The Affinity Plus Foundation Offering Grants for Financial Education
April 4, 2017
ST. PAUL, Minn. (April 4, 2017) – The Affinity Plus Foundation is now accepting applications through April 30 for its Cultivator and Community grants, which award funding in amounts ranging from $500 to $10,000 to educators and nonprofits focused on financial education.
Amy Hanson, foundation executive director, said the grants “identify, reward and celebrate educators and nonprofits making a tangible impact through their work and service in financial education.”
Complete application information for both grants is available at the foundation’s website at www.affinityplusfoundation.org.
CULTIVATOR GRANT
Cultivator grants are awarded to teachers and educators currently focusing on – or who would like to implement – personal finance or financial-wellness programming in their classrooms.
Hanson said the foundation will award ten, $1,000 Cultivator Grants in 2017, to be used for the 2017-2018 school year. The grants support purchasing materials, curriculum or supplies for existing or new financial-education programs.
Individuals can apply themselves or nominate other teachers and educators, she added.
Previous grant recipients have used funds to expand curriculum at an alternative learning center; support adult financial-education sessions; and purchase curriculum to teach youth from low-income families, among many others.
Winners will be contacted by June 1, 2017, and funds will be disbursed for the 2017-2018 school year.
COMMUNITY GRANT
Community grants are awarded to Minnesota 501(c)3 organizations with personal-finance focus and programming. Grant requests have ranged from $500 to $10,000, Hanson said.
In 2016, the foundation awarded more than $75,000 to community nonprofits. Among their efforts, Community Grant recipients received funding to offer financial-education programming to domestic-abuse victims; grow statewide reach for financial literacy presentations in K-12 schools; and support a growing financial coaching program in the Twin Cities.
Community Grant winners will be contacted by June 30, 2017, and funds will be disbursed shortly thereafter.
2017 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS NAMED ON FOUNDATION WEBSITE
The foundation also awards scholarships for higher education to students who are members of Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union. For the 2017-2018 school year, the foundation is awarding eight $5,000 scholarships.
Award recipients have been contacted and will be awarded funds for the upcoming school year. The annual scholarship-application process opens again in September.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
The Affinity Plus Foundation is a 501(c)(3) serving Minnesota communities. Established in 2000, the foundation administers its own scholarship program, awards grants to non-profit groups and schools and supports financial education initiatives through partnerships, presentations and resources.
The Foundation operates on funds generated from its annual golf tournament, fishing tournament and silent auction. It also receives funding from the Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union and donations from community members who believe in the impact and importance of financial education.
For more information about the foundation, or to support its efforts, please visit its website, contact the foundation at info@affinityplusfoundation.org or call (844) 493-4483.