A practical guide to grants for financial literacy and asset-building programs, federal CDFI Fund, foundations, bank-affiliated funders, and how to apply.
Financial literacy, financial coaching, and asset-building work attract substantial bank-affiliated funding, CDFI Fund support, and foundation interest, plus federal programs targeting financial inclusion.
TL;DR
- Who funds financial literacy? Banks (Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Truist, U.S. Bank, regional), Treasury CDFI Fund, foundations, community foundations.
- Who can apply? Financial counseling agencies, CDFIs, IDA program providers, nonprofits.
- What gets funded? Financial counseling, coaching, IDAs, free tax prep (VITA), credit-building, asset-building.
Federal Funding
Treasury CDFI Fund. CDFI awards, Native CDFI, Healthy Food Financing.
HHS ACF Assets for Independence (IDA programs, when funded).
ED for adult financial literacy via adult education.
IRS VITA funding for free tax preparation.
Foundation and Bank Funders
- Bank of America Charitable Foundation.
- Wells Fargo Foundation.
- JPMorgan Chase Foundation.
- Citi Foundation.
- Truist Foundation.
- U.S. Bank Foundation.
- MetLife Foundation.
- Capital One Foundation.
- W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
- Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations.
- Local community foundations.
(Many bank funders’ grantmaking ties to CRA, Community Reinvestment Act, obligations.)
What Gets Funded
- Financial counseling and coaching (nonprofit credit counseling).
- IDA (Individual Development Account) programs.
- Free tax prep (VITA sites).
- Homeownership counseling, see grants for housing nonprofits.
- Small business coaching.
- Banking-the-unbanked initiatives.
- Credit-building programs.
Tips for a Competitive Application
- Use evidence-based financial coaching practices.
- Show measurable outcomes (savings, credit improvement, debt reduction).
- Address equity for unbanked/underbanked communities.
- Partner with banks and CDFIs strategically.
- Plan for sustainability beyond grant cycles.
How Grantboost Helps
Grantboost surfaces financial literacy funding across CDFI Fund, banks, foundations, and federal programs, with drafts in your organization’s voice (see training AI on your past proposals).
Read next:
- Grants for Economic Development
- Corporate Giving Programs: A Guide to Winning Corporate Grants
- Grants for New Nonprofits
Further Reading
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
- FDIC Money Smart
- Treasury FinEdu
- FINRA Investor Education Foundation
- Grants.gov (federal funding portal)
Disclaimer: Grant programs, eligibility rules, deadlines, and policies vary by region and change frequently. The information in this article is for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current rules in your area. Always consult a local grant writer or qualified expert in your region for advice specific to your organization, project, and jurisdiction.