Insights from the Ideas for Action Awards: Financial Asset Building

Mar 18, 2013  |  Jodie Levin-Epstein

Audio and transcript here.

Many organizations nationwide are making great strides toward helping low-income individuals achieve financial security. Winners of the 2012 Ideas for Action Award offer innovative examples of those efforts and provide important models for success.

Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity hosted a national audio conference, in partnership with the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington, the Northwest Area Foundation and the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs, to explore programs that help families build financial assets. Speakers will discuss best practices for addressing immediate and long-term financial security, and present examples of unique approaches to implementing Individual Development Accounts in financial institutions such as credit unions.

Speakers included:       

• David Harrison, senior lecturer of public affairs, Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington
• Mae Watson Grote, executive director, The Financial Clinic
• Marybeth Foster, executive director, Iowa Credit Union Foundation

RESOURCES:

Ideas for Action:   

Ideas for Action Award Competition

Making Prosperity Possible for All

To Fight Poverty, Build Assets and Break the Cycle

Iowa Credit Union Foundation:    

Breaking Down Barriers to Build Assets

Credit Union Family Partnership Individual Development Account

NYC Financial Clinic:

For Many Battling Poverty, Financial Security Is the Key to Success

Improving Financial Security and Creating Financial Mobility