The first 10 years built the foundation.
The next 10 years will build the future.
Rockford Rising: 10 Years Forward builds on a decade of community experience and collaboration. We are bringing people, organizations, employers, and local leaders together around a shared goal: creating measurable, lasting improvements in economic mobility across the City of Rockford.
We have spent the last decade building pathways toward greater stability, opportunity, and economic mobility. Now, we have an opportunity to build on that foundation and take our work to the next level.
Ten years of building pathways: This campaign builds on the relationships, partnerships, and lessons learned over the past decade. We know that reducing poverty and increasing economic mobility takes more than one organization or one program. It takes a coordinated community effort, a shared vision, and a commitment to measurable results.
Four percent less poverty: Our goal is to reduce Rockford’s poverty rate by four percentage points over the next 10 years. This is an ambitious goal, but it gives us something concrete to work toward. Rather than simply managing the consequences of poverty, we want to address the barriers that prevent individuals and families from moving toward greater financial stability and opportunity.
Five hundred graduates annually: To help us reach that goal, we plan to scale Getting Ahead to 500 graduates annually at full implementation. Getting Ahead equips individuals experiencing economic hardship with the knowledge, resources, relationships, and strategies to build a more stable future. But this is not just about increasing the number of graduates. It is about connecting people with the community resources, opportunities, and support they need to turn their goals into lasting progress.
More than $100 million in additional annual earnings: And what happens when more people have the opportunity to increase their income, strengthen their financial stability, and participate more fully in the economy? The impact extends far beyond individual households. We project that this effort could generate more than $100 million in additional annual earnings for our community at full scale. That means greater purchasing power for families, more dollars circulating in local businesses, and a stronger economic foundation for Rockford.
In years 1-2 (2027-2028) we will build our capacity and graduate 250 Getting Ahead participants each year we will strengthen our infrastructure and expand our capacity and partnerships. In years 3-5 we will graduate 350 participants annually, increase workforce pathways and build employer engagement. And in years 6-10 we will scale up to the full 500 graduates annually and strengthen our mobility ecosystem. Along the way we will be measuring our progress toward our overall goal.
There are four key ways you can be part of Rockford Rising: invest, partner, employ, and mobilize. Invest in expanding what works, partner by sharing resources and expertise, create employment and workforce pathways, and help mobilize others around this shared vision.
Every organization and individual has something valuable to contribute. Together, we can build on the foundation of the first 10 years and create a stronger, more economically mobile Rockford for the next 10 years.
Rockford Rising is an opportunity for all of us to invest in the next 10 years of economic mobility for our community. We’ve created several levels of partnership to make it possible for foundations, businesses, organizations, and individuals to participate in this effort.
Whether you become a Foundation Partner, sponsor a cohort, or invest in an individual participant, your support helps us expand Getting Ahead, strengthen community partnerships, and create measurable pathways out of poverty.
This is more than funding a program, it’s investing in Rockford’s future. We invite you to find the level of partnership that works for you and join us in building the next 10 years together.
Let's Build Rockford's Future Together
Rockford Rising: 10 Years Forward is a community-wide effort, and there is a place for everyone in this work. Whether you are interested in investing in the initiative, becoming a community partner, aligning your organization's efforts with our goals, or exploring other ways to contribute, I welcome the opportunity to connect.
Contact Mary Cacioppi (MaryC@BridgesNorthernIL.com) to discuss how you can get involved and help advance economic mobility in Rockford. Together, we can build on the progress of the past decade and create greater opportunities for the next generation.
The next 10 years start with us.
Additional Resources
Rockford Rising Campaign Prospectus
Getting Ahead Testimonial Video