Next Grant Cycle to Launch in Spring/Summer 2025
DENVER—The National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®) is supporting researchers at two higher education institutions—Morgan State University and UCLA—to develop projects to address and improve equity initiatives within financial education. NEFE is allocating $193,000 for these projects, as well as providing guidance and support as an organization that has a deep commitment to expanding its understanding and addressing the gaps associated with this ongoing work.
“NEFE’s commitment to research is a cornerstone of our mission. As such, we carefully analyze, scrutinize and study project submissions to identify the ideas that have the most potential to drive the financial education field forward in new and interesting directions. The latest concept explorations we have approved will add tremendous insight to our research grant portfolio. We look forward to working with Morgan State University and UCLA to deliver high-quality results that will advance the growth of effective financial education.”
Billy Hensley, Ph.D., president and CEO of NEFE
Morgan State University’s team—Whitney Johnson, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics education; Jack Marley-Payne, Ph.D., director of research at Financial Life Cycle Education; and Sarah Sword, Ph.D., principal research scientist at the Education Development Center— received $138,000 for their project, “Creating Identity Responsive Financial Education.” The researchers will use the funding to produce a model of financial identity for Black Americans and guidance for providing identity-responsive financial education for Black students.
“We are thrilled about the NEFE grant because of their dedication to advancing equity in financial education. With NEFE’s support and collaboration, we will develop a model for financial identity that demonstrates how the field can construct equitable frameworks that reflect the diverse experiences and needs of individuals across the United States.”
Whitney Johnson, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics education
UCLA received $55,000 for their project, “The Power of Second Sight: Measuring the Impact of Political Financial Education on Inequality.” This project, led by Jasmine Hill, Ph.D., assistant professor of public policy and sociology at UCLA, seeks to understand if political education and class consciousness can act as a form of financial literacy for marginalized populations.
“I’m thrilled to partner with NEFE on this critical project. In a financial landscape rife with disinformation and predatory practices, our goal is to explore whether political education can serve as powerful tools of financial literacy for marginalized groups. With NEFE’s support, we hope to uncover strategies that equip communities to protect and defend themselves in an inequitable system.”
Jasmine Hill, Ph.D., assistant professor of public policy and sociology
Eligible organizations interested in pursuing grant funding for a current or future project can apply when NEFE opens its next grant cycle in spring/summer 2025. NEFE began awarding research grant funding in 2006 and has now funded 46 projects, allocating over $6.9 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. Completed and published projects are available as resource material for current and future research projects.
NEFE’s research projects and initiatives were a focal point at its biennial Financial Education Innovation and Impact Summit, held in October 2024. The event brought together thought leaders from around the country to discuss financial education quality, access and impact, as well as opportunities to hear from renowned voices within the field.
Read more on NEFE’s research funding priorities and strategy.
