Tzedek DC is honored to announce a significant grant from Principal® Foundation. The one-year grant of $100,000 will support Tzedek DC’s mission of safeguarding the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with low incomes facing the often-devastating consequences of debt collection and credit-related obstacles.
Principal Foundation provides philanthropic support to programs focused on building financial security in the communities where Principal Financial Group® operates. Principal Foundation grants target community organizations and social enterprises with funding focused on financial empowerment and needs, including financial health, social and cultural connections, and research.
Tzedek DC carries out our mission as anti-racism work in response to the massive wealth gaps tracking race in DC and nationwide. We seek to serve and empower our client base, which is comprised of 90% Black residents, 60% women, and 25% disabled community members. Our strategic approach combines three synergistic activities: (i) free direct services—legal representation and advice, and financial counseling; (ii) working in coalition to make systemic change; and (iii) providing bilingual community legal education on debt collection, identity theft, and credit management. Since 2017, Tzedek DC has served over 3,000 client households in legal matters and catalyzed systemic reforms benefiting hundreds of thousands of DC residents.
“Tzedek DC is grateful to be in collaboration with the Principal Foundation working together to expand access to justice within our DC community,” said Founding President & Director-Counsel Ariel Levinson-Waldman.
“Having a lawyer or financial counselor can make all the difference for individuals and families who are facing problems related to issues like debt, predatory lending, identity theft, and credit report challenges,” says Jo Christine Miles, Director of Principal Foundation and Principal community relations. “The work of Tzedek DC is crucial to ensuring there is support and resources available for communities in need of services such as civil legal advice and financial education to help overcome these challenges. Principal Foundation is pleased to support Tzedek DC’s mission that will continue to positively impact the lives of their clients.”
About Principal Foundation
Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. (“Principal Foundation”) is a duly recognized 501(c)(3) entity focused on providing philanthropic support to programs that build financial security in the communities where Principal Financial Group, Inc. (“Principal”) operates. While Principal Foundation receives funding from Principal, Principal Foundation is a distinct, independent, charitable entity. Principal Foundation does not practice any form of investment advisory services and is not authorized to do so.
Principal community relations supports the communities where affiliates of the Principal Financial Group®, Des Moines, IA 50392 operates. Insurance products and plan administrative services provided through Principal Life Insurance Company®, a member of the Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, IA 50392.
About Tzedek DC
Tzedek DC’s name is drawn from the ancient Jewish teaching “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof,” or “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” Headquartered at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, Tzedek DC’s mission is to safeguard the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with lower incomes facing the often-devastating consequences of debt collection and credit-related obstacles. This mission is carried out as anti-racism work in response to the massive wealth gaps tracking race in DC and nationwide. Tzedek DC seeks to serve and empower its client base, which is comprised of 90% Black folks, 60% women, and 25% disabled community members. Our strategic approach combines three synergistic activities: (i) free direct services—legal representation and advice, and financial counseling; (ii) working in coalition to make systemic change; and (iii) providing bilingual community legal education on debt collection, identity theft, and credit management. Since 2017, Tzedek DC has served over 2,700 client households in legal matters and catalyzed systemic reforms benefiting hundreds of thousands of DC residents.