INSPIRED IMPACT is an ongoing blog series that gives voice to purpose-driven organizations and passionate leaders and entrepreneurs who are making an impact in their communities and industries.
Paul Golden is the Director of Media Relations for the National Endowment for Financial Education. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube and learn more at www.nefe.org.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
The National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) is the leading private nonprofit 501(c)(3) national foundation committed to providing financial education to individuals and families through every stage of life.
For more than 30 years NEFE has been committed to providing financial education and practical information to people at all financial levels through youth and adult financial education resources, training tools from the classroom to the workplace, research and consumer surveys, and more.
WHY DO YOU DO IT?
We envision a world where people make informed, thoughtful, and beneficial financial decisions that are aligned with their values so that they can enjoy better, more secure, and more satisfying lives.
WHAT IMPACT ARE YOU MAKING?
Financial education is not a one-time offering–there must be exposure throughout an economic lifetime (starting with young people in schools, and continuing on through adulthood).
The NEFE High School Financial Planning Program (www.hsfpp.org) is a free, noncommercial offering that is taught in all 50 states. On average it reaches 800,000 to 900,000 students per year.
CashCourse (www.cashcourse.org) is a turnkey program for universities that presents a range of topics for freshmen through graduates in their first year or two out of college. The free program is being used at more than 1,000 college and universities throughout the country.
Financial education continues through teacher-training activities, training and presentation programs for community educators, and through partnerships with more than 100 specialized nonprofits, such as Habitat for Humanity, the American Cancer Society, Dress for Success, and the American Red Cross.
WHAT (OR WHO) INSPIRES YOU TO MAKE THIS IMPACT?
People who are informed and empowered to make educated and thoughtful financial decisions through every stage of life are who inspires us.
WHAT’S YOUR BIG DREAM FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND THE IMPACT YOU WANT TO MAKE?
Our dream is that Americans will better understand the importance of saving for their future, building an emergency savings, limiting credit dependence, having insurance protections in place, and protecting their income.
WHAT RESOURCES DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THOSE DREAMS COME TRUE?
We need teachers and schools to ensure all youth are getting exposure to financial education from trusted resources. Additionally, we need parents to exercise their influence and teach their children early and often. They should role model and set positive examples.
WHAT IS (OR HAS BEEN) YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
The economic landscape continues to have uncertainty in some areas–even 10 years after the Great Recession. But what we have experienced is a teachable moment for us all.
WHAT WORDS OF ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER LEADERS LOOKING TO MAKE AN IMPACT?
Our resources can help you find a way to get involved in providing financial education tools and resources to under served audiences in your community.
HOW CAN OTHERS SUPPORT YOU OR YOUR CAUSE?
NEFE is independently funded so we do not accept donations. We welcome support from those who are passionate about financial education to get involved in their local communities to encourage others to make better financial decisions and overcome financial challenges.
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