COVID-19 is radically reshaping many aspects of people’s financial health in America, including their housing security. The economic fallout is disproportionately impacting communities of color due to systemic inequities related to race, housing, employment, and more. As the protections put in...

This brief focuses on the connections between financial coaching and long-term security. It emphasizes the differences between coaching and other approaches to working with clients on personal finance issues. Finally, it explores the unique client/coach relationship, the benefits of financial...

To meet the needs of clients who have to navigate a complex financial services industry, community-based organizations are recognizing the need to expand and redesign the financial education and support programs they offer. They are taking their efforts beyond the classroom to help people turn...

Evaluation of programs is crucial to gaining insight into what does and does not work, how best to adjust service delivery, and patterns and trends among clients. Yet, too often evaluation occurs only at the end of a project, is focused exclusively on informing funders and other outsiders, and is...

This brief presents successful models for community-based organizations to integrate financial coaching services into their existing programs. It takes into account not only organizations’ capability and resources, but also the readiness of clients to enter into services. It discusses the...

The Great Recession brought the lack of basic financial know-how among many U.S. households into sharp focus, especially in low-wealth communities. The combination of depleted or nonexistent savings, high-cost credit, and consumer debt became a familiar cause of financial distress for vulnerable...

For those committed to advancing financial coaching, financial education, asset building and asset preservation activities as a means of helping low- and moderate-income people achieve economic security, these outcome evaluation measures, when applied in a systematic way over time, can become an...

Practitioners engaged in the nascent field of financial development lack a shared system of tracking and analyzing customer progress toward financial security. Practice leaders—ranging from direct service organizations such as the Chicago-based LISC to NeighborWorks America of Washington,...