The Problem: 7.3 million people – 18.9% of Californians – struggle to afford basic needs.
- Cost of Living in CA: $65,000/year
- Minimum Wage Income: $34,320/year working full-time
- The Gap: $30,680 shortfall
Building Financial Stability for Working Families
Our Proven Solution
Refundable tax credits put cash back in people’s pockets.
When someone receives $1 in tax credits, they typically spend them within two miles of their home. That generates local economic activity, supports local businesses, and helps communities thrive.
Plus, there is a sales tax on most of those expenses: revenue that is reinvested in the state’s general fund, which helps keep our economy strong.
GSO’s Impact This Year
- Reached 4.7 million Californians directly through texts, phone calls, flyers, and canvassing
- Prepared 45,000 state and federal tax returns
- Saved low-income filers $6 million in tax preparation fees
- Put $27 million in refunds in our clients’ pockets
- Put $56 million in our communities in economic activity as refunds spent on everyday necessities
- Network of more than 33 Community Partners across CA
- Zero administrative overhead to families
Why GSO?
We help families, young people, and working people put more money in their pockets so they can meet the cost of living.
We partner with people and communities to advocate for more income, better jobs, and more opportunities so they can rise above financial hardship.
Why now?
- Proven track record
- Statewide organization with 10 years of impact
- Direct service delivery + policy influence
- Trusted relationships with millions of low-income Californians
Unique Approach
- Immediate relief: cash in pockets today
- Systemic change: policy infrastructure for tomorrow
- Community-rooted: real stories drive real policy
Support Our Mission
GSO is launching Momentum10, a campaign to expand our reach, amplify our impact, and drive transformative policy change. Give today.
Expand Access to Rural, Remote, and Disaster-Impacted Areas: Bring free tax prep and financial resources to underserved areas in the Central Valley and Northern California, ensuring no worker is left behind.
Drive Narrative Change: Redefine the conversation around poverty with groundbreaking research and messaging that dismantles harmful myths and paves the way for 21st-century solutions.
Make Better Policy Choices: Expand our policy efforts to address broader anti-poverty solutions, hosting Advocacy Days, engaging community members in policy-making, and developing innovative, common sense policies.
Scale Our Signature Tacos & Taxes Events: Combining free tax prep, local engagement, free tacos and advocacy to ensure no one leaves money on the table.