Our goal is to bring Circles to 300 of the 3007 US Counties, and 30 of the 297 cities with populations of 100,000 or more by 2026.

Like any 1,000-mile journey, there must be achievable benchmarks along the way. Given the potential of the 10% tipping point theory, we have set the short-term goal at reducing poverty rates in our targeted communities by 10% within 10 years. While daunting, we believe it represents a SMART goal for communities: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

To accomplish this, we must have three things in place:

1. A commitment from community champions to reduce poverty by 10%;

2. A theory of change to reduce poverty and business plans to do so;

3. New resources to staff the effort.

Circle Leaders move out of poverty by surrounding them with a support network of dedicated peers and community volunteers known as Allies who support their economic stability plan.

What is unique about Circles is that it partners people from all socioeconomic backgrounds together to help increase the prosperity of individuals, families and the community.

In the process, Circle Leaders, gain a greater awareness and understanding of issues related to poverty, empowering the community as a whole with the knowledge necessary to end poverty.

Circles works with existing organizations and is part of the national Circles® movement to end poverty. Circles® works to build community resources, relationships, and understanding to bridge the gap between poverty and overall well-being. At Circles, we envision a community where everyone has enough resources, relationships, and hope to thrive.

The Tipping Point & Circles USA's Role
Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have found that when just 10 percent of the population holds an unshakable belief, their belief will always be adopted by the majority of the society.

“When the number of committed opinion holders is below 10 percent, there is no visible progress in the spread of ideas. It would literally take the amount of time comparable to the age of the universe for this size group to reach the majority. Once that number grows above 10 percent, the idea spreads like flame," said SCNARC Director Boleslaw Szymanski, the Claire and Roland Schmitt Distinguished Professor at Rensselaer.

Inspired by this provocative research, The Circles USA Board of Directors has approved a major, high-impact strategic plan to achieve a 10% tipping point in the United States to eradicate poverty! By 2021, we plan to have Circles in 10% of all counties (300 of 3000 counties) and 30 of the 300 major cities.

Circles USA will engage with communities interested in the tipping point by supporting these four stage of development:

ASSESSMENT—Asking questions: “Is Circles right for our community? Do we have the leadership and resources to start a Circles program in our community?"
CIRCLES IN THE MAKING—Getting started: If your community is ready and willing to start Circles, you will enter into a planning agreement with Circles USA (CUSA) to lay the foundation.
CIRCLES DEMONSTRATION—Taking action: You are now implementing Circles to support families out of poverty, collecting data, and assessing outcomes. You are asking, “How is it working in our community? Do we like the results we are getting? Have we been able to secure resources to sustain and grow the Circles program?"
SCALING TO A TIPPING POINT—Moving forward: You are happy with the results and can see the potential of growing Circles in your community to end poverty.
As Circle Leader graduate Rebecca says, “We have changed our lives so profoundly that we will not move back into poverty again."

How many more children do we have to raise in poverty before it is gone? How many more families will we let live with the constant anxiety of not having enough money to meet their basic needs? It's overwhelming and we can end the suffering so that everyone has a real opportunity to get out of poverty and thrive.

The time has come to intentionally pursue the end of poverty in our nation, in our lifetime!

Increasing the number of member communities

Percent of members pursuing the new Tipping Point goal

Earned income increases for families enrolled in member organizations

Our goal is to be in 10% of all US counties (300) and 10% of all metro communities with 100K population or more (30) We are currently in 68 counties and 20 metro communities Earned income gains for all chapters is being calculated via new data system.