Andrew Yang Proposes $100 Government Grant to Every American to Give to Charity

Presidential candidate Andrew Yang has proposed giving every American $100 a year from the government to donate to a charity of their choice.

Yang said his charity proposal, which he calls the “Prosperity Grant” program, would funnel $20 billion a year to nonprofits and “increase civic engagement in local communities.” It is similar to his plan to give all Americans $1,000 a month from the government to use however they choose.

Independent Sector asked the top presidential candidates of both major political parties to fill out a questionnaire about their policies affecting nonprofits.

Yang, Amy Klobuchar, and Pete Buttigieg, all Democrats, were the only ones who provided responses. Yang mentioned his $100 charity proposal in his questionnaire.

Yang also said he would implement “many programs” to encourage national service, including an “American Exchange Program,” where all high-school students would spend time volunteering in another part of the country.

Yang founded Venture for America in 2011, a nonprofit aimed at helping communities that suffered during the 2008 financial crisis.

Klobuchar, Buttigieg Weigh In

Klobuchar in her questionnaire touted her experience serving on the advisory board of the PACER Center, a Minnesota nonprofit that helps children and young adults with disabilities.

She said her national-service plan would expand the number of positions in AmeriCorps from 75,000 to 250,000, create a “Climate Civilian Conservation Corps,” and strengthen the Peace Corps.

Buttigieg touted his experience working with nonprofits as mayor of South Bend, Ind. He said his policies would create coalitions involving nonprofits that will close disparities in access to health care and improve mental-health services.

He said he would expand paid service opportunities from 75,000 to 250,000 through AmeriCorps, “Service Year Fellowships,” and other programs. Buttigieg also said he would “create new service corps including a Climate Corps, Community Health Corps, and Intergenerational Service Corps.”