America Contribution Trust · CBI Pilot Program

A new way to pay people
for the work they already do.

Any organization — public or private, local or national — can apply to run a contribution-based income pilot on ACT's infrastructure. We supply the framework. You supply the community.

The Premise

Income grounded in contribution,
not market output.

The Contribution-Based Income Pilot is ACT's framework for testing a model of direct income for contributors whose economic output is real — but unrecognized by the formal market. Caregiving. Community organizing. Cultural creation. Independent inquiry. These are not outside the economy. They are the economy's unacknowledged foundation.

From municipalities to data centers to prison systems to crypto exchanges, we partner with people who believe in maximizing GDP participation and stimulating economic activity in the communities they serve.

Pilots must distribute a minimum baseline equivalent to a $45,000 annual salary. This is income, not a stipend.
Who Can Apply

Your people.
Our platform.

ACT's pilot infrastructure is open to any organization with the capacity, intent, and accountability to run a year-long program with integrity. That includes, but is not limited to:

Municipalities & Government
City governments, county agencies, township administrations, regional authorities, municipal utilities, public housing authorities, local transit boards
State & Federal Agencies
State departments, legislative pilot programs, public health agencies, workforce development boards, state arts and humanities councils
Corporations & Enterprises
Private companies, publicly traded corporations, holding companies, conglomerates, subsidiaries, joint ventures, corporate foundations
Financial Institutions
Banks, credit unions, investment firms, family offices, endowments, sovereign wealth funds, development finance institutions
Pension & Retirement Funds
Public employee pension funds, union retirement trusts, private defined-benefit plans, multi-employer pension funds
Trusts & Estates
Private trusts, charitable remainder trusts, family foundations, donor-advised funds, estate-directed endowments, testamentary trusts
Associations & Unions
Trade associations, labor unions, professional guilds, industry consortia, mutual aid societies, fraternal organizations, cooperatives
Academic & Research Institutions
Universities, colleges, research institutes, think tanks, policy centers, academic medical centers, national laboratories
Nonprofits & Philanthropy
501(c)(3) organizations, community foundations, private operating foundations, grant-making institutions, impact-focused nonprofits
Crypto & Digital Asset Entities
Cryptocurrency exchanges, blockchain foundations, DAOs, protocol treasuries, Web3 collectives, digital asset custodians, tokenized fund operators
Data Centers & Tech Infrastructure
Data center operators, cloud infrastructure providers, digital infrastructure funds, technology holding companies, AI infrastructure operators
Collectives & Community Organizations
Worker cooperatives, housing cooperatives, community land trusts, resident associations, neighborhood investment clubs, CDFIs
Religious & Faith-Based Institutions
Churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, dioceses, religious orders, faith-based community development organizations
Media & Publishing
News organizations, independent publishers, public media entities, journalism foundations, media cooperatives, cultural institutions
Health Systems & Insurers
Hospital systems, health plans, integrated delivery networks, managed care organizations, self-insured employers, community health centers
Any Serious Organization
If you have the resources, the community, and the commitment to run a year-long program with integrity — we want to hear from you.
Pilot Requirements

We do it right
so you can do it well.

These requirements aren't bureaucracy. They're the conditions under which contribution-based income can be studied, proven, and eventually scaled. Every pilot that meets these standards adds to a body of evidence that changes policy.

How It Works

From proposal
to distribution.

We're looking for real programs — not polished applications from institutions that aren't ready to run one.

Step 01
Submit a Proposal
Tell us who you are, who your contributors are, how they contribute, and how you intend to fund and run the program. There's no template — we want to understand your thinking.
Step 02
ACT Review
We review every proposal personally. For promising applications, we'll schedule a direct conversation. For underfunded-but-strong proposals, we begin identifying potential funding.
Step 03
Program Agreement
Accepted partners execute a Program Agreement governing distribution terms, data sharing, compliance obligations, and the minimum standards all pilots must meet.
Step 04
Infrastructure Onboarding
We configure ACT's payment and compliance infrastructure for your program — participant verification, distribution scheduling, tax documentation, and reporting systems.
Step 05
Pilot Launch
Your program goes live. Participants receive income. ACT runs the infrastructure, handles compliance, and begins longitudinal data collection.
Step 06
Research & Publication
At conclusion, findings are published as part of ACT's research record — adding to the evidence that makes the policy argument for contribution-based income.
Apply

Ready to run a pilot?

We review every proposal personally. Write to us directly — tell us who your contributors are, what they contribute, and how those contributions are creating tangible economic value.

We respond to every proposal within 14 business days.