In 2024, Clarifi formalized a process to compensate clients for sharing their stories. While we have compensated clients in the past, we did not have a consistent process with set amounts for these storytelling efforts. We publish client stories in blog posts, newsletters, annual reports, on social media, and in other communications. These accounts are vital to demonstrating the impact of our work.

An important distinction: We aren’t paying clients to get stories. We are compensating people for their time.

Clients have willingly spoke about their Clarifi experiences in the past, with or without payment. Their stories are necessary to show the impact of Clarifi’s mission and bolster our outcomes data, but they often have limited resources to share their stories. Many of our clients have kids and other caregiving responsibilities, heavy workloads, and long commutes. Most are financially disadvantaged, and being poor is a detrimental tax on one’s life. The 30 to 90+ minutes required for an interview (with photographs and sometimes video) is a substantial commitment on their part. We never want to further tax our clients amid already limited resources, so this compensation serves as reimbursement for their time and emotional labor.

Our new compensation process reflects Clarifi’s commitment to equity and our values of justice, community, and integrity.

Over the last few years, we’ve interviewed, filmed, and photographed dozens of clients, documenting their financial challenges, homeownership journeys, and the Clarifi services they used to achieve their goals and become financially resilient. They have graciously shared some of the most difficult moments of their life, from being incarcerated to facing eviction and escaping domestic violence.

We will continue to honor our clients’ voices and ensure they have the resources to thrive financially. Our compensation process is now part of that purpose.