New Grant Cycle Open for Researchers Until Nov. 15
DENVER—The National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®) continues to fund organizational projects that generate ingenuity and impact the financial education and financial well-being fields. NEFE has identified its latest partners—Lewis and Clark College and the University of Alabama—that have been awarded over $270,000 collectively to pursue its scholarly research projects.
“Thoughtful inquiry informs the work of our field, and we continue to pursue research projects that investigate ways to improve equity, outcomes, access and quality in financial well-being,” says Billy Hensley, Ph.D., president and CEO of NEFE. “We look forward to learning more from these esteemed teams exploring key inclusion issues in financial education.”
Lewis and Clark College’s team received a grant for their project, “Exploring Racial Ideologies Within the National Standards for Personal Finance Education.” Arielle Hammond, a Ph.D. candidate, and Brenda Sifuentez, Ph.D., assistant professor for the department of educational leadership, will examine the language within the “National Standards for Personal Finance Education” to identify best practices for educating African American youth about financial literacy.
"As a part of Lewis and Clark College's research team, I couldn't be more excited and appreciative of NEFE for sponsoring our project. Their support allows us to delve deep into the critical topic of financial education for African American students, and we are determined to uncover valuable insights that will make a real impact. This grant empowers us to drive positive change in financial literacy education, and we are eager to embark on this journey,” says Hammond.
The University of Alabama team will use NEFE grant funding for their project, “Finances in Sexual and Gender Minority Couples Toward Inclusion in Family Financial Capability.” The research team—Casey Totenhagen, Ph.D., associate professor in human development and family studies; Melissa Wilmarth, Ph.D., associate professor in consumer sciences; and Heather Love, Ph.D., assistant professor in human development and family studies—will examine how sexual and gender minority couples manage their household finances, perceive access to financial services, and assess how financial attitudes and behaviors are associated with financial, psychological and relational well-being.
“NEFE’s collaborative approach to the review and funding process has been refreshing. The conversations we were able to have with NEFE staff were instrumental in strengthening our research and methodology. We especially appreciate their commitment to understanding and repairing systemic inequalities in financial well-being,” Totenhagen says.
Eligible organizations interested in pursuing grant funding for a current or future project can apply until Nov. 15. NEFE began awarding research grant funding in 2006 and has funded 42 projects, allocating over $6.3 million for rigorous, innovative and actionable research that increases the field’s body of knowledge, provides insight into financial behavior and contributes to a better understanding of effective educational practices.
“Every autumn, the NEFE team looks forward to the project proposals we receive. It is an exciting time for us because of the abundance of amazing ideas teams bring forward. The decisions on which projects to fund is difficult, which is a credit to those who put their passion into their work,” says Joshua Caraballo, Psy.D., managing director of Research at NEFE.
Read more on NEFE’s research funding priorities and strategy and watch an educational webinar from NEFE’s Research team.
