The Insight to Impact Initiative

“Advancing Personal Finance Through Collaborative Research & Practice”

Applications open February 2025

The Insight to Impact Initiative seeks to fund collaborative projects between researchers and practitioners that build connections, develop models, expand understanding of evidence-based practices, and increase access, equity, and capacity for financial professionals and communities served.  

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Grant Program Overview

The Insight to Impact Initiative evaluation rubric encompasses four components – the AFCPE mission, the program goals, eligibility criteria, and preferred elements. Expand the sections below to learn more about each one:

At the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education® (AFCPE®) our mission is to ensure the highest level of knowledge, skill, and integrity of the personal finance profession by certifying, connecting, and supporting diverse and capable professionals who serve communities worldwide.

 

We believe in a future where all people — regardless of income or background — are empowered to achieve lasting financial well-being through the highest standards of financial counseling, coaching, and education.

The AFCPE funds collaborative projects between researchers and practitioners that:

  • Connect people, projects, ideas & knowledge between research & practice.
  • Expand understanding & implementation of evidence-based practices.
  • Develop models/pilots and best practices in the personal finance profession.
  • Build access, equity & capacity for researchers, practitioners, and communities served.
  • Advance knowledge for the general public as a whole.

To be eligible, projects must support the AFCPE mission and it’s grant program goals, and must also meet these requirements: 

  • Have 1 of the principal researcher(s) or practitioner(s) be a current member of AFCPE.
  • Seek funding in the amount of $10,000-$50,000 and have a duration of 24 months or less. 
  • Have a clear research design, using appropriate methodologies. 
  • Disseminate results to personal financial professionals, including presenting at the AFCPE Symposium in person 
  • Describe how the project addresses the four questions in the AFCPE Equity Screen. 
  • Fulfill the requirements described in the Institutional Review Board statement, if an applicable institution. 
  •  Have a grantee that has a Tax ID# or a SSN.

Projects that also encompass one or more of these optional elements will be given preference in the selection process:​ 

  • Address one/more areas of personal finance, as described in the AFCPE Core Competencies.​
  • Center on nonprofit entities, AFC professionals, BIPOC researchers, practitioners or communities, and/or financially at-risk, marginalized or under-represented professionals/communities.​
  • Include a path to be sustainable or scalable.​

For questions, please contact grants@afcpe.org

Grant Timeline

Ann House, AFC®

“Finance education is not an elective in life. The sooner you learn to manage money – earn, spend, save & invest – the sooner you will obtain lifelong financial well-being.”

Ben A Mercado, AFC®

"I became an AFC® to give opportunities to clients that want financial change. My work requires professional development and to implement methods that promote that social change. I feel that AFCPE® sets high standards for professionals to achieve.”

The Insight to Impact Initiative evaluation rubric encompasses four components – the AFCPE mission, the program goals, eligibility criteria, and preferred elements. Expand the sections below to learn more about each one:

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