Ford, MacArthur, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundations Announce First-of-Its-Kind Credit Union for People With Disabilities

Project Artichoke, designed with and for the disability community, will aim to increase financial inclusion for people with disabilities, who often face unique challenges in the financial services marketplace.

NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ford Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today announced joint funding to launch a credit union to serve people with disabilities. Project Artichoke is a sub-brand created in partnership with Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) and is designed to center the needs, voices, and experiences of the disability community, with the goal of increasing financial inclusion for people with disabilities.

Project Artichoke, the first credit union of its kind, is designed to serve people with disabilities, their families, caregivers, advocates, and supporting organizations nationwide. Project Artichoke is expected to begin accepting member sign-ups in the early second quarter of 2027.

The name Project Artichoke is inspired by Ed Roberts, a pioneer in the independent living movement. When Roberts, who contracted polio at age 14, overheard a doctor tell his mother that he would be a "vegetable" if he survived the illness, Roberts declared that he "decided to be an artichoke—a little prickly on the outside but with a big heart." Roberts was also the first MacArthur Fellow with a disability.

The foundations, all of which are members of the President's Council on Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy, are announcing the launch today at a Ford Foundation-led disability economic summit at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.

"A thriving democracy depends on economic inclusion, yet millions of Americans with disabilities cannot access the financial tools needed to build assets and secure their independence," said Heather Gerken, president of the Ford Foundation. "The Ford Foundation is proud to partner with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, to support Project Artichoke. Project Artichoke is designed by and for the disability community and exemplifies the structural changes needed to dismantle systemic barriers, expand access, and restore economic agency for every individual."

"Project Artichoke highlights what we can achieve when we prioritize disability inclusion," said John Palfrey, president of the MacArthur Foundation. "When we listen to the disability community to understand their needs and incorporate their perspectives, we can build institutions that better serve everyone."

"Health and financial well-being are inextricably linked. Achieving health equity is only possible if we work together to build a more inclusive economy," said Richard Besser, MD, president and CEO of RWJF. "Project Artichoke will help tear down persistent barriers to financial stability for people with disabilities, creating pathways for dignity, financial freedom, and, ultimately, better health."

The Ford Foundation partnered with Financial Health Network (FHN), a leading authority on financial health, to understand the feasibility of standing up a financial services organization, such as a credit union, specifically designed to serve people with disabilities. Research conducted by FHN found that the disability community faces numerous obstacles to financial inclusion, including banking services that fail to meet the needs of disabled people, high fees, limited access to low-cost credit, challenging asset limits, and low awareness in the financial sector of tools such as ABLE accounts. FHN's research also found a lack of awareness of the diverse experiences and needs of people with disabilities and that most financial institutions are not courting the disability community as customers.

Project Artichoke is designed to help address these challenges through accessible banking, specialized financial education, responsible lending, inclusive product design, tools that support long-term financial well-being, and ongoing community-driven improvements. At launch, Project Artichoke is expected to offer checking and savings accounts, certificates, personal loans, credit and debit cards, financial education resources, and budgeting tools. Members will also have access to support through live chat, phone, and video services, along with accessibility-focused features such as account alerts, guardian access options, and other custom-designed tools shaped by the needs of the community it serves.

MSUFCU is headquartered in East Lansing, Michigan, and has a long track record of building financial wellness for its members as a low-income designated credit union. A $5 membership share will establish membership with the credit union, and members will have access to support through live chat, phone, video services, and digital banking tools.

"The creation of Project Artichoke is more than a new brand. It is an opportunity to listen, learn, and build alongside the disability community. Throughout our history, MSUFCU has embraced innovation to remove barriers and expand opportunity, from being among the first to offer accessible ATMs and supporting accessibility-focused lending programs to investing in innovative fintech solutions that create more inclusive experiences," said April Clobes, president and CEO of MSUFCU. "As we serve more than 400,000 members, we remain committed to meeting each individual where they are and creating experiences that empower financial independence. We are proud to be the financial institution leading this initiative and further the credit union mission of making financial services more accessible, inclusive, and empowering for all."

The launch of Project Artichoke is supported by two leaders of the disability rights movement: former senator Tom Harkin and former representative Tony Coelho, who were two of the primary Senate and House authors of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

"In the 36 years since we passed the Americans With Disabilities Act, we have made tremendous progress when it comes to opening doors and breaking down physical barriers, but if a person with a disability cannot access the financial systems that fuel our economy, then the promise of full independence remains unfulfilled," said Senator Tom Harkin. "True independence is not just about being able to physically get through the front door of a bank; it is about what you can do once you are inside, or when you log on to their app from home. When a banking website isn't compatible with screen readers, or when a mobile payment app requires complex hand movements that are difficult to navigate, that is a modern-day barrier. That is exactly why a credit union dedicated to serving people with disabilities is so critically important. By providing accessible banking, fair lending, and financial literacy tailored to the community, Project Artichoke is building an accessible digital workspace for people who just need a fair shot."

"Economic justice for people with disabilities is part of the unfinished business of the ADA. For too long, issues like lack of accessibility and asset limits have restricted the potential for full economic inclusion and access to capital," said Representative Tony Coelho. "Project Artichoke addresses these challenges head-on by designing financial services in partnership with the disability community in order to serve a wide range of people with disabilities and their families. I am excited to support Project Artichoke and look forward to becoming a proud member of the credit union when it launches next year." 

Project Artichoke is a trade name of MSUFCU, which is regulated by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). Deposits of up to $250,000 are federally insured.

SOURCE Ford Foundation