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Who We Are

The Ohio Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization that brings together like-minded organizations to work collectively and collaboratively to advance financial literacy among kindergarten through college-aged students. Our partners are individuals and organizations who recognize and support the lifetime benefits of personal financial education: teachers, parents, corporations, CPA’s, banks, credit unions, school administrators, school districts and boards of education.

Mission Statement

Create and sustain an effective infrastructure to champion and support the systematic delivery of personal finance to Ohio school children during the pre-K through 16 classroom experience.

Organizational Overview

The Ohio Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy (OJ$) seeks to build and sustain an effective infrastructure to champion and support the systematic delivery of personal finance knowledge to Ohio school children during the pre-kindergarten through 16 classroom experience. The organization was created to address the fact that the average high school graduate lacks basic skills in the management of personal financial affairs. Many are unable to balance a checkbook and most simply have no insight into the basic survival principles involved with earning, spending, saving and investing.

OJ$ fulfills its mission by educating students, parents, teachers and policymakers and directing them to available resources that will assist them in making informed personal financial decisions. Decisions that will help guide them toward a successful financial future.

  • Provide access to financial education materials available (generally at no cost) to teachers for classroom use that focus on the six basic elements of personal finance financial planning; budgeting; savings; investments; credit; and insurance.
  • Provide teachers access to qualified financial professionals who can make classroom presentations directly to students using real-life examples, which reinforce teacher instruction.
  • Increase public awareness of the community’s responsibility to provide personal finance education to our children. Education is critical to help them meet the challenges of an ever-evolving financial world.
  • Facilitate educational meetings which are designed to encourage local agencies and teachers to work together to share financial education strengths. It is the goal that each organization will benefit in this sharing process by creating awareness of topics and speakers. Senate Bill 311 states that local business partnerships should be included in the teaching of personal finance in Ohio high schools. The legislation states “use available public and private partnerships and resources and materials that exist in business, industry and the centers for economic education.”
  • Advocate the value of personal finance curriculum as a high school graduation requirement according to Ohio Senate Bill 311. Encourage and advocate financial education for Pre K-16.

The Ohio affiliate of the nationally-based Jump$tart Coalition is comprised of volunteers from the educational, public and private-sector communities who share the belief that understanding personal financial matters is important. The national Jump$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.

OJ$ seeks to create a sustainable not-for-profit organization by utilizing programs designed and delivered by partnering organizations and volunteer support in Ohio.

The business affairs of OJ$ are managed by a Board.