Doing the Work
Photos: Shae Huth
Founded in 1996, Cincinnati Works partners with willing and capable people living in poverty to help them advance toward economic self-sufficiency through employment. Founded by Dave and Liane Phillips on a model of one-on-one coaching, Cincinnati Works today provides personalized career and financial coaching, workforce training, barrier-removal support and connections to employment opportunities. The organization partners with more than 100 employers to help Members not only secure jobs, but build lasting careers, while helping businesses strengthen retention and develop their workforce. Cincinnati Works' vision is to lead the effort to eliminate poverty in the community.
More at cincinnatiworks.org.
Cincinnati Works celebrated its 30th anniversary with an event at Cincinnati Museum Center, with a keynote address by Northern Kentucky University President Dr. Cady Short-Thompson, and a presentation on Cincinnati Works’ vision for the future, and the first look at the Economic Impact Report. The Economic Impact Report demonstrates that the nonprofit’s work is not only changing individual lives, but also delivering significant economic value to the Greater Cincinnati region.
The Cincinnati Works 2022-2025 Economic Impact Report, commissioned by Cincinnati Works and produced by the Center for Research & Data at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber, found that job placements facilitated by Cincinnati Works generated $136.3 million in economic output, including $96.6 million in regional earnings, while creating or supporting 1,319 jobs and generating $10.88 million in local, state and federal tax revenue.
The findings come as Cincinnati Works marks three decades of helping people advance toward economic self-sufficiency through employment. Founded in 1996 by Dave and Liane Phillips, Cincinnati Works was built around a model that emphasized job retention and advancement, rather than job placement alone. Thirty years later, individualized coaching remains at the center of the organization’s approach.
“For 30 years, Cincinnati Works has believed in the resiliency of people and the power of employment to create lasting stability,” said Tianay Amat, president & CEO of Cincinnati Works. “This report puts numbers behind what we see every day. When someone finds meaningful employment, overcomes a barrier, builds financial stability or advances in a career, the impact extends to their family, their employer and ultimately our entire region.”
3,445 Members Engaged, 836 Job Placements
From 2022 through 2025, Cincinnati Works engaged nearly 3,500 individuals across the region. During the reporting period, 602 Members were placed into jobs, with a total of 836 job placements.
Those jobs are also paying more. Average hourly earnings for Members placed in jobs increased from $16.95 in 2022 to $18.88 in 2025, an 11 percent increase. Cincinnati Works engages with more than 100 employer partners and connects Members with opportunities in some of the region's most important industries, including health care and social assistance, manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, construction and educational services.
The report also quantifies how employment creates an economic ripple effect. The 602 unique Members included in the economic impact analysis generated nearly $97 million in direct and indirect regional earnings. Their employment supported 1,319 jobs and generated approximately $4.6 million in local taxes, $4 million in state taxes and $2.27 million in federal taxes.
More Than Getting a Job
The report demonstrates that Cincinnati Works’ impact extends beyond employment placement.
Through its Workforce Connection Program, Cincinnati Works embeds coaching at employer worksites to help employees address challenges, remain employed and advance. From 2022-2025, 1,592 Members received coaching services, while retention among employees receiving onsite coaching averaged above 80 percent.
Financial stability is another key component of the Cincinnati Works model. More than 1,000 Members met with a financial coach, while the organization's tax assistance work returned nearly $1.7 million to households during the reporting period. The Chamber estimates that spending generated by those refunds could create approximately $2.9 million in additional economic output.
Cincinnati Works is also looking to the next generation. Launched in 2024, the Next Generation Program connects students with career awareness, job-readiness training, coaching and employer opportunities. During the 2024-25 school year, 505 students participated in career awareness activities, 375 engaged in job-readiness training and 53 received post-graduation services.
