Affording America

Affording America, (a fiscally sponsored program of Faith in Democracy), was created to help people navigate the cost-of-living crisis through trusted, practical information rather than partisan messaging. Its first major initiative, Affording Life, translates economic facts into everyday habits that help people verify claims, find savings, and understand why prices move—without endorsements or political cues.

The core idea is simple but strategic: turn scattered facts about prices into low-friction learning moments that build financial competence and information literacy at once. In practice, that means short, source-linked explainers and peer spaces that model verification and civility, so information consumption leads to confidence rather than outrage or fatigue.

“While on the surface, our resources may appear designed to foster economic literacy or help navigate the cost-of-living crisis, that is merely the magnet. The actual root purpose and impact of our program is creating more competent consumers of information who are empowered by gaining root-cause understanding of the policies impacting their lives the most, and how to navigate an information landscape filled with misinformation and disinformation.” — Kalah Espinoza, Program Director

The initiative will focus initially on 12 priority states—Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada, plus Ohio, Virginia, Texas, New Jersey, New York, and Colorado—and four audience clusters: working women and parents; young adults, especially right-leaning men; Boomers on fixed incomes; and multicultural, high-mobility Sunbelt families. Each group will receive tailored content, formats, and hosts that match how they already consume information.

Four strategies anchor the model. First, “help-first” micro-learning: 60-second “how to read this claim” shorts, weekly Family Price Hacks emails, and $10 Dinner Clubs that pair practical savings tips with source-checking skills. Second, trusted peer communities: private state hubs and moderated online groups where verification—not outrage—is the social norm. Third, neutral tools and context: a 501(c)(3)-compliant Cost-of-Living Scorecard and quarterly “Why Prices Rise” explainers that connect everyday prices to broader market dynamics. Fourth, creators and local partners: coupon and DIY influencers (with a strong male and multicultural presence), churches, local radio, and parenting networks that extend reach across cultural and linguistic lines.

Everything about the design reinforces compliance, inclusion, and trust: neutral language, bilingual explainers, counsel review, and partnerships that widen access. Delivery is omnichannel (social media, website, and email) supported by targeted digital ads, SEO, and gamified incentives for user-generated content. The through-line is “evidence over outrage”: modeling verification, civility, and practical help that meet people where they are and make learning sticky.