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CUs Encouraged to Apply for New NCUF Biz Kid$ Financial Education Grants
Grants Will Extend Reach of Award-winning Financial Literacy Series
Madison, Wis. – Credit union organizations can now apply for new Biz Kid$ Financial Education Grants from the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) through March 31, 2013.
“There is a need to improve the financial literacy skills of the youth in America and Biz Kid$ is the perfect vehicle to address that need,” said Danielle Brown, Biz Kid$ Program Coordinator for NCUF. “We are looking to fund innovative programs that improve the financial education of youth through the use of the Biz Kid$ program and encourage you to apply.”
The application can be found here or by visiting ncuf.coop>Foundation Programs>Biz Kid$>Apply for a Biz Kid$ Financial Education Grant.
Grants Aligned with Biz Kid$
Biz Kid$ is a financial literacy initiative launched nationally in January 2008 that teaches kids about money and business. The initiative includes an award-winning TV series, free classroom curriculum, outreach activities, and a website (bizkids.com) targeting children 9 – 16 years old. NCUF is responsible for the fundraising and outreach of the program, and a coalition of over 290 credit unions and affiliates from across the country have helped exclusively fund Biz Kid$. The number one goal of the Biz Kid$ financial literacy initiative is to teach kids from upper elementary through high school to understand and incorporate the skills they need to successfully manage their financial lives. The goal of NCUF’s Biz Kid$ Financial Education Grants is to extend the reach of the series beyond broadcast into the community.
What the Grants Fund
Biz Kid$ Financial Education Grants may be used to fund innovative programs that improve the financial education of youth through the use of the Biz Kid$ program. Projects may engage teachers, students, education leaders, local PBS stations, or community stakeholders through events, activities, and/or curriculum distribution. Each project should create innovative and engaging activities incorporating Biz Kid$ materials. The overall grant objective is to engage the credit union movement in using Biz Kid$ and its curriculum to build students financial literacy and economic education skills while increasing awareness and usage of Biz Kid$. Funds may not be used as a cash donation to a third party.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include credit unions, CUSOs, state credit union associations, state credit union foundations, and any other organizations owned or controlled by credit unions.
Questions about Biz Kid$ or the grant process can be directed to Danielle Brown at (971) 295-6800 or via email at bizkids@ncuf.coop.
Biz Kid$ – Teaching Kids about Money & Business
Many credit unions leverage Biz Kid$ to teach financial education in schools in their community. In addition to NCUF’s box sets and starter kits, companion materials and other resources for teachers and parents are available at no cost on the Biz Kid$ website, www.bizkids.com. The site also features clips from the series and invites kids to appear on the show.
Biz Kid$ has continually garnered attention in and outside of the credit union industry. In its five seasons, Biz Kid$ has garnered ten Emmy nominations—winning once in 2009—and rang the closing bell ceremonies at both the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ Exchange for the past three years in conjunction with National Financial Literacy Month. Biz Kid$ also recently earned the Parent’s Choice Silver Award. In 2010, it also won the credit union industry’s most prestigious honor, the Herb Wegner Award for Outstanding Program.
For more information about Biz Kid$, click here.
About the National Credit Union Foundation (ncuf.coop):
The National Credit Union Foundation is the US credit union movement’s primary national philanthropic program provider, fundraiser and grant-maker, working to help consumers achieve financial freedom through credit unions. Through NCUF grants and programs, credit unions provide widespread financial education, create greater access to affordable financial services, and empower more consumers to save, build assets, and own homes.
NCUF is funded primarily by investments in the award-winning Community Investment Fund (CIF) and by generous Corporate Supporters led by the Credit Union National Association and CUNA Mutual. All NCUF donors provide support that empowers NCUF and state credit union foundations to make financial freedom achievable through credit unions.
The National Credit Union Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization. NCUF continues to earn the Better Business Bureau seal of approval as an “Accredited Charity” for meeting all 20 BBB Wise Giving Alliance Standards for national charities.