Why CMMP?
A lot of charity and social services make recipients jump through hoops to get aid
CMMP instead believes that everyone deserves steady support, without strings attached. Instead of spending their time proving their worth, CMMP recipients can focus on knowing that they will get a predictable, set amount of money every week for a 3-month season, money that they can use according to their needs.
Different people have different levels of time and money to share
CMMP participants lean in or step back as available. Do you have $5 a week to give? Can you spend 15 minutes a week requesting money from contributors or reaching out to recipients? If your time availability comes and goes, can you help with a single event? Maybe you have no time but you can give $50 a week and spread the word?
How does CMMP work?
- CMMP asks contributors to make a pledge for weekly payments over a 3-month season (Fall: Sept–Nov; Winter: Dec–Feb; Spring: March–May; Summer: June–Aug).
- Each contributor pledges what is right for their budget: current pledges range from $3 to $100 a week.
- Each week of the season, volunteer requesters send out Venmo or CashApp requests for the pledged amounts. All contributors have to do is pay the request!
- Those weekly pledges are pooled and divided up among CMMP recipients. Volunteers acting as points of connection between contributors and recipients then pass on the money to recipients on Monday mornings.
- At the end of 3 months, it all begins again with a new season! Current contributors are rolled over automatically into they new season, but if they’d like to change their amount or step back entirely, they’ll be able to do so a couple weeks before the season starts.
- You can read more details about project logistics on our CMMP Basics doc.
- Interested in learning even more details so that you can set up your own instance of CMMP? We’ve got a DIY CMMP guide just for that!
CMMP: the numbers
In our Fall25 season (our 19th season!), we received weekly pledges from almost 500 people for almost $7,000 a week. We paid out money to 30 recipients in weekly amounts of $215 for individuals and $235 for those living with financial dependents. At the end of this season, we will have redistributed over $90,000.
CMMP: the people
CMMP began in the DC area in late 2020 when Owen, who had been helping a neighbor find work and meet expenses, began to wonder if a program that provided regular amounts of money could help steady the precariousness that this neighbor and others experience. With that thought, Owen called on friends to try giving small amounts of a 3-month period that could be pooled and divided up among some of the folks in need in our community. From the 30 people contributing in that first cycle, we’ve grown in all ways—the numbers of people volunteering, contributing, and receiving funds through the project. From friends of Owen to friends of friends of Owen to where we are now—all CMMP colleagues helping to redistribute wealth to those most in need!
We are deeply grateful for current and past organizers—requesters, point people, social media drivers, strategists—for helping grow and sustain this project. We couldn’t do any of this without their hard work! Hands up for Akilah, Alex, Anna, Beth, Deb, Donna, Emma, Hallie, Jen, Jordan, Julia, Karin, Kathy, Lydia, Maddy, Mads, Mary, Naomi, Natalie, Ngoc, Owen, Radia, Raquel, Reese, Reid, Robin, Rose, Sarah, Sasha, Shannon, Siena, and Stephanie!!!
