The Alliance for Access and Assets

Building Financial Power Together

Mission statement:

To work toward economic stability and security for everyone with disabilities — regardless of race, geography or ethnicity — by connecting people, organizations and resources. 

About the Alliance

The Alliance for Access and Assets: Building Financial Power Together hosts regular meetings bringing people together to learn and connect with a goal of increasing the financial security of people with disabilities. 

This work began in 2022 when the National Disability Institute (NDI) convened organizations in the Pittsburgh region for a financial inclusion roundtable. At this event, participants began to identify and address barriers to financial stability and security that contribute to the significant wealth gap faced by people with disabilities. Building on the momentum of the roundtable, United Way, in partnership with Neighborhood Allies and NDI and with financial support from JP Morgan Chase, led the effort to establish a coalition of more than 100 local government and community-based organizations as well as people with disabilities dedicated to improving the financial wellness of people across the spectrum of disability. 

In 2024, United Way assumed leadership of the Alliance. We welcome all people including those with disabilities and their allies to join with us. 

Thank you to our sponsor FISA Foundation for your generous support.

How to join the Alliance

The Alliance hosts meetings and members share resources and updates via email between meetings. To be added to our mailing list and receive meeting invitations and email communication, click the sign-up link below. If you have questions or would like additional information, please email [email protected]. 

Join Now

In the following section, you will find a selction of valuable resources.

Listening Session Research Report

FINANCIAL HEALTH: Living at the Intersection of Disability, Race and Poverty

On March 1, 2023, National Disability Institute (NDI) conducted listening sessions with Pittsburgh residents with disabilities and local providers serving persons with disabilities. The listening sessions discussed the financial inclusion needs and associated challenges faced by individuals living with disabilities and those at the intersection of race/ethnicity, poverty and disability. The sessions were convened by the Pittsburgh Coalition on the Intersection of Disability Race, Ethnicity and Poverty, in partnership with JPMorgan Chase. This report details qualitative insights and findings for the research exercises conducted.

Read Full Report Read Report Highlights

Pittsburgh Regional Roundtable

Addressing Financial Stability Challenges at the Intersection of Race, Ethnicity, Poverty and Disability – Feb. 23-24, 2022

The goal of the Roundtable held on Feb. 23-24, 2022 was twofold: (1) to bring together community nonprofits and other organizations working on economic and racial equity, with disability and financial inclusion partners in the Pittsburgh area and (2) to identify and begin work on action plans and concrete steps those organizations could jointly take to address some of the barriers to financial stability and financial resilience that contribute to the significant wealth gap faced by people of color with disabilities.

Read Summary Brief

At the March Quarterly Meeting, we learned about employment access for people of color with disabilities. Below are resources from Literacy Pittsburgh.

The Alliance for Access and Assets was originally established with the generous support of National Disability Institute and JPMorgan Chase. Work continues with support of FISA Foundation.