There is nothing more fulfilling than helping others in need, and Bram Zeigler does this every day as Founder and President of Capitalists for Shared Income.

Capitalists for Shared Income (C4SI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that purchases debit cards and distributes them to people living in poverty.

Founder and President Bram Zeigler

C4SI works with other 501(c)(3) public charities dealing with food insecurity, housing insecurity, economic insecurity, etc., to get debit cards to the people who need them. One of their Distribution Partners operates in Montclair.

Founder Bram Ziegler explains, “We are lean. We are 100% volunteer-run -- all we do is raise money, buy cards, and distribute them through other 501(c)(3) public charities working with people living in poverty. 100% of any donation goes to purchasing cards.”

Since Dec 2021, C4SI has distributed 3,483 debit cards with a value of $116,449 through their seven Distribution Partners:

2021:   400 cards / $10,558
2022:   924 cards / $21,500
2023: 1,180 cards / $34,662
2024:   879 cards / $43,929
2025:   100 cards / $ 5,800

Bram sums up the philosophy that drives his work at C4SI. “Capitalism needs to self-regulate its inequities so as not to destroy itself by falling out of favor with the population it so greatly serves.”

While he has had many influences in his life, one that stood out was seeing all the cars in line at food banks during the pandemic. Bram added, “I'm inspired by those living in poverty who make do every day to the best of their abilities.”

Bram enjoys all aspects of his work with C4SI -- raising money, managing money -- but the best part is handing out the cards and seeing the joy and relief on the faces of the people that C4SI helps.

Bram just recently became a member of the North Essex Chamber to engage with business owners who want to support C4SI’s mission. His advice for anyone starting out in business is to practice and refine your presentation -- have a 30-minute version, a 10-minute version, and a 30-second version.

A little-known fact about Bram is that he played 4 years of college basketball. Outside of work, he loves to spend time on a boat on the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Maine.

The one word that Bram feels best describes him is intense. He works hard, in a deliberate manner to achieve his goals.