We expand and connect a more robust network of scholars, intermediaries and advocates to explore new levels of leadership, partnership and community alignment. We listen to understand and openly share what we have learned to steward unity.
Initiative Highlights
- Launched the NEFE Innovation Awards and Impact Awards to recognize and celebrate leaders driving significant change in financial education.
- In collaboration with our partners the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, NEFE co-hosted the relaunch of Financial Literacy Day on Capitol Hill to heighten awareness of financial education at the federal level.
- Refined target audiences and incorporated marketing and engagement opportunities for researchers, policymakers and advocates.
- Stewarded unity and continuity in the field.
- Allocated sustaining operational financial support to several front-line organizations serving underrepresented communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Provided sponsorships through the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE) for Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) candidates to receive their credentialing to support communities of color.
- Produced an eight-part podcast series that explored the barriers experienced by underserved communities in accessing effective financial education programming.
- Featured in $avvy documentary and facilitated national discussion tour on college campuses about women and money.
- Reaffirmed and established partnerships with media associations to report data, position priorities and support journalists in their personal finance reporting.
- Membership on the CNBC Global Financial Wellness Advisory Board.
- Programming and content support with the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing and the Radio Television Digital News Association.
Awarding Impact and Innovation
The passion and efforts from our nationwide network of advocates deserve recognition. NEFE actively celebrates these individuals, programs and organizations with the Innovation Awards and Impact Awards.
- The NEFE Innovation Award recognizes organizations and individuals who exhibit leading-edge work and groundbreaking progress in the field of financial education. Recipients advance the field in exciting, transformative ways and exemplify originality and a forward-thinking vision.
- The NEFE Impact Award recognizes organizations and individuals who have sought meaningful change and have provided significant achievements and measurable impact in financial education. Recipients contribute to the field’s momentum, shape best practices and advance financial well-being.
Stewardship of Field Unity
NEFE is committed to building and sustaining networks through financial support. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we identified organizations in need of unrestricted funding to deliver their work in a critical time of need. NEFE also partnered with AFCPE to provide sponsorships to potential AFC candidates who's work would focus counseling support services to underserved communities. Additionally, NEFE provides sponsorships for those who need travel assistance to attend conferences and trainings, including NEFE’s own Financial Education Innovation & Impact Summit.
Financial Literacy Day on Capitol Hill
This event, co-hosted with the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, raised national visibility for financial education and provided connections with local, state and federal officials. The event highlights NEFE’s role in nationwide momentum of K-12 graduation requirements and allows us to make the case for financial education through data on return on investment.
Audience Refinement
NEFE continually seeks to better understand those we serve, focusing on what we know about financial education effectiveness through targeted marketing and specialized convenings for refined audiences. NEFE collaborates with highly influential leaders with the potential to affect changes that advance our mission. NEFE supports researchers, advocates and policymakers involved in influencing the systems that underpin financial well-being throughout the Personal Finance Ecosystem.
National Visibility
Since 2019, NEFE has been a member of the CNBC Global Financial Wellness Advisory Board, a group of innovative experts, thought leaders and influencers dedicated to financial literacy research, policy and the advancement of personal finance education around the world. This group shares insights, experiences and expertise with the CNBC editorial team to help empower, uplift and prepare the next generation for a global economy.
Through collaboration with media organizations like the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing (SABEW) and the Radio Television Digital News Association NEFE supports journalists covering consumer finance. We have also collaborated on conference programming, tools and connections to advocates and researchers in the financial education field.
Moving Forward
We are committed to listening to understand and sharing what we’ve learned to steward unity through current and ongoing initiatives:
- Encourage those who seek to improve the financial health and economic mobility of individuals and families to work together to better understand financial fragility and collectively work toward effective solutions.
- Continue to explore what works in legislation and develop models to reach diverse audiences with appropriate approaches.
- Be transparent and honest about where we are missing the mark, particularly in meeting the needs of under-resourced and underrepresented populations.
- Work with leaders throughout the financial education community to come together and work toward common goals. Through collaboration, we must coalesce around best practices, build meaningful and lasting interventions and evaluate our impact, which includes recognition of our success but also awareness of the continuous methods for improvement.
Explore the successes of our strategic plan
