DollarWise Innovation Grant Program

The DollarWise Innovation Grant Program is a grant from the U.S. Department of the Treasury that funds local, state, and tribal governments and nonprofits developing and testing innovative financial education and financial capability initiatives. The program supports projects that help consumers make informed financial decisions, build savings, manage credit, and access mainstream financial services.

Eligible applicants include government entities and nonprofits with capacity to implement and evaluate financial education programming. Awards support pilot projects, research, and dissemination of effective financial literacy models that can be adopted by other communities.

DollarWise: Mayors for Economic Mobility - United States Conference of Mayors DollarWise: Mayors for Economic Mobility DollarWise: Mayors for Economic Mobility James Kirby 2025-10-07T15:44:42-04:00 Research and Publications DollarWise is the Economic Mobility initiative of the United States Conference of Mayors. DollarWise believes in helping residents thrive economically.

The Campaign fosters and supports innovative programs to promote educational opportunities, jobs and livable wages, financial capability, homeownership, affordable healthcare, and more.

DollarWise addresses three primary components to address economic mobility: Removing barriers that prevent economic advancement; Creating economic opportunity through education and skills development; and Building assets to create intergenerational wealth. The DollarWise Campaign is made possible through support from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, its founding sponsor.

Each year, DollarWise offers USCM members the opportunity to apply for an award through its Innovation Grant Program. As of 2022, DollarWise has awarded grants to over 100 cities nationwide. Member cities of The United States Conference of Mayors are eligible to apply for the DollarWise Innovation Grants.

DollarWise Innovation Grants are designed to support city programs that remove barriers and create opportunities for underserved residents, so that they can build intergenerational wealth. DollarWise grant awardees demonstrate a strong dedication to helping low & moderate-income residents improve their economic health and success.

Research and Publications DollarWise Best Practices & Reports 2020 DollarWise Economic Mobility Report 2020 DollarWise Economic Mobility Report: Key Findings 2019 DollarWise at a Glance 2018 DollarWise at a Glance 2017 DollarWise at a Glance Financial Education Best Practices 2018 Innovations in Financial Education 2017 Innovations in Financial Education 2016 Innovations in Financial Education Financial Education for Survivors of Domestic Violence Summer Youth Jobs and Financial Education 2016 Financial Education and Summer Youth Employment 2016 Summer Youth Jobs Survey Report 2015 Financial Education and Summer Youth Employment 2014 Financial Education and Summer Youth Employment How do I set up an economic mobility campaign in my city?

Setting up a local economic mobility campaign may sound overwhelming, but it is easier than you might think. Sure, it will take some work and a little bit of effort, but by following a few simple steps you’ll be up and running in no time. Step 1: Analyze your city’s economic mobility needs Different cities scope out their economic mobility needs in different ways.

Some bring together groups of city and community leaders and residents to discuss their challenges and how to begin addressing them. Others take a statistical approach based on sources such as census and IRS data. Yet others use some combination of the two.

Ultimately, chances are you’ll be able to identify many different groups to help. The best approach is often to focus your efforts on one segment of your community and then expand from there as your capacity grows. Step 2: Find out who’s already addressing those needs Most likely, one or more organizations are working on economic mobility in your city.

There’s no need to “reinvent the wheel,” as the saying goes. Learn who those groups are, how and where they do their work, and the segments of your community they work with. Groups that are probably addressing economic mobility may include faith-based groups, financial institutions, public and private schools, nonprofits, the local housing authority and/or housing-assistance programs, local employers, and other community-based groups.

Step 3: Develop partnerships with those groups Establish partnerships with those organizations that are working to improve economic mobility. Help them to reinforce and enhance their work and to build a coordinated, citywide effort. You can work with them on organizing classes, workshops, and community programs.

Your work with them will create a foundation for even greater expansion of your local economic mobility efforts in the future.

Step 4: Take advantage of all DollarWise has to offer Apply for a DollarWise Innovation Grant Work with your local partners to organize economic mobility opportunities and events Work with our national partners and learn from other DollarWise cities Make a commitment to an ongoing, year-round economic mobility effort Evaluate your local campaign. Identify areas in which you can improve Dave Gatton | [email protected]