Follow the Money: State and Federal Money Flows
The Federal government isn’t just a tax collector — it’s the largest redistribution engine in the country for funding to the States.
Each year, trillions of dollars in Federal taxes are collected from across all 50 states. That money is then redistributed through spending on public programs, infrastructure, grants, contracts, aid, and more. Much of that funding is redistributed back to the States.
But who gives the most — and who gets the most back? Is what you give, what you get back?
Today, we’re excited to launch our latest Tax Project Citizen tool, our Fund Flow app — a powerful, interactive tool that makes it easy to explore the financial relationship between each State and the Federal government.
What is Fund Flow?
Fund Flow is a data-driven web app that brings clarity to a complex topic. Using visually rich, interactive charts and maps, you can explore:
- Which states are net contributors (giving more than they get)
- Which states are net recipients (getting more than they give)
Whether you’re zooming in on your own State or comparing nationwide trends, Fund Flow gives you a clear view of where the money flows.
Why It Matters
This isn’t just about dollars and cents — it’s about understanding how our system works.
Most people don’t realize how much their state sends to Washington D.C. — or how much it gets back. Fund Flow gives everyone the tools to:
- Understand where your tax dollars go
- Stay informed about how Federal funding is redistributed
- See which states benefit the most or least from Federal spending
- Engage with real data in a clear, accessible way
Informed citizens are essential to a healthy democracy. By making these financial flows visible, Fund Flow helps you ask better questions, have smarter conversations, and hold decision-makers accountable.
Explore Fund Flow
Try out Fund Flow today! It’s free to use and built for everyone — from citizens and educators to journalists, researchers, and policymakers.
