About Us
Bringing Financial Power to Youth
Illinois Jump$tart stands proud as an independent affiliate of the national Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. The national Jump$tart Coalition is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1995, the coalition includes more than 100 national partners and a network of 51 state affiliates that share a commitment to #afinlitfuture and to working collaboratively toward common goals. To learn more about the national Jump$tart Coalition, click here.
Impacting K-12 across Illinois’s 102 Counties
Established in 2004, the Illinois Chapter of the National Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with individuals and organizations representing business, government and education who have joined together to improve the personal financial literacy of Illinois’s youth. Our coalition works to promote financial literacy by bringing instructional resources to educators and raising awareness of the importance of financial literacy. Ranging from hosting renowned speaker conferences to providing educational scholarships, the Illinois Jump$tart Coalition is pioneering financial freedom among youth across the Land of Lincoln and the Windy City.
Our Mission
The Mission of the Illinois Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy is to be a catalyst for enhancing the financial capability of young people through advocacy, collaboration and communication among key stakeholders. To achieve our Mission, we have adopted the following goals:
- Raise awareness of the importance of financial capability.
- Promote the adoption and implementation of effective financial education standards in Illinois.
- Enhance the professional development of Illinois educators.
- Be a trusted resource for financial education information in Illinois.
Witness our Impact
Hosted Free Education Networking Events with Prominent Speakers
Speakers included Steve Beaman, Michael Jennings, and Alice Wood discussing topics about saving and managing money
Hosted Annual Networking Events Acknowledging Leaders in Personal Finance
Awarded Terry Savage first annual ILJC Financial Achievement Award for his work as a nationally recognized author expert on personal finance and columnist, other awardees include Gail Marksjarvis and Maria Ramos
Collaborating with Like-Focussed Organizations
Partnered with Allstate Insurance to create Personal Finance Boot Camp for Teens, Fifth Third Bank and Junior Achievement of Chicago for Financial Empowerment Event at local high schools
Launched Action Network for Financial Empowerment (ANFE)
Sponsored in-service conferences for educators to bring awareness, energize new advocates, and encourage direct local action.
Provide Scholarships to College-Bound Students
Financially launched high school seniors to upper-education based on essays written about financial topics.
Provide Financial Literacy Materials to Teachers, Schools, and Libraries
With library grant application processes, underfunded communities are given an opportunity to access powerful financial education materials.