
What We Do / Research
Financial Capability
Changing Behaviors to Build Financial Health

What have we learned about #FinCap?
Financially capable consumers possess:
- the knowledge to manage financial resources effectively;
- the skills to exercise behaviors that lead to financial health; and
- access to high-quality financial products and services.
- The results are that they are able to cover monthly expenses with income, track spending, plan ahead, and save for the future.
The Financial Capability Innovation Funds, managed by CFSI, support promising nonprofit-led projects designed to help consumers better manage their finances and achieve financial health. Through this project and more, CFSI has worked for years to support nonprofits, providing resources to help implement innovative behavioral strategies and learn about consumers struggling with financial health. We’ve created case studies and infographics to illustrate opportunity and progress nonprofits have made in product development.
See highlights from our work below:
Goodwill Industries International
Goodwill recognized that some of its employees faced significant financial challenges, so it set out to help build their financial skills.
Opportunity Fund
Follow Opportunity Fund’s journey to build a successful matched savings program for their clients and the several iterations of their Start2Save program.
New Market Development Initiative
profiles Identify three key markets and non-traditional financial service providers with potential to improve consumer financial health.
The Future of #FinancialCapability
Citi Foundation and CFSI partnered to create this financial capability framework to help consumers meet their financial goals, shifting from purely financial education to behavior change.

The future of financial capability will be highly influenced by all of the rapid changes we are seeing in technology.
Financial Capability
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“SavingsQuest” by Doorways to Dreams
Doorways to Dreams’ (D2D) SavingsQuest tool is an online and mobile platform that uses the principles of gamification to encourage savings among prepaid card users.
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The Financial Health Network Comment Letter on Mobile Financial Services Strategies
The Financial Health Network is submitting this letter in response to the request for comments on “Mobile Financial Services Strategies,” issued by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and...
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Designing for Financial Health: Stories and profiles from the Financial Capability Innovation Funds
We can educate consumers and provide access to financial products and services. But how do we help consumers use their knowledge and tools to improve their financial behavior and...
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“PayGoal” by Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners
Can a workplace financial counseling program leverage mobile tools to boost the financial health of low-and-moderate income employees?
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“MyBudgetCoach” by Solutions for Progress
MyBudgetCoach (MyBC), operated and distributed by Solutions for Progress (SfP), is an online platform designed to complement and enhance existing financial coaching programs.
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“MyPath Savings” by MyPath
MyPath partners with workforce development programs and financial institutions to help young adults improve their financial health.
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Infographic: Lessons Learned in Successful Product Distribution
New research reveals just how much money financially underserved consumers spend on financial products and services. The latest data shows that in 2014, consumers spent $138 billion to simply...
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“CollegeSet” Facebook app by Juma Ventures
Juma Ventures is a San Francisco-based youth development organization dedicated to helping low- income high school students save for and complete a four-year college degree.
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“MoneythinkMobile” by Moneythink
Moneythink pairs college student mentors with high school student mentees to provide coaching on sound financial management.
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“LIFT-UP” by National League of Cities
LIFT-UP (Local Interventions for Financial Empowerment through Utility Payments) is a multi-city initiative overseen by the National League of Cities’ (NLC) Institute for Youth, Education, and Families designed to...
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