Foundation for Financial Planning Grants Program - 2024

Foundation for Financial Planning Grants Program

Funder: Foundation for Financial Planning (FFP), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

Location: 1425 K Street NW, Suite 602, Washington, DC 20005

Contact:

Phone: (202) 864-5183

Email: mail@ffpprobono.org

Mission

FFP is the nation's only nonprofit solely devoted to supporting the delivery of pro bono financial planning to vulnerable populations who cannot otherwise afford or access such services.

Funding Overview

• Annual Grant Amount: Over $400,000 per year
• Total Distributed: FFP has provided more than $8.3 million in grants to community-based nonprofits
• Volunteer Network: Activates more than 22,000 CFP® professionals as volunteers

Eligible Populations & Focus Areas

FFP supports programs serving:
• Cancer patients and families (Pro Bono for Cancer Campaign)
• Military & Veterans: Active service members, wounded veterans, military spouses
• At-Risk Seniors: Family caregivers, financially vulnerable seniors
• Communities of Color: Underserved Black and Latinx families
• Domestic Violence Survivors
• Low-income Individuals & Families
• Healthcare Frontline Workers
• Disaster Victims
• People with Serious Medical Diagnoses

Eligibility Requirements

• Organization Type: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations only
• Program Focus: Must deliver pro bono financial planning to at-risk populations
• Geographic Scope: National (United States)

What FFP Funds

• Pro bono financial planning programs and services
• Virtual and community-based financial guidance programs
• Emergency grants for program transitions
• Technical assistance for grantees
• Training and resource development
• Program scalability and innovation

Special Initiatives

#### Pro Bono for Cancer Campaign

Dedicated funding for cancer patients and families

Pilot programs in Boston and Seattle

Over 1,000 families served since 2018 through funded programs

Over 330 financial planners volunteer

#### Alexandra Armstrong Innovation Grant

Annual award for nonprofit organizations demonstrating remarkable creativity

Named after longtime FFP trustee and supporter Alexandra Armstrong

First awarded in 2020 to Sage Financial Solutions

Second awarded in 2021 to Working in Support of Education (W!SE)

#### Communities of Color Initiative

Partnership with BNY Mellon's Pershing

Targets programs serving families of color

Addresses wealth disparity and access to quality financial planning

#### COVID-19 Financial Resilience Fund

Special emergency funding launched May 2020

Funded by $500,000 matching commitment from Charles Schwab Foundation

Total potential: $1 million

Supports:

- Emergency grants for virtual program transitions
- New programs for high-risk groups
- ProBonoPlannerMatch.org platform (matching CFP volunteers to opportunities)
- Training and resources for pro bono advisors

Application Process Timeline

• Applications typically open mid-January
• Deadline: April 30 (annually)
• Funding available: January of following year
• Next application cycle: January 15, 2027 (expected)

Selection Criteria

FFP evaluates applicants based on:
• Potential to serve many people
• Ability to inform scalable models
• Focus on at-risk consumer groups most benefiting from pro bono financial planning
• Program innovation and impact
• Demonstrated commitment to pro bono financial planning

Previous Grant Recipients (Sample)

2021 Grantees (16 organizations):
• American Nurses Foundation
• Angel Foundation
• Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation
• Britepaths
• Caroline Friess Center
• CASH Campaign of Maryland
• Catholic Charities of Dallas
• Down Syndrome Indiana
• Family Reach
• Financial Planning Association (FPA)
• NCEF-NAPFA Consumer Education Foundation
• Prepare + Prosper
• San Diego Financial Literacy Center
• United Policyholders
• United Way of Central Florida
• Working in Support of Education (W!SE)

Impact Metrics

• Programs target reaching 15,000+ at-risk individuals annually
• Grant recipients serve diverse populations across the United States
• Partners include major financial services firms and health organizations

Additional Resources

• Website: ffpprobono.org
• Application Portal: ffpprobono.org/our-work/grants/
• Volunteer Matching: ProBonoPlannerMatch.org
• Training: Pro Bono Financial Planning Volunteer Training available
• Resource Center: Coronavirus & Pro Bono Planning Resource Center

Ratings & Recognition

• Charity Navigator: 4-Star Rating
• Candid/GuideStar: Platinum Status
• Recognized as the driving force in pro bono engagement in financial planning profession