101080-Study of Project 100

Study Name

Study of Project 100+ Unconditional Cash Transfer

Study Sharepoint ID

101080

Evaluation name

The COVID Cash Transfer Study

This study received a low study quality rating because it is a high-attrition randomized controlled trial that does not adjust estimated impacts for potentially important differences between the intervention and comparison groups.

This study received a low study quality rating because it is a high-attrition randomized controlled trial that does not adjust estimated impacts for potentially important differences between the intervention and comparison groups.

Design

Randomized controlled trial

Services

Unconditional cash transfers

Populations targeted

Public benefits recipients

At least a high school diploma or equivalent

Parents

Settings in which the intervention was studied

Tested in multiple settings

Demographics

Subgroups

Subgroup data - Female

Subgroup data - Male

Subgroup data - White

Subgroup data - Black

Percent female

94.19

Percent Male

5.80

Percent No high school diploma or GED

11.84

Percent With a high school diploma or GED

88.16

Percent Parents

99.33

Percent Employed

30.33

Percent Unemployed

69.67

Percent welfare population

100.00

Percent Black or African American

63.81

Percent Hispanic or Latino of any race

6.44

Percent White not Hispanic

22.93

Percent unknown race

4.10

Percent another race

2.77

Percent Cash Assistance

19.13

Mean age

32.70

Study Characteristics

Group formation formatted

The study recruited participants from Fresh EBT users, a mobile app that allows families receiving public assistance to manage benefits (primarily SNAP). The app randomly assigns users to one of 1,000 user groups, and the researchers randomly selected treatment and control user groups. Users who responded to a banner ad for a survey completed an eligibility screener. Individuals in the treatment group who completed screener questions were provided with an opportunity to receive a $1,000 cash transfer from GiveDirectly. Control participants were thanked for completing the survey.

Study timing formatted

One month

Study funding formatted

GiveDirectly, OpenResearch, Stand for Children, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies

Sample Characteristics

Low-income families who had recently received assistance through SNAP.

Implementing organization formatted

GiveDirectly

Program history

Pilot program

Treatment condition formatted

The intervention group consisting of low-income families with children received a one-time unconditional cash transfer of $1,000. The transfer was provided by the charitable organization GiveDirectly and was delivered via a Hyper wallet account in May 2020. The goal was to help families mitigate financial distress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comparison condition formatted

The comparison group did not receive the offer of an unconditional cash transfer.

Mandatory services formatted

None

Timing of study formatted

One-time

Program funding formatted

GiveDirectly

Setting details formatted

Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island

Delivered by public or private entity?

Private