Blueprint North Carolina Increasing Access to Public Benefits
Deepening Community Roots by Advancing Relational Public Benefit Outreach in North Carolina
In August of 2025, Blueprint North Carolina (BPNC), a 501(c)(3) state-based civic engagement table, launched a collaboration with Empower Fund to increase access to essential public benefits for communities across the state. Building on BPNC’s 2024 Medicaid expansion efforts, this initiative reflects a commitment to leveraging relationships, tools and technology to break down barriers to essential resources.
The effort utilizes MyFriendBen (MFB), an easy-to-use digital tool that screens users for eligibility across 17 public benefit programs, including SNAP, ACA subsidies, SSDI, and WIC. By streamlining the process with a few basic questions this simplified what is often an overwhelming and confusing experience making it easier for individuals and families to access the support they need.
Many North Carolinians are eligible for benefits they’ve never accessed, which can be due to lack of awareness, administrative hurdles, or mistrust of institutions. At the same time, many of these programs are increasingly at risk. This initiative aims to address these barriers by:
Raising awareness about available public benefits.
Helping individuals navigate access with dignity and ease.
Engaging communities in protecting and expanding essential programs.
Building community power through civic education and participation.
In collaboration with six grassroots partner organizations, BPNC and MFB have teamed up with Empower Fund to create customized scripts and messaging. These tools equip organizers and community leaders to have relational conversations that connect people to benefits while also activating civic engagement and advocacy.
With the support of Empower Fund, partner organizations not only reach more people but also lay the groundwork for sustainable, data-informed community organizing. State partners are using the platform to refine their strategies for engagement, such as civic education workshops, phone and text campaigns, town halls, community forums and other local events.
These relational program activities drive immediate outcomes like benefit enrollment and voter registration while also strengthening relationships and infrastructure for long-term community power building.