The CFE Fund’s Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) initiative, under the FEC Public platform, works to bring professional, one-on-one financial counseling as a standard public service to local governments. The CFE Fund is already supporting over two dozen cities nationwide in replicating this proven model through its funding, robust technical assistance, and national learning community.  The CFE Fund is now accepting applications from local governments to bring the FEC model of professional, one-on-one, financial counseling as a public service to up to 15 new cities and/or counties.

The FEC Public replication strategy is comprised of three distinct phases: (1) Planning, (2) Implementation, and (3) Expert Designation. Please note this application is only for the 2019 Planning cohort. For this Planning Phase, localities (city or county governments) will work toward launching a public financial counseling program using the FEC model. The CFE Fund will support these selected localities through a planning grant of $20,000, along with technical assistance to coordinate the key building blocks to launch an FEC. Local governments with populations of 75,000 or more residents are eligible to apply; applications are due by COB on August 9, 2019.

A list of Frequently Asked Questions and their answers can be found here.

The CFE Fund held an informational webinar about this opportunity, click here to view the webinar slides or click here to watch the recording.

With generous support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and others, the CFE Fund invites program colleagues to join the FEC Public Affiliates Network. This national group fosters learning opportunities between a diverse range of entities integrating financial counseling and coaching within government services. The FEC Public Affiliates Network brings together cities, counties, states, and community organizations that provide free, one-on-one financial counseling and coaching within the context of government services. The CFE Fund will convene Affiliates both in-person and remotely to further partnerships, highlight best practices, and catalog lessons unique to integrating financial counseling and coaching within local government programs. Please note there is no funding directly associated with Affiliates Network membership, although Affiliate partners remain eligible to apply for other FEC Public funding opportunities.