Income alone isn’t the only thing people and communities need to gain the opportunity to thrive.
We’re proud to announce 31 grants totaling over $5.5 million awarded this quarter to community-based organizations. Their work offers access to capital, improves financial inclusion, and forges pathways to financial well-being.
Eight of the grants, totaling over $2.4 million, supported our Financial Inclusion portfolio, which invests in efforts to develop the financial know-how and skills that help individuals, families, and communities control their finances, build assets over time, and secure the future for themselves and their families.
Take a look at the work of Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO), which we supported with a key grant this quarter.
IRCO forges pathways to financial well-being for immigrants and refugees.
It’s a big deal to arrive in a new country and start a new life, securing a job and finding a family home.
Based in Portland, OR, IRCO is dedicated to ensuring that newly arrived immigrants and refugees are financially secure and self-sufficient. IRCO will use a $246,000 two-year grant to strengthen and promote its financial inclusion efforts.
Specifically, IRCO will enhance a core piece of its financial education program–designing tailored curriculums that fit the English language proficiency levels of its clients. The program helps participants understand the US banking system, as well as credit, debt, and personal budgets.
The new curriculum will accompany the program as part of an eight-week series that reaches more than 1,600 participants. Training within the program also helps immigrants find, gain, and sustain new jobs.
A major goal is for immigrant individuals and families to find opportunities to pursue their biggest hopes and dreams in America.
