Funding

The FEC Academy is an opportunity for local governments to learn about the key building blocks of bringing the FEC model to their communities – including through leveraging federal funding streams like the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The CFE Fund’s FEC Academy will guide cities and counties through each step of planning to launch the model locally, and includes significant CFE Fund technical assistance, access to planning resources and information, and participation in a robust learning community. Upon completion of the FEC Academy, partners will be equipped to mobilize the building blocks to launch the Financial Empowerment Center initiative in their community.

Enroll now for the next FEC Academy cohort; applications are due by October 6!

The CFE Fund has a number of funding opportunities to support banking access efforts:

Start-Up Grant: The CFE Fund’s Bank On Startup Grant supports new or newly re-launched Bank On Coalitions in laying the foundation and developing the necessary infrastructure for coalition success. Grantees receive funding and technical assistance to develop a plan for launching and sustaining their coalition; technical assistance includes self-paced modules on the foundation of coalition development and banking access efforts, as well as a cohort-based learning community. At the conclusion of this grant, coalitions launch or re-launch, as outlined in their implementation plan, and become eligible for subsequent CFE Fund funding opportunities.

Capacity Grant: The CFE Fund’s Bank On Capacity Grant aims to assist leadership of local Bank On coalitions in expanding banking access by providing capacity support for an existing Bank On coalition that has, or envisions, coalition leadership that is at least half time of that person’s portfolio. Grantees work one-on-one with the CFE Fund team to build out coalition activities, including increasing the number of certified accounts available locally, and designing new programmatic integrations.  The CFE Fund also convenes a grantee learning community for peer-to-peer support. The Capacity Grant is renewable for coalitions who meet grant objectives.