Our Story

RISE (Responsibility. Initiative. Solutions. Empowerment) is a 501(c)(3)organization that seeks to improve the community by providing financial literacy tools and incentives to help families build assets and make better financial choices.

Our Mission

RISE empowers people to become self-sufficient by

building and sustaining human and financial assets.

Our Vision

RISE will transform the financial well-being of low income

working people, thereby improving the community.

Our History

RISE Foundation was founded in 1999 as a joint effort of the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, Memphis Housing Authority and United Way of the Mid-South to help break the cycle of poverty and its effects, including bankruptcy, foreclosure, unemployment and crime. RISE stands for Responsibility. Initiative. Solutions. Empowerment.

RISE was initially designed to help Memphis public housing residents achieve financial self-sufficiency, thereby making the city a healthier place. Through community support, we’ve expanded tremendously over the years to serve a broader demographic.

For over two decades, RISE has developed unique expertise in helping entry-level wage earners to budget, save and accumulate assets. Our work has led to a deep understanding of the larger community issues working against families in Memphis and Shelby County.