A Baltimore man created a wealth-sharing club after his friends lost their jobs to DOGE cuts. It’s now grown to 50 people, handing out thousands

“I had a bunch of friends who worked in public and global health in the federal government,” Zhu, told Business Insider. “They all got laid off and were facing uncertainty.”

Instead of waiting for government aid, grants or a new job, 29-year-old Zhu created a grassroots unemployment insurance program funded entirely by neighbors helping neighbors.

No bureaucracy. No government involvement. Just people sharing wealth.

‘A thing we can do that will make us all better off’

So how does it work?

Members of the Baltimore Community Guaranteed Income Club pledge 7% of their monthly after-tax income. Using a custom formula, Zhu calculates the group’s average earnings and determines who falls above and below that threshold. Those who earn more send money directly to those earning less through payment apps like Venmo or Zelle.

The club launched in April 2025 following layoffs tied to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

In its first year, Zhu says the Income Club redistributed roughly $20,000 among members.

“The program that we run is functionally unemployment insurance,” Zhu said. “It serves two purposes: Helping friends who need it and also warming people up to the idea that this is a thing we can do that will make us all better off.”

What started with 20 members earning an average monthly income of about $3,400 has since grown to roughly 50 participants. Zhu hopes to eventually triple that number.

It may sound unusual, but the concept isn’t entirely new.

The Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Interest notes that entrepreneur Andrew Yang proposed sending every American adult $1,000 a month through what he called the “Freedom Dividend” during his 2020 presidential campaign.

Even Elon Musk has publicly argued that some form of government-funded income support may eventually be necessary as AI transforms the labor market.

Some cities across the U.S. have tested smaller-scale guaranteed income experiments, according to NPR. Programs have provided direct monthly cash payments to low-income families, young parents and vulnerable workers, sometimes with few restrictions on how the money is spent.

But large-scale government adoption remains a political challenge, which is one reason community-led efforts like Zhu’s have emerged.

According to Zhu, members who initially received support later found jobs and chose to remain in the club as contributors. Others used the extra money to cover essentials such as food, medication and household expenses when times were tough.