A Community Thrives Challenge

DCRAC’s mission is to ensure equitable treatment and equal access to credit and capital. We work to transform financial lives and address barriers to the racial wealth divide that leaves an average American family of color with only 16 cents for every dollar owned by the average white family.  DCRAC programs provide an integrated systems approach to building financial security--key to developing broad economic inclusion, mobility, and, ultimately, financial security.  Programs or services offered by DCRAC that support the above mission statement 

• Money School helps individuals build wealth through information on savings, debt, credit, etc. 
• Credit Union provides access to safe banking and borrowing, thereby improving future financial outcomes.
• DCRAC Law helps families build economic strength by resolving income & property tax debt & ownership issues. 
• Consumer Finance Advocacy prevents the passing of bad laws, systemic injustice, and makes the financial system fairer.  

We take a holistic approach to meet our mission.

DCRAC Outcomes (including but not limited to population served, number served, demographic background of population served)

DCRAC serves vulnerable individuals and families in Delaware; 80% have incomes below area median income, 60% are in New Castle, over 55, and minority. Between April 2020 and July 2020, DCRAC served over 1,500 Delawareans in a variety of ways.

We unveiled a rebrand in July 2020, thanks mainly to a team of volunteers from Capital One who worked tirelessly for many months. Recognizing our resource limitations, they developed our brand standard guide and updated all collateral and digital assets.  

We re-launched the three-year capacity-building plan in August 2020, thanks mainly to a team of volunteers from Barclays who not only helped craft the language but created the visuals that better tell our story.

In April 2020, when DCRAC heard about the Paycheck Protection Program, Stepping Stones CFCU kicked into high gear. Its CEO Blanche Jackson got the credit union into the PPP fold. Its chairman, Matt Parks of Discover Bank, worked to bring philanthropists — Jessie Ball DuPont Fund, Longwood and Welfare Foundations, Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA), and National Development Council to work together to bring 10 million dollars in lending to nonprofits in Delaware. 

Stepping Stones Community Federal Credit Union made 17 loans of 1,620,814.31 to Delaware's nonprofits and small businesses. The smallest loan was for $4,792, and 9 loans were under $25,000. Senator Coons recognized our work on MSNBC and at a committee hearing.

Since March 2020, DCRAC Law has been operating in high gear. COVID-19 brought the issue of wills, power of attorney, and healthcare directive to the forefront. With the IRS and courts closed, our work required numerous extra steps, lots of paperwork, postage, and one-on-ones sometimes in person to accomplish our clients' goals. In July, we filed a case in District Court.  Delaware is not holding the bar exam this year, leaving hundreds of Widener graduates unable to plan their immediate future. In August, one such graduate, Carl Wagner, joined DCRAC Law as Certified Limited Practice Licensee Applicant.

In March 2020, Money School went virtual. We provided the community with the most updated and accurate information on the Economic Impact Payments (stimulus), filing unemployment insurance, paycheck protection program, Etc. We continued to offer classes online. We are designing a 12-week curriculum that will launch in October—virtual classroom limited to 15 students. Each will meet with a coach every week. This course will be offered 3 or 4 times a year. We use every medium to respond to all callers—Text, FaceTime, WhatsApp, Telephone, Facebook messenger, Etc. 

• 40+ called for help with stimulus check--how to sign up online using 2017 return, access wage, and income transcripts, and file returns.
• 30+ called for help with filing unemployment insurance, pandemic unemployment assistance. 
• 60+ callers needed help with downloading and using their banking app. 
• 50+ non-profits and small businesses needed help with documentation for paycheck protection program loan application.

Finally, DCRAC has been very busy advocating in its core areas and those that have emerged during this pandemic.