Resources from Shared Success

Good jobs and strong businesses are vital to the well-being of communities across the country. In today’s economy, however, millions of workers struggle in poor-quality jobs, while small business owners face challenges finding and retaining the employees they need to thrive.

Shared Success, a project of the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program (EOP), is grounded in the understanding that building better jobs and building stronger businesses go hand in hand. Supported by a $12 million investment from the Gates Foundation, EOP partnered with 11 community lenders to integrate job quality programming into their small business support services. These lenders — each working in distinct communities across the US — demonstrate that there is no single model, but rather many ways organizations can help small businesses thrive through a job quality approach.

Publications

Bridging Small Business Support & Employment Law Compliance: A Toolkit for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)

This toolkit provides practical insights that community development financial institutions (CDFIs) can use to expand their impact and support small business job quality and growth.

September 12, 2025

Publications

Creating Good Jobs Module (one pager)

August 23, 2025

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Developing your Employee Handbook

August 18, 2025

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Creating Good Jobs: Budgeting for Benefits

August 18, 2025

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Building Trust: Creating Jobs People Want to Keep

July 11, 2025

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Guide to Hiring: Do’s and Don’ts To Consider

July 11, 2025

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New Hire Checklist: Supporting your Employees from the Start

How good are the jobs in your small business? Use this tool to check what you’re doing well and where you can improve.

June 12, 2025

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Good Job Inventory: Understand and Measure the Quality of Jobs You Offer

How good are the jobs in your small business? Use this tool to check what you’re doing well and where you can improve.

June 12, 2025

Publications

Shared Success Midpoint Evaluation Overview

One third of businesses reported adding employee benefits since baseline. The main employee benefits offered at midline are PTO (69%), paid sick leave (56%), health insurance (54%), and professional development opportunities (50%). These have both financial and opportunity costs to firms.

April 21, 2025

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Building Shared Success: A Guide to Small Business Job Quality Advising for CDFIs

This tool offers guidance for business advisors at CDFIs on how to have conversations with small business owners on job quality improvements.

November 15, 2024

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Navigating the Compliance Landscape to Advance Good Jobs: Resources for Small Businesses

This resource guide is intended to help small businesses overcome compliance hurdles and navigate quickly evolving regulatory landscapes.

October 14, 2024

About Shared Success

Shared Success, a project of the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program, shows how building better jobs can simultaneously uplift workers while also driving small business success.

About the Economic Opportunities Program

The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy.

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