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April 7, 2022
Financial Beginnings is a national nonprofit providing accessible and no-cost financial education programming to schools and communities. What began as a local effort to improve financial literacy among high school students has grown to include K-12 and adult learners across the country. As a volunteer-driven organization, Financial Beginnings provides program participants a unique opportunity to interact with—and learn from—financial professionals who bring lessons to life.

Financial Beginnings delivers its impact-driven programming through state-specific affiliates. These local offices provide on-the-ground service and support to local schools and communities. With a growing network of thousands of volunteers from across all sectors of the financial industry, the Financial Beginnings team brings together professionals, students, educators, and community members to improve individuals’ financial knowledge and capabilities.
Financial Beginnings provides engaging educational programs that incorporate all aspects of personal finance to give individuals the foundation they need to make informed financial decisions. Developing this knowledge base and helping translate it into sound financial behaviors expands life opportunities such as higher education, home ownership, and secure retirement.

This pathway to financial literacy is offered for free to educators, community partners, and learners, with all K-12 curricula meeting or exceeding state education standards. Competitively priced licensing agreements are also available to organizations that wish to adopt Financial Beginnings programming for their own use and branding.

Age-specific programs include:

  • Financial Footings – Elementary School: Offered in two steps, covers basics such as needs vs. wants and identifying coins and dollars, as well as how to create a budget and how credit works for older learners.
  • Financial Framings – Middle School: Helps individuals frame personal financial decisions within local and global communities.
  • Financial Foundations – Middle School and High School: Provides details about key financial concepts, such as banking, budgeting, credit, investing, and insurance.
  • Pathways – High School and Postsecondary: Helps learners navigate financial decisions surrounding postsecondary education such as comparing schools, financing college, and managing debt accumulation.
  • SAFE – Postsecondary: Offers lessons to help learners gain strategies to reduce debt and address financial barriers to graduating.
  • Forward – Adult Learners: Works to empower economically vulnerable adults to mitigate debt and establish savings and increase financial stability.

The entire collection of more than 200 learning materials are free to download and use via the Financial Beginnings website, including course outlines, learner workbooks and answer keys, instructor guides, presentation decks, activities, videos, and more.

Various curricula are also available through the Jump$tart Clearinghouse.
  • Free Self-guided Online Learning: Financial Beginnings now offers its middle and high school program, Financial Foundations, in an online environment. Ten different modules offer self-guided learning of topics such as savings plans, loan types, compound interest, consumer fraud, financial services, and much more. Educators can either offer the online lessons to learners through free self-enrollment, or they can set up a no-cost account with Financial Beginnings to enroll their class and monitor progress. Once enrolled, a learner’s account remains active for 12 months.
  • Annual Financial Literacy Virtual Speaker Series: Financial Beginnings affiliate offices will host a month-long series of online speaker engagements to help celebrate Financial Literacy Month in April. These one-hour FREE webinars feature presentations from a diverse array of thought leaders and experts on a range of financial literacy topics, providing educators and community members valuable resources and networking opportunities. This year’s Speaker Series includes 13 sessions beginning April 5thand running through April 28th. Register for free today.
  • Gaming Wall Steet: Financial Beginnings recently partnered with the producers of a new documentary titled, “Gaming Wall St”. This documentary covers last year’s GameStop stock phenomenon while taking a deeper look into how Wall Street operates. The producers of the film shared Financial Beginnings’ and others’ resources for viewers interested in becoming more informed about financial education and ethical investing.
  • DEI Committee and Equity Statement: During the past year, Financial Beginnings worked with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) professionals to establish a DEI Committee and equity statement to guide the organization’s work. Moving forward, the Committee will develop and implement Financial Beginnings’ DEI strategic goals, create common language for the organization, share DEI best operational practices, serve as a resource for guidance and consultation, and share professional development opportunities.
  • Theory of Change: Financial Beginnings recently developed its strategic plan for the next three years with the help of several stakeholder groups. As part of this exercise, the organization crafted its Theory of Change that illustrates the society Financial Beginnings wants to create and what is needed to get there. This roadmap along with the strategic plan will guide Financial Beginnings in its efforts to reach more individuals with its programming and create a larger impact through financial education.
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Contact:
Dr. Tim Christy, Chief Operating Officer
tim.christy@financialbeginnings.org
They say it’s not how you fail, but how you decide to win. Visit the Jump$tart Clearinghouse and WIN BIG in financial education. Tell us which resources are your favorite. Go to the Jump$tart Clearinghouse today!

Financial Literacy Month is next month! Do you have an event, webinar, podcast, Twitter chat, social campaign or etc. that you would like for us to spread the word about? Send it to us so we can share with our audience!
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