Work

Five projects where tax filing and benefits came together. Each one names my part and links to the public record of the result.

1. Benefit navigators at free tax sites

   Maryland Department of Human Services · 2025

   Problem

   Free tax sites and benefits offices served the same families, but separately.

   My part

   Designed the model that places benefit navigators at volunteer tax sites and led the build. Wrote the application through which the state approved up to $400,000 in cash-match funding, and wrote the training material.

   Result

   15 navigators served in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Prince George’s County and Washington County in the first cohort.

   Source

   Maryland DHS, Benefit Navigator Corps announcement

2. SUN Bucks families to SNAP by text

   Maryland Department of Human Services · 2025

   Problem

   Families getting summer grocery benefits for their children (SUN Bucks) were often eligible for SNAP but not enrolled.

   My part

   Monitored the contract with mRelief. Moved the text campaign from May, a poor time to reach school families, to the date SUN Bucks benefits were issued.

   Result

   The campaign ran September 9 to 17, 2025. It texted 170,700 households and enrolled 2,700+ in SNAP across all 24 Maryland jurisdictions, about $5.5 million in benefits over six months.

   Source

   Maryland DHS, March 19, 2026

3. Free tax filing online in two weeks

   Campaign for Working Families, Philadelphia · 2020

   Problem

   COVID closed the in-person free tax sites in March 2020, in the middle of filing season.

   My part

   Brought Campaign for Working Families into Code for America’s GetYourRefund pilot as an early partner, and built the virtual filing workflow with the site managers.

   Result

   The program was filing online within two weeks and prepared about 6,000 virtual returns over two seasons. Campaign for Working Families is one of 7 partners GetYourRefund named.

   Source

   GetYourRefund partner list, archived December 2020

4. You Earned It Philly

   City of Philadelphia, Department of Revenue · Tax year 2017

   Problem

   Many Philadelphians eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit were not claiming it.

   My part

   Ran the campaign’s second and third seasons. Ran the awareness contract from the request for proposals through vendor selection and monitoring, and wrote and edited the City’s EITC reports.

   Result

   In tax year 2017: 26,000+ returns at 20 City sites, $36 million in federal refunds ($10.6 million of it EITC), and $7.2 million in preparation fees avoided. Mailings reached 27,615 residents likely to be eligible.

   Source

   City of Philadelphia, 2018 EITC implementation report (PDF)

5. Tax credits through a children’s hospital

   Campaign for Working Families with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia · Results published 2021

   Problem

   Families at the hospital were missing tax credits they qualified for.

   My part

   Ran Campaign for Working Families’ side of the Medical Financial Partnership, and co-wrote the published evaluation.

   Result

   337 returns over 2 years, bringing families almost $700,000 in refunds.

   Source

   NEJM Catalyst, March 17, 2021