About UsNEFE defines its action areas as: Education Programs. Although not restricted to a particular age group, the Education Programs area has been oriented primarily to providing financial planning information to youth, including NEFE’s longest-standing public service effort, the NEFE High School Financial Planning Program (HSFPP). Strategic Programs and Alliances. This action area works to help Americans improve the quality of their lives through financial education provided in cooperation with other nonprofit organizations and foundations, and occasional corporate sponsors. Multimedia Access. This action area represents NEFE’s commitment to sharing its expertise in financial planning education with all those who might benefit from it, including consumers, educators, and the media. Innovative Thinking. The goal of this action area is to inspire creative ideas and new perspectives on personal finance, to communicate them broadly, and to assist in their actualization where appropriate. This action area supports fellowships programs, grantmaking, and research and strategic activities.NEFE’s activities place special emphasis on those who face financial challenges that are not being addressed by others. National Endowment for Financial EducationNEFE_424eedb4-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2aThe National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) is the only private, nonprofit, national foundation wholly dedicated to improving the financial well-being of all Americans. Ted BeckThe National Endowment for Financial Education is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) foundation governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees and led by president and CEO Ted Beck. A staff of fewer than 25 individuals guides NEFE’s public-service work at its headquarters in Denver, Colorado. To learn more, visit the History section of this website. http://www.nefe.org/AboutUs/NEFEHistory/tabid/61/Default.aspxYouthLow-Income IndividualsLow-Income FamiliesPeople in Difficult or Unusual Life CircumstancesConsumersNEFE’s partnerships and the foundation’s own efforts result in a wide range of free and low-cost activities and materials, including: Resources for consumers. EducatorsMaterials for educators and facilitators. FacilitatorsHigh School StudentsNEFE High School Financial Planning Program High School TeachersNonprofit EntitiesJoint efforts with numerous nonprofit, for-profit, and government entities to develop financial literacy resources for specific audiences. For-Profit EntitiesGovernment EntitiesThink TanksResearch, conferences, and think tanks on a variety of financial literacy topics. Academic InstitutionsGrant awards to organizations and academic institutions whose work can contribute to the field of financial literacy. New MediaResources for the press.A world where people make informed, thoughtful and beneficial financial decisions that are aligned with their values._424ef03e-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2aNEFE inspires empowered financial decision making for individuals and families through every stage of life. _424ef1ba-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2aEmpowermentTo empower Americans to achieve their life goals through the prudent and informed management of their financial resources._424ef282-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2a1AmericansNEFE is committed to providing the public with effective education in basic personal financial management, emphasizing the importance of a process that includes [the following objectives].Successful public financial education also should give individuals a clear understanding of how the financial choices and decisions they make affect the attainment of their goals and should communicate, as appropriate, how to find and evaluate professional financial advisors and information sources.Financial CircumstancesAssess individual or family financial circumstances._424ef340-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2a1.1IndividualsFamiliesGoals and ObjectivesEstablish short- and long-term financial objectives to support identified goals_424ef408-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2a1.2Performance PlanDevelop a plan of action to meet goals_424ef4d0-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2a1.3ActionActivate the plan of action_424ef5a2-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2a1.4Review and AdjustmentPeriodically review and adjust the plan, as needed_424ef688-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2a1.5Performance MetricsMeasure progress toward the achievement of goals over time_424ef76e-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2a1.6SavingTo help instill in all Americans the commitment to save toward the realization of their financial goals and their future financial security._424ef85e-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2a2SaversNon-SaversBecause the audience for financial education encompasses savers who require ongoing information and knowledge, as well as non-savers who need education and motivation, this initiative necessitates a broad-based approach, incorporating both short- and long-term strategies. Ultimately, it implies the need for a significant cultural change, one leading to an environment in which all Americans recognize the value of saving—and act upon that recognition by developing, implementing, and maintaining sound savings habits._424ef944-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2aInvestmentsTo assist consumers in understanding and actively participating in the management of their investments._424efa48-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2a3Members of the PublicAs Americans assume greater responsibility for their own long-term financial security, the importance of making sound investment decisions becomes ever more obvious. The creation and dissemination of practical and accessible educational information on this topic is critical to ensure that members of the public:* Make appropriate investment decisions* Understand the implications of investment decisions* Are protected from fraud* Understand how to assess their progress against established benchmarks* Are aware of financial product options, current investment strategies, and economic forces that can help them realize a return on their investments appropriate to their age, goals, lifestyle, and financial temperament_424efb4c-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2aRetirementTo better prepare all Americans for their retirement years._424efc50-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2a4RetireesUnderserved AmericansAt Risk AmericansLow-Income WorkersWomenMinoritiesSuch efforts must take into account the current trend toward younger, longer-lived, and more active retirees, which is changing the concept of retirement and creating new, sometimes unique, financial requirements. In addition, financial education must reach and empower underserved and at risk Americans, including low-income workers, women, and minorities, helping them to realize that only by understanding their current financial roles and responsibilities can they effectively prepare for a comfortable retirement._424efd68-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2aPersonal Financial PlanningTo encourage in the nation's young people an understanding of personal financial planning and the acquisition of sound money management skills._424eff16-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2a5Young PeopleNEFE supports the belief that financial competence is rooted in learned attitudes and behaviors toward money, and that these are more easily instilled when taught early in life. Providing basic financial planning education to young people today will help create a population of fiscally responsible and self-reliant adults tomorrow. _424f004c-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2aFinancial EducationTo effect the financial education of individuals in special circumstances, and to support the development and delivery of programs and materials related to their unique needs._424f0182-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2a6Individuals in Special Circumstances Widowed IndividualsIndividuals who are no longer married (those both widowed and divorced, particularly women) Divorced IndividualsWomenPeople Transitioning from WelfarePeople transitioning from welfare to the workplaceSingle Parents Individuals with DisabilitiesImmigrantsInstitutionalized PopulationsInstitutionalized populations (such as residents of substance abuse centers, halfway houses, and ex-offenders transitioning back into society: the needs of other populations will be considered and addressed as they are identified by NEFE and the individuals and organizations with whom the foundation partners in its financial education efforts.Individuals in special circumstances often face unique financial challenges that make it difficult to use effectively the mainstream personal financial information available to the public. In addition to their basic circumstances, these individuals may face obstacles such as limited financial resources, language barriers, low-literacy levels, or a lack of access to technology. NEFE has identified several groups whose members could be served through a special personal financial education initiative. _424f02b8-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2aFinancial Literacy Body of KnowledgeTo expand the financial literacy body of knowledge through research in support of developing a discipline that prepares educators and other intermediaries to improve the financial well-being of the public._424f0416-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2a7NEFE recognizes the important service financial educators, counselors, mentors, and other intermediaries provide in informing students and clients about basic personal and household financial management. These professionals deserve to have access to credible research from fields whose work can provide valuable insights that will improve outcomes for students and clients engaged in improving their financial well-being. As examples, NEFE encourages social, cultural, behavioral, psychological, and marketing research whose inquiry seeks to discover educational solutions that prevent harmful financial behaviors, motivate competent financial decision making, create innovative change in delivery of financial education, and have unique and practical application for turning knowledge into responsible action._424f057e-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2aResearchTo support proactive research of consumer, social, and business trends._424f0704-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2a8underlying assumptions; attitudes; root causes; and related facets of financial well-being whose outcomes achieve innovative and actionable financial education solutions. By supporting research and development activities that may challenge the status quo, NEFE fosters innovative thinking in several ways ... AssumptionsContinually examine assumptions about approaches to financial education, data that indicate harmful financial behaviors and economic trends, and public attitudes or behaviors that affect financial well-being_424f08b2-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2a8.1 ForumCreate a forum that encourages financial educators, nonprofit financial literacy leaders, and decision makers to engage in discourse with researchers, academicians, and professionals from other fields whose findings have strong potential for improving retention, and public use of basic personal financial management principles _424f0a42-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2a8.2Financial EducatorsNonprofit Financial Literacy LeadersDecision MakersResearchersAcademicians Professionals InquiryStimulate inquiry into financial education and well-being issues from fields outside traditional economics and education_424f0bc8-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2a8.3Collaboration, Partnerships, and AlliancesFoster collaboration, partnerships, and alliances that create a community of outreach and support to effectively address the financial well-being of the broad range of constituencies representative of the American public_424f0d62-2e61-11e1-ae97-856f7a64ea2a8.42011-12-24http://www.nefe.org/AboutUs/tabid/56/Default.aspxOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net