David Coven
David Coven is the Founder & CEO of Scholar Fund, the nonprofit behind Unify. His team has helped deliver over $300M in housing, childcare, and college access benefits across 16 states. I write about building systems that put people first.
Seattle
Fraud Prevention: Protection Without Barriers
Our verification infrastructure protects programs without punishing people — stopping bad actors in seconds while legitimate applicants move through seamlessly. This is how we keep public resources safe, restore trust, and preserve the integrity of the safety net for everyone who depends on it.
David Coven
The Dignity Dividend: Why Speed Is a Justice Issue
Speed is not a luxury — it’s justice in action. Programs that move quickly don’t just serve more people; they serve them with dignity. Because when help arrives on time, what’s restored isn’t just stability. It’s trust, hope, and humanity itself.
David Coven
Real-Time Data You Can See: Accountability as Infrastructure
There’s a kind of failure that happens quietly. A benefit program launches with good intentions. Applications come in. Payments go out. Everyone believes they’re making a difference — until months later, the data shows who never applied, who dropped off, and who was left behind.
David Coven
What Is Unify: The Infrastructure That Powers Care
Across the country, governments and nonprofits are working tirelessly to deliver housing, childcare, and emergency aid — but too often, outdated systems make that work harder than it should be. Unify is the infrastructure built to change that.
David Coven
The Missing Piece: Government Investment in Direct Support Changes Everything
When investment meets infrastructure, change follows. Programs like Rx Kids show what happens when government delivers help with speed and dignity. This is about more than one state; it is about how every community can meet need with care and trust.
David Coven
