Years Combined Experience
80+
Communities Served
$200M+
Funding Raised
The Process
Four stages to lasting change
Every engagement is scoped to your community's needs and available funding. Our work is designed to fit within federal and state funding streams including CSBG, WIOA, and DOL grants.
01
Assessment
02
Planning
03
Pilot
04
Expansion
Clarity before action
Assessment
Before you can build what's needed, you need to see what's really there. We map your current landscape—programs, partners, gaps, and opportunities—so every decision that follows is grounded in reality.
2–3 weeks
$5,000 – $10,000
What You Get
- Comprehensive asset and gap analysis
- Stakeholder interviews and alignment scan
- Funding landscape review
- Strategic opportunity brief
A fundable roadmap that tells the real story of your community's potential.
Design the system, not just the program
Planning
Most initiatives fail not from lack of effort, but from lack of coordination. We design integrated systems where partners share data, align incentives, and work toward common outcomes. For communities that need funding before implementation, we provide grant research and writing support to help secure the resources your plan requires.
6–10 weeks
$25,000 – $75,000
What You Get
- Logic model and theory of change
- Partner roles and accountability matrix
- Shared metrics framework
- Grant research, writing support, and funding strategy
A coalition that's genuinely aligned—with clear roles, shared goals, and the funding to move forward.
Learn fast, document everything
Pilot
Big systems start small. We help you launch a focused pilot that generates real outcomes and real data—evidence that builds confidence for funders, partners, and your own team. Support is customized to your community's needs, with tiers ranging from light-touch coaching to full implementation partnership.
12+ months
$50,000 – $150,000
What You Get
- Pilot design and launch support
- Real-time tracking dashboard
- Staff training and coaching
- Customized tiers of support based on community needs
Documented results that prove your model works—and show exactly how to replicate it.
Take proven results region-wide
Expansion
Once you've proven the model, it's time to grow. We help you scale thoughtfully—maintaining quality, onboarding new partners, and building the infrastructure for lasting regional impact.
Ongoing
$150,000 – $300,000+
What You Get
- Scaling strategy and phased rollout plan
- Partner onboarding playbook
- Quality assurance framework
- Sustainability and funding diversification plan
A regional system that outlasts any single grant—built to sustain and grow.
Where most communities start
Community Assessment
A focused diagnostic that maps your programs, partners, gaps, and funding landscape — and delivers a roadmap grounded in what's actually there.
From $8,000 · 2–3 weeks
Start Here
When a family comes to you in crisis, what happens after the immediate need is addressed?
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