Engaging Municipalities to Launch Postsecondary Programming: Cities Financial Empowerment
Chantelle George Consulting provides clients with in-depth research to make informed programmatic and funding decisions.
The Client
Founded in 2012, New York City-based Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund’s mission is to leverage municipal engagement to improve the financial stability of low- and moderate-income residents by embedding financial empowerment strategies into local government infrastructure. The CFE Fund works with mayoral administrations and their partners and key stakeholders in over 100 cities to invest in this critical work.
Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund: Context + Needs
CFE wanted to design a pilot program (College Boost) focused on integrating financial literacy curriculum and programming into postsecondary education throughout targeted municipalities in the United States. CFE recognized the need for investment and turned to CGC as trusted advisors for postsecondary strategy and program design.
Chantelle George Consulting Insights + Approach
Informed by CFE’s needs for the College Boost pilot, Chantelle George Consulting conducted a research design that included the following::
Landscape analysis and artifact review on national financial aid and literacy policies Stakeholder interviews with city government officials, college access and success organizations, and financial aid/literacy organizations
Student focus groups tailored to understanding FAFSA process
CGC used these deliverables to craft a multi-tiered pilot program for CFE that included a pilot project budget, timeline, student data tracking system, and sample financial education curriculum lessons.
Organizational Impact
This collaboration produced a final white paper along with a pitch deck that helped inform a multi-million dollar funding request to support the pilot. The white paper included recommended pilot sites, cost breakdown, and potential partnerships.
“The entire CFE network is in a better position because of the strategy, focus, and leadership demonstrated by Chantelle George Consulting”
