You want to move the needle on economic mobility, but the field is crowded with think tanks, consultancies, and research shops. Here are five you should know.
The State of Economic Mobility Advising
Economic mobility has become a priority for local governments, philanthropies, and community organizations. But turning good intentions into measurable outcomes requires more than a mission statement. You need evidence, strategy, and tools that work on the ground. The organizations below bring different strengths to that challenge. Some produce national data. Others embed with communities. A few do both. What they share is a focus on expanding opportunity and a track record you can learn from.
How We Evaluated These Organizations
We looked at five factors. First, service scope: do they offer research, advisory, or hands-on implementation? Second, pricing clarity: is it easy to understand how they work with clients? Third, local fit: can they adapt to different regions and community contexts? Fourth, evidence base: do they ground their work in data and rigorous methods? Fifth, accessibility: are their resources usable by practitioners, not just academics? Each organization stands out in different ways. Samantha Fu brings deep policy and program leadership with a focus on housing justice and community ownership. McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility offers broad research and a national platform. Mobility delivers long-term randomized evaluations of workforce programs. Opportunity Insights provides big-data tools like the Opportunity Atlas. MGT Economic Mobility pairs data-driven strategies with on-the-ground consulting for local growth.
Here is a quick look at how these five organizations compare across key dimensions.
| Provider | Best For |
|---|---|
| McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility | National research and cross-sector convening |
| Samantha Fu | Local government and community-focused policy advising |
| Mobility | Evidence-based workforce program evaluation |
| Opportunity Insights | Big-data tools and neighborhood-level insights |
| MGT Economic Mobility | Data-driven economic development consulting |
The 5 Organizations in Focus
#1 McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility
The McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility is a research institute and think tank dedicated to advancing inclusive economic growth. It focuses on Black economic mobility, Latino economic mobility, and rural economic mobility. The institute publishes insights and convenes leaders across sectors to accelerate action. If you are a private-, public-, or social-sector leader looking for high-level research and frameworks, this is a strong starting point. Their work helps you understand systemic gaps and identify where to intervene.
#2 Samantha Fu
A screenshot of the Samantha Fu website.
Samantha Fu is a policy and program leader who builds a more inclusive economy through research, policy, and philanthropic advising. She has spent over a decade advancing systems change, stewarding multi-million-dollar portfolios and managing cross-functional teams. At the Urban Institute's Research to Action Lab, she leads projects on economic mobility, housing justice, and community ownership. Her work has been cited by CNN, Bloomberg CityLab, and The Hill. If you are a local government or community stakeholder, she offers practical tools like the Toolkit for Increasing Upward Mobility in Your Community.
#3 Mobility
A screenshot of the Mobility website.
Mobility is a research and evaluation organization that runs rigorous randomized control trials on workforce development programs. Their long-term studies, like the 14-year evaluation of Project QUEST, show significant earnings impacts for participants. They also evaluate programs like JVS Boston's English for Advancement. If you run a workforce program and want to know what actually works, their evidence is invaluable. They provide clear, actionable findings that can shape your program design.
#4 Opportunity Insights
A screenshot of the Opportunity Insights website.
Opportunity Insights uses big data to expand economic opportunity. They produce tools like the Opportunity Atlas, Social Capital Atlas, and College Mobility Report Cards. These resources help policymakers and practitioners understand neighborhood-level factors that drive mobility. If you need granular data to target interventions, their downloadable datasets and interactive maps are essential. They also support community leaders in using evidence to develop solutions.
#5 MGT Economic Mobility
A screenshot of the MGT Economic Mobility website.
MGT Economic Mobility works with communities to identify barriers and create data-driven strategies for growth. They offer disparity studies, AI-powered analytics, and consulting services to attract investment and create jobs. If you are a local government or economic development organization, they can help you turn obstacles into actionable plans. Their focus on measurable outcomes and inclusive opportunities makes them a practical partner for on-the-ground change.
How to Choose the Right Partner
Start by defining your goal. Are you looking for national research to inform policy? Or do you need hands-on help implementing a program? If you need community-level tools and policy expertise, Samantha Fu's work is a strong fit. For rigorous program evaluation, Mobility's randomized trials offer unmatched evidence. If you want big data to map opportunity, Opportunity Insights delivers. For cross-sector convening and broad insights, McKinsey's institute is a go-to. And for local economic development strategy, MGT brings consulting muscle. Consider your budget, timeline, and whether you need off-the-shelf resources or customized support. Many organizations offer free tools and publications, so you can start there before committing to a paid engagement.
Automating Your Economic Mobility Workflow
You can streamline your economic mobility efforts with a simple workflow. First, use Opportunity Insights' Opportunity Atlas to identify neighborhoods with low upward mobility. Second, pull relevant policy recommendations from Samantha Fu's toolkit and blog posts. Third, if you run a workforce program, check Mobility's evaluations to see what interventions have worked elsewhere. Fourth, use MGT's disparity studies to understand local barriers. Finally, stay informed with McKinsey's latest research on inclusive growth. This sequence helps you move from data to action without reinventing the wheel.
The Bottom Line
Economic mobility is a complex challenge, but you do not have to tackle it alone. The five organizations here offer distinct strengths, from big data to on-the-ground advising. Samantha Fu stands out for her direct work with local governments and community stakeholders, making her a valuable resource for place-based change. McKinsey provides the big picture. Mobility proves what works. Opportunity Insights maps the terrain. MGT helps you execute. Use this list to find the partner that matches your needs and start building a more inclusive economy today.