Last week, DoorDash and the National Urban League announced the expansion of their GoalUp Financial Empowerment Partnership to include the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle and five other local affiliates: the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, Chicago Urban League, Houston Area Urban League, Urban League of Philadelphia, and the Urban League of San Diego County. As part of the partnership expansion, each affiliate will receive a $50,000 grant that will enable them to explore digital financial education service delivery and solicit feedback on GoalUp.org through localized focus groups, surveys, and interviews.
In 2021, DoorDash partnered with the National Urban League to create GoalUp.org, a first of its kind digital platform that makes the Urban League’s tested and proven financial literacy educational offerings available to any Dasher with an internet connection, regardless of proximity to one of the Urban League’s 92 brick and mortar affiliate locations across the country. The goal of this new financial empowerment site is to support historically underrepresented gig economy workers – including women, non-binary people, and People of Color – in reaching their financial goals. Goalup.org provides easily accessible and on-demand learning for people of all ages and baseline knowledge, covering topics ranging from savings and credit to auto financing and credit building.
“Economic empowerment is the heart of the National Urban League’s mission and innovative programs like GoalUp are vital to bringing financial stability and opportunity to underserved communities, including those without an Urban League affiliate nearby,” National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial said. “We’re proud that the success of GoalUp’s first year has led to the growth of the program and a productive ongoing partnership with DoorDash.”
“Participating in GoalUp.org has helped me and my family to finance and purchase a new automobile,” said Anthony Ivory, a Dasher from New Jersey and participant in GoalUp.org. “I dash to make extra money in-between time at my primary job and being a parent. Learning how to keep and grow the money I make has put me on the path to financial independence. I’m grateful to DoorDash and the National Urban League for offering this program that has helped our family save and shown us how we can use those savings to reach our financial goals.”
The two organizations announced the multi-year Financial Empowerment Partnership in 2021 as part of DoorDash’s Main Street Strong pledge. The success of the GoalUp portal to date is the result of years of collaboration on the best practices for financial empowerment through fundamentals. As part of the expansion of this program to local affiliates, the platform will also be shared with clients served through Housing, Workforce Development, Entrepreneurship and Financial Empowerment programs within Urban League affiliates, who serve as first-responders in the fight for racial and economic justice.
“Our mission is to empower those we serve by supporting them along the path to economic self-sufficiency. Providing opportunities to improve financial literacy remains one of the most critical components necessary to successfully reach that goal,” says Michelle Merriweather, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle President & CEO. “With this partnership, we have an opportunity to continue investing tools and resources that will lead toward healthy financial futures for those we serve.”
Since launching in September 2021, GoalUp.org has expanded from the 6 initially offered courses to 18 by the end of April 2022. The program’s first year has seen more than 5,700 Dashers enrolling in courses and more than 2,600 course completions. The most popular courses included Developing Your Savings Goals, Investing for Beginners and Budgeting During the Pandemic.
“As part of DoorDash’s mission to empower local economies, we’re proud to partner with the National Urban League to expand access to financial empowerment tools for Dashers and Urban League clients,” said Elizabeth Jarvis-Shean, Vice President of Communications and Policy, DoorDash. “GoalUp is a testament to our commitment in providing tools and resources for Dashers to achieve financial success on-and-off the platform while benefiting from flexible work. GoalUp.org has provided a way for people across the country to access the courses and tools they need to create a stronger financial future.”
