MADISON, Wis.-The National Credit Union Foundation has approved 19 new grants for 2012, totaling $287,387. All of the grant projects have a financial education component.
The NCUF said the grants are being made in the wake of 2010 findings by the Financial Literacy Survey conducted by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, Inc., that 34% of respondents, or nearly 77 million people, gave themselves a grade of C, D or F in personal finance skills. Seventy-eight percent agreed that they would benefit from advice and answers to everyday financial questions from a professional, and nearly one-third (31%) strongly agree.
Some of the grant project winners include:
• Carter FCU in Springhill, La., which will combine education with entertainment for an innovative approach to financial education. "They will develop a member volunteer training program, partner with a local studio to film a series of financial literacy video trailers to be shown before movie features in a local theatre and provide interactive workshops around Biz Kid$ and Spendster," the NCUF said.
• First Financial Credit Union in Gallup, N.M. will design a reality fair (an interactive financial literacy tool) that is designed for use in Native American communities and to offer the reality fair to high school students on native lands.
• Self-Help FCU in Oakland, Calif. will refine and deliver "in-line financial education" at Self-Help Federal's Micro Branch (a unique check-casher and credit union hybrid). "In-line financial education is an innovative model designed to nudge underbanked customers using bite sized pieces at the teller line towards credit union membership and financial products that will ultimately lead to asset development," the NCUF reported.
• Southern Chautauqua FCU in Lakewood, NY will enhance a project called "Kids' Credit Union" designed to provide a financial education curriculum and track student progress from 2nd grade all the way through high school.
Others receiving grants include: ABCO FCU, Rancocas, N.J. Alaska USA FCU, Anchorage; Alternatives FCU, Ithaca, N.Y.; Arcadia FCU, Fort Kent, Maine; Ascentra Credit Union, Bettendorf, Iowa; Central City Credit Union, Marshfield, Wis.; Dakotaland FCU, Huron, S.D.; Erie FCU, Erie, Pa.; National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions, New York, N.Y.; FinancialEdge Community Credit Union, Bay City, Mich.; HEW FCU, Alexandria, Va.; Holy Rosary Credit Union, Kansas City, Mo.; New York Credit Union Foundation, Albany, N.Y.; Travis Credit Union, Vacaville Calif., and Truliant FCU, Winston-Salem, N.C.
