The GOOD 30-Day Challenge: Get Financially Fit

Moneythink started in 2009 as a small club at the University of Chicago. With less than $15,000, Moneythink has scaled to 17 urban campus communities nationwide and has become a national student movement striking at the intersection of the two greatest domestic crises of our time: a failing economy and a failing education system. In 2012, as its founder graduates from college, Moneythink will be setting up offices in Chicago to grow the student network. In August 2012, we'll be hosting our first-annual National Leadership Institute for chapter leaders to bring the movement together for the first time ever. We need this grant to print already-very-discounted conference materials for attendees (curricula, workbooks, ops-guides). Thx GOOD!!!

We will partner with local schools to provide the facility space for the Money $marts Camp and help us market the camp opportunity to local families. The grant funds would be used to purchase award-winning Moonjar and Money Mammals curriculum. The curricula incorporate videos, role-play, creative problem solving and more as kids explore money management and how saving, sharing and spending smartly can help reach personal goals. Since the curricula can be used again and again, the grant funds would enable us to continue offering the camp to community youth on a recurring basis for years to come. A session on teaching kids about money will also be offered to parents, so they can learn how to continue the Save-Share-Spend lessons at home.

The first A PUBLIC THING took place on Sat., Nov. 5, 2011 on the theme of Financial Engagement. Fifty people gathered in downtown Minneapolis to talk frankly about money, debt, big banks, credit unions, financial interdependence and the affect of all this on our communities. From that event we realized the importance of real solutions and resources we can trust. This spring we will convene a new series of APT conversations on FINANCIAL FITNESS with more individuals and organizations from our community. By creating an intentionally open conversation, we'll generate resources for a publication that will help us navigate the complicated financial questions we're facing. $500 will pay for 2,000 copies of this free newsprint publication.

EdCents is managed by the Postsecondary Sucess Coordinator at ACCESS. The student blogs, videos, and interactive workshops are all student-run and student-focused. Essentially, this is a financial literacy blog run "for students, by students." Currently we are paying college students in the greater Boston area to complete the blogs, videos, and interactive workshops. Our budget for this blog does not allow us to utilize the eight students we currently have on board to their maximum potential. If we are awarded the Get Financially Fit Challenge, we will use the funds to pay our students. This extra funding will allow us to increase the workload and pay of our current students, or hire 1-2 more students to further diversify EdCents'.

Imagine if many people authored their own currencies, small groups and individuals, offering what they could in exchange for what they need. It would be difficult and messy, but it would represent our ability to value what we have and to get what we need without reliance on the financial system. I want to offer workshops through schoolofthefuture.org locally or online about the history of alternative currency, solidarity economies, to instigate currency making. I would compensate myself for my work: $350. I am currently making my debt into a physical currency. I will learn to use this currency to trade for supplies and to have new forms of exchange. Material cost: $150.

The Economics Challenge shows students that economics and financial literacy can be FUN! In April, more than 150 students from across the state will compete in teams to tackle challenging written exams that test their understanding of economic concepts and their reasoning ability. Qualifying teams will then compete in the highly interactive and exciting Quiz Bowl -- a "first-to-the-buzzer", live answer competition that truly showcases the fun side of economics. The Challenge educates students in these subjects and prepares them to use financial & economic concepts to spend, save and invest smarter. Students gain vital economic knowledge and prepare themselves to make wise, informed financial decisions for themselves and their families.

The YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley has been serving at risk women and young girls since 1905. Today we serve over 2,600 residents annually and place special emphasis on working with low-income communities, women, youth, and minorities. The YWCA is dedicated to “Eliminating Racism and Empowering Women” by promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all through our programs and activities.The Money Smartz workshop would be six weeks long and meet once a week for 1.5 hours. This workshop would be held at the YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley in our computer room. There would be lessons on good v. bad credit, saving, creating budget, investing and banking, adding value to the community, cost of living, consumer rights and the Equal Lending Act. The workshop will be facilitated by a trained staff member, while also featuring guest speakers on specific topics. The participants will learn how to utilize Microsoft Excel, and how to create charts and spreadsheets relevant to their needs.

Dealert.Me would utilize the Sqoot (http://www.sqoot.com/) API to pull down a list of all the active daily deals from 87 different websites. This currently costs $99/mo to use. The goal is to have the idea be self-sustaining after a few months (the GOOD Grant would keep it up for at least 5 months). The rest of the funds would go towards server hosting & domain fees to keep the site alive for as long as possible. I'm a freelance web-developer who would volunteer my time in order to get this built and running for the greater community to use. Part of the GOOD Grant would also be used to pay for a developer to build part of the site that is beyond my capabilities. Would be grateful if other devs/designers would volunteer as well. THANKS!

BK Farmyards increases access to fresh, affordable food in Brooklyn and uses urban farming as a catalyst for addressing community food needs. As is in many urban areas, the largest need is for families to know how to put an affordable meal on the table that is also fast AND healthy. BK Farmyards $1Menu workshops train urban youth to lead the community in home-cooked meal planning that addresses these needs. In partnership with HSPS and Green Guerillas, we would use the funds to host 7 teen-led cooking demos at our farmers market and 2 intensive family cooking workshops this year. These funds would allow us to secure our talented nutritionist who inspires teens to become local food activists.

We'd use these funds to promote the class to Boulder County's immigrant community, purchase teaching materials for each student, and secure a teacher we've already vetted to teach the classes. We've already done the research and footwork - we just need your financial support!

If funded, CleanTech OC would use the $500 to cover the cost of one academic or non-profit organization's membership for one year. (The cost of this type of membership is $500.) As a member of CleanTech OC, the organization would receive one ticket to each CleanTech OC event in the coming year. CleanTech OC hosts a number of programs and events that benefit members, such as educational workshops and seminars, conferences, and networking functions. CleanTech OC provides a forum for the exchange of ideas, information, and business opportunities among clean tech companies, government entities, and academia, including facilitating investment, joint business ventures, and other collaborations.

Elementary school students are not old enough to drive, work, vote or be the boss. But that does not stop them operating banks, managing restaurants, writing checks and voting for a mayor at JA BizTown. The GOOD 30 Day Challenge Grant will allow students in Washington State to experience what it's like to be a grown-up and why saving money is just as important as spending it. JA BizTown combines in-class learning with a day-long visit to JA World® - a fully interactive, simulated town. JA BizTown encompasses essential elements of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Students understand the relationship between what they learn in school and their participation in a local economy.

Young Investors Academy is committed to leveling the professional playing field for disadvantaged youth pursuing careers in finance, investing, and entrepreneurship. Through an intensive and engaging 8 week summer program*, youth will learn fundamental investing and business concepts, from experienced financial and business professionals. Youth who participate in the program for 4 years and are pursuing careers in finance, will be prepared for the Series 6 exam. Too often, the children of America’s wealthy, exclusively enjoy the benefits that come with wealth and affluence. With these funds, YIA hopes to bridge this gap by exposing youth, from economically disparaged communities, to concepts and careers in business and finance.

The Spending Detox has already generated a lot of buzz in my community. If I am granted the money I will use it to provide a larger more comfortable space for people. I would also use part of the money as a prize to be an incentive for more people to participate in the spending challenge.

Occupy Oakland was on the forefront of the national movement after the horrible police crackdown here. Since then they have achieved some truely great milestones, for instance shutting down the port (whose majority stakeholder is Goldman Sachs) on two occasions. Now however they are struggling with stagnation, and a press core that has moved on to other issues. They have about $20,000 in the bank, the management and goals for which are not being strategically or scientifically planned. What they really need, but would be ideologically opposed to paying for, is financial and idea consultations. After coming up with ideas and relevant rational, the consultants would present their suggestions for the vote of the General Assembly.