What would happen if we asked bigger questions?

OpenResearch offers a new model in the world of research. 

Who we are

OpenResearch is a nonprofit research organization with a startup mentality. 

Drawing on the strengths of traditional academic research and the creativity and problem-solving characteristics of startups, we ask big, open-ended questions and gather comprehensive data to fill pivotal knowledge gaps.

OpenResearch’s Unconditional Cash Study 

The most comprehensive look into the impacts of unconditional cash in the U.S. to date

Unconditional Cash Study

3,000 people received monthly cash transfers for three years. 

Approximately one-third of participants, the recipient group, received $1,000 a month. Two-thirds comprised the control group and received $50 a month. 

At the time of enrollment: 

Participants' average household income was $29,990 a year.

Participants were between the ages of 21 and 40.

Participants were selected from rural, suburban, and urban areas in Illinois and Texas.

Our team and nonprofit partners ensured most participants would not lose existing benefits, even passing a law in one state to do so.

Unconditional Cash Study

Explore our featured findings 

Participant Stories

Read & listen to participant stories 

Findings from the OpenResearch team

Policy

12.05.24

Insights from OpenResearch on the 2021 Expanded Child Tax Credit

Insights from OpenResearch on the 2021 Expanded Child Tax Credit

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Politics

12.02.24

Key Findings: The Impact of the Cash on Attitudes Towards Work

Receiving an unconditional cash transfer leads to increased belief in the intrinsic value of work

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Politics

12.02.24

Key Findings: Political and Social Attitudes and Behaviors

The causal effects of income on political attitudes and behavior

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Qualitative

10.24.24

The American Dream

For those living near the federal poverty level, the promise of the American dream has come to represent surviving rather than thriving.

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See all findings

Elizabeth Rhodes
Research Director

"We view this study as a foundation for a broad research agenda on how best to promote economic inclusivity both now and in the future. Our goal is to learn from participants’ experiences and better understand both the potential and the limitations of unconditional cash."

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Karina Dotson
Research & Insights Manager

"The comprehensive use of both quantitative and qualitative analysis allows us to delve into the complexities of people's lives. We are able to capture their nuanced experiences with rich qualitative narratives and also explore the causal factors behind those experiences with our quantitative data. This holistic approach is what drew me to the project and what I believe is foundational to creating change."

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Patrick Krause
Data Director

"There are several factors that set this project apart from previous studies. The large sample size, the long duration, the amount of factors researched and the extremely high response rates. While one of these elements may exist in prior research, the combination of all of them in one study is a level of rigor we believe is unique in this space."

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    What we are working on 

    Deepening our understanding of cash transfers

    We’re expanding our work on unconditional cash—releasing a public dataset, improving measures of hardship, and analyzing where cash made the greatest difference—and where it was only one piece of the puzzle. This includes a new rural economic mobility study examining how cash operates in rural settings, what structural barriers exist, and what additional resources are needed to expand opportunity in rural communities. 

    Emerging projects

    We’re launching research in new domains, including exploring whether access to AI tools —paired with education—can reduce the AI divide and broaden who benefits from emerging technology, and unlock new pathways for participation and shared prosperity. 

    Reimagining research

    We’re innovating approaches to improve how research is done. From AI-assisted qualitative analysis to adaptive surveys, we aim to better capture the complexities of people’s lives and ensure a broader range of voices are represented. 

    Support our work
    Meet our team