Equal Futures grew out of more than 10 years of collaboration between Dr. Amy Raub, Aleta Sprague, Nicholas Perry, and Dr. Jody Heymann at the WORLD Policy Analysis Center. During that time, we constructed millions of data points on what countries are doing to advance equality and we developed new methods to rigorously evaluate the impact that laws and policies have on individuals using real-world data on hundreds of thousands of people, creating the first studies of how action at scale impacts health, education, and equality in low- and middle-income countries. We also partnered with stakeholders working at all levels in countries around the world to effectively mobilize this data and evidence, helping to advance evidence-based change in at least 38 countries and 10 U.S. states that has the potential to benefit 1.4 billion people over the next decade.
Based on this collective experience, in 2025, we decided that new and emerging threats to equality alongside worsening of long-standing challenges necessitated the formation of an independent, non-profit organization that would enable us to develop more agile responses and further prioritize WORLD’s long-term goal of moving from evidence to action at scale. We believe that independent organizations have a critical role to play in creating a resilient and reliable data ecosystem. This role is complementary to the roles of other data creators in the ecosystem, including universities that provide training and push the frontiers of scientific innovation and intergovernmental organizations that provide monitoring and accountability, as well as direct support for countries seeking to do more. During a time when data, evidence, and equality are under direct attack, there is a critical role for independent organizations that safeguard the ongoing creation of actionable evidence free from political pressure while also prioritizing the creation of new data and evidence driven by the urgent needs of civil society.
Equal Futures is jointly led by three members of WORLD’s senior leadership. Dr. Amy Raub leads comparative research efforts, bringing more than two decades’ experience rigorously analyzing discrimination and equal opportunity both globally and across the U.S. Aleta Sprague leads legal analysis, bringing 15 years of legal expertise to examining the role of laws and policies in advancing or undermining social and economic equality, as well as a deep commitment to translating complex research findings into accessible resources for stakeholders. Nicholas Perry leads partnerships, bringing 15 years of experience working with policymakers, civil society organizations, intergovernmental organizations, funders, and the public at large to advance legal change, as well as expertise bridging diverse partners to elevate innovative solutions. Dr. Jody Heymann, Founding Director of WORLD, is a Founding Advisor to Equal Futures and continues to lead WORLD’s academic research, which pushes the frontiers of how rigorous comparative analysis can help advance equality while also providing hands-on training to the next generation of researchers and future leaders.
