Financial Literacy Program

Core Learning Components

✓ Money Mindset & Foundations — Understanding personal money beliefs and family financial history | Identifying financial goals and values | Budgeting basics and the 50/30/20 rule | Income vs. expenses and cash flow management | Overcoming scarcity mindset and building abundance thinking | Age-appropriate financial goal-setting

✓ Budgeting & Saving Strategies — Creating realistic, personalized budgets | Building emergency funds (3-6 months expenses) | Setting and tracking savings goals | Automating savings for consistency | Tracking spending and identifying waste | Distinguishing needs vs. wants | Strategies for saving on limited income

✓ Earning & Income Growth — Exploring side hustles and freelancing opportunities | Negotiating salary and asking for raises | Understanding passive income streams | Entrepreneurship basics and starting a small business | Gig economy opportunities and platforms | Building multiple income streams | Career planning and income trajectory

✓ Credit & Debt Management — Understanding credit scores and credit reports | Building credit from scratch | Managing student loans, credit cards, and personal debt | Recognizing and avoiding predatory lending and scams | Debt payoff strategies (snowball vs. avalanche method) | Understanding interest rates and the true cost of debt | Protecting credit and identity

✓ Banking & Financial Products — Choosing and opening checking and savings accounts | Understanding different types of accounts (high-yield savings, money market) | Loan types and how to evaluate them | Insurance basics (health, auto, home, life) | Choosing reputable financial institutions | Protecting yourself from fraud and scams | Financial technology and digital banking safety

✓ Investing 101 — Stock market basics and how investing works | Mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) | Retirement accounts (401k, IRA, Roth IRA) | Starting to invest with small amounts | Risk tolerance and diversification | Long-term vs. short-term investing | Compound interest and the power of time | Avoiding common investment mistakes

✓ Wealth Building & Long-Term Planning— Understanding net worth and building assets | Asset classes and diversification | Generational wealth and intergenerational financial planning | Financial independence and FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) | Retirement planning and projections | Estate planning basics (wills, beneficiaries) | Protecting assets and minimizing risk

✓ Women's Financial Empowerment — Understanding the gender pay gap and its impact | Salary negotiation strategies and scripts | Financial independence as a form of autonomy | Protecting assets in relationships and divorce | Building and protecting your legacy | Life insurance and protecting dependents | Addressing systemic barriers and advocating for change | Mentoring other women in financial empowerment

Learning Outcomes & Competency Development

By program completion, participants will demonstrate:

Financial Literacy & Knowledge:

• Understanding of budgeting, saving, credit, debt, banking, and investing concepts

• Knowledge of financial products and how to evaluate them

• Understanding of systemic barriers (gender pay gap, predatory lending, discrimination)

• Awareness of long-term financial planning and wealth-building strategies

Practical Money Skills:

• Ability to create and maintain a realistic budget

• Capacity to build and maintain an emergency fund

• Skills to negotiate salary and explore income growth opportunities

• Competency in managing debt and building credit

• Ability to evaluate investment options and start investing

• Understanding of retirement planning and long-term financial goals

Financial Empowerment & Mindset:

• Increased confidence in making independent financial decisions

• Shift from scarcity to abundance thinking about money

• Understanding of personal money values and financial goals

• Awareness of systemic barriers and strategies to overcome them

• Commitment to long-term wealth-building and financial independence

• Sense of agency and control over financial future

Systemic Awareness & Advocacy:

• Understanding of gender pay gap and its impact on lifetime earnings

• Knowledge of negotiation strategies and advocacy skills

• Awareness of predatory lending and financial exploitation

• Understanding of generational wealth and systemic inequities

• Commitment to supporting other women's financial empowerment

What Participants Receive

• Interactive workshops with experienced financial educators

• Comprehensive workbook with budgeting templates, savings trackers, and planning tools

• Financial calculators (budget, savings, debt payoff, investment, retirement)

• Credit-building guide and credit monitoring resources

• Investment primer and stock market basics guide

• Salary negotiation scripts and career planning worksheets

• Emergency fund and debt payoff action plans

• Retirement planning worksheets and resources

• Glossary of financial terms and concepts

• Certificate of completion

• Access to peer mentorship and community support

• Optional: 1:1 financial coaching sessions

• Ongoing email and resource support

Program Benefits & Impact

For Participants:

• Increased financial confidence and decision-making ability

• Practical skills to manage money effectively

• Understanding of wealth-building and long-term financial planning

• Strategies to negotiate higher income and build multiple income streams

• Knowledge to avoid financial exploitation and predatory lending

• Sense of economic empowerment and autonomy

• Foundation for long-term financial security and independence

• Understanding of systemic barriers and tools to overcome them

For Families:

• Intergenerational financial literacy and wealth-building

• Improved family financial stability and security

• Modeling of healthy money management for younger generations

• Tools to discuss money openly and reduce financial stress

• Understanding of how to support daughters' financial independence

• Access to community and peer support networks

For Schools & Organizations:

• Supports financial literacy standards and curriculum requirements

• Builds student confidence, agency, and life readiness

• Addresses equity gaps in financial education

• Develops 21st-century skills (critical thinking, decision-making, planning)

• Strengthens school-community partnerships

• Measurable impact on student financial behaviors and attitudes

• Aligns with college and career readiness initiatives

• Provides affordable, high-impact programming