Family Values @ Work Awards More Than $700,000 to Strengthen State Care Campaigns Across the Country

Latest round of grants supports grassroots organizations advancing paid family and medical leave and paid sick days through implementation, advocacy, education, and movement building.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Family Values @ Work (FV@W) announced more than $700,000 in grants was awarded in 2026 Q2 to grassroots organizations leading campaigns to strengthen and expand paid family and medical leave and paid sick days in states across the country.

The second-quarter grants invest in organizations working to implement recently enacted policies, defend hard-won victories, educate workers about their rights, and build the public support needed to win the next generation of care policies.
“Real change happens because trusted community organizations have the resources to organize, educate, and advocate where people live,” said Network Director, Marianne Bellesorte. “These grants help our network members strengthen their work to win inclusive care policies locally, secure policies already won, and bring paid leave to more workers and families.”

This funding supports organizations advancing care policies in diverse ways, including:

• Maryland: Grassroots outreach and public education to help ensure the successful implementation of the state’s paid family and medical leave program.
• Pennsylvania: Coordinating the statewide Family Care Coalition to build grassroots support, expand outreach into new communities, and strengthen legislative momentum for the Family Care Act.
• Georgia: Statewide coalition leadership to advance an actuarial study that will measure the costs and benefits of creating a paid family and medical leave program for all working Georgians.
• Washington, DC: Worker education and leadership development focused on domestic workers, care workers, and immigrant communities, while gathering community input to improve access to paid family and medical leave and paid sick leave protections.
• Michigan: Community organizing and leadership training to support implementation of earned paid sick time while building momentum for the Family Leave Optimal Coverage (FLOC) Act.
• Minnesota: Organizing parents and caregivers to understand, defend, and strengthen paid leave and paid sick time through public education, storytelling, and community engagement.

Together, these investments demonstrate Family Values @ Work’s belief that lasting policy change begins with strong local leadership. By investing in grassroots organizations, FV@W helps communities improve implementation, protect existing gains, and build public support for future policy victories.

Since its founding, Family Values @ Work has helped build one of the nation’s strongest state-based care policy and advocacy networks. Together, network members have helped secure paid family and medical leave and paid sick day victories that now improve the lives of millions of workers and their families.

“Our network proves that national change starts in communities,” said Executive Director, Gayle Goldin. “Every state campaign strengthens the movement, every local victory informs the next, and every investment brings us closer to a democracy where everyone has the freedom to care for themselves and the people they love.”

Additional information about the grant recipients and their work will be shared throughout the year as these campaigns continue to build momentum nationwide.

For all media/press inquiries please contact press@familyvaluesatwork.org or call (414) 436-9536