NGOs, non-profits, civil society and schools/colleges/universities have discovered the tremendous potential of financial literacy initiatives to bring about positive change in the lives of their constituents. Funders of these organizations also now recognize the value of programs with strong evaluation components so that they can compare objective measurements of the results of such programs with their other investments. Although NGOs have diverse objectives, the positive impacts of financial literacy interventions are garnering attention across the entire sector because these programs are accomplishing a few critical goals, such as:
Representative NGO Clients
Worked with the University to evaluate its teacher in-service training program in personal finance and its national high school student curriculum in financial education. Using control groups, a partially randomized sample and longitudinal data collection, we determined the causative relationship between teacher training, the University’s high school financial literacy materials and changes to students’ immediate and mid-term financial knowledge, attitudes and behaviors.
Conducting a student impact assessment for a teacher training program.
Developed and delivered professional development for teachers from across China as part of the country’s first financial education and youth economics conference.
Conducted a national survey on post-crash attitudes towards the financial services sector. Worked with Institute staff to garner media coverage for the study’s findings and the Institute’s work.
Audited a system-wide financial literacy program and advised university management on strategies to help students better manage their financial aid and avoid dropping out of college. Also developed an environmental scan by researching other programs at comparable postsecondary systems and by analyzing emerging trends nationwide.
Researched and presented to the group’s membership a series of best practices for asset building programs utilizing findings from behavioral economics and other fields.
Advised the Institute’s membership through the presentation of financial education research and analysis on the design of financial literacy programs and campaigns that successfully engage postsecondary students from historically underrepresented populations.
Presented research on gender issues and financial literacy to Brookings staff as part of a workplace seminar.