Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities at Notre Dame Revenue and Competitors

Every day, poverty stifles hope, opportunity and dignity for millions of Americans unable to escape its cycle. And every day, a lucky few break free of its grasp. Thanks to a fierce army of social entrepreneurs, counselors, case managers and so many others, we are beginning to turn the tide. But despite their successes, we still know too little about what works to lift lives up. Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities exists to power service with science. We help service providers apply scientific evaluation methods to better understand and unleash effective poverty interventions. We are grounded in a belief that research serves people—not the other way around. So we work side-by-side with our partners across the country to design and implement a research approach that’s both rigorous and respectful of every person it involves. Then we share what we learn with others, allowing each success to inspire thousands more. Because, whether the goal is to help stressed families find stability, connect young people to careers, or move parents to financial independence, outsmarting poverty starts with working smarter. At LEO, we believe rigorous research is a powerful means to an end. An end to injustice. An end to dependence. An end to poverty. And a new beginning for millions of families who are ready to thrive.