About Us
Our Mission
The Early Wealth Partnership ensures that all children—and particularly those with the greatest need—benefit from California’s $2.2 billion investment in their early wealth-building accounts. We coordinate implementation of the California Early Wealth Accounts System Plan, aligning CalKIDS, HOPE Trust Accounts, and local Child Savings Account (CSA) programs to close equity gaps and deliver meaningful financial opportunity.
Our Role
The Partnership will raise and strategically invest philanthropic resources to help children in under-resourced communities fully benefit from all eligible early wealth-building accounts. It will fund local awareness activities using “trusted messengers” at scale, while improving program infrastructure through expert partnerships to ease family participation. The initiative will track effectiveness through data and storytelling.
Leadership Team
Amanda Feinstein
Executive Director
Amanda leads the Early Wealth Partnership as its Director. Most recently, she was the Director of the California Child Savings Account Coalition and led the development of the California Early Wealth Accounts System Plan. Having held leadership roles in the public, philanthropic and nonprofit sectors, Amanda brings deep expertise in systems alignment, cross-sector collaboration, and implementation of wealth-building strategies that advance economic mobility for under-resourced children and families.
Susan Mernit
Development Director
Susan supports the Partnership as Development Director, with decades of experience advancing philanthropic investment strategies at the intersection of technology, social impact, and systems change. She played a key role in shaping the California Early Wealth Accounts System Plan’s communications framework and led the development of multiple national funder proposals.
Advisory Committee
Shimica Gaskins
Executive Director, End Child Poverty California (GRACE); Member, HOPE Advisory Board
Shimica brings decades of advocacy and equity-centered strategy, ensuring the HOPE Trust Account rollout reflects community needs.
Cassandra DiBenedetto
Executive Director, End Child Poverty California (GRACE); Member, HOPE Advisory Board
Cassandra provides essential state leadership and deep implementation expertise as the leader of California’s largest early wealth-building program.
Rebecca Loya
Research Director, San Francisco Office of Financial Empowerment; Chair, California Child Savings Account Coalition
Rebecca is an accomplished researcher in the asset-building field and brings deep practical experience from local CSA program implementation.
