Program Models & Resources Copy

FFP supports the development of pro bono financial planning program models that can be replicated and scaled for greater impact. We offer these models to nonprofit organizations, financial planners, and others who want to develop or grow programs in their communities.

For Educational Settings
Apple Seed Program: Developed under an FFP grant, members of Texas Tech University’s Department of Personal Financial Planning created this curriculum and program model as a framework for students in Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) registered programs and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals to use in efforts to shape practicums and clinics that can serve students and underserved people from the community.

For Domestic Violence Survivors
Bradley Angle’s Making Asset Building Accessible to Survivors of Domestic Violence Toolkit Prepared with support from an FFP grant by a leading domestic violence survivor service organization, this kit provides information, best practices and tips on how to develop a program to help domestic violence survivors build assets.

For General Lower-Income Groups
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC): FDIC’s Money Smart curriculum, available in multiple languages, is designed to help low- and moderate-income individuals learn the basics of personal finance. The curriculum for adults includes 11 modules. Each module has a comprehensive, fully scripted guide for instructors, PowerPoint Presentation and handouts for participants. This resource can be utilized to develop a program at a nonprofit aimed at educating and empowering underserved populations via presentations bundled with one-on-one advice from CFP® professionals.

For Various Specific Groups of Underserved People
The National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) has developed a variety of workshop kits that are available online. The workshop kits include PowerPoint presentations, scripts, handouts, and other tools, including tips for working with specific audiences. Financial planners and local chapters of financial planning organizations can use these kits when partnering with nonprofit organizations that serve these at-risk populations.

For Use in Developing a Free Financial Planning Event in the Community
COMING SOON! Financial Planning Event-in-a-Box: This toolkit is being created as a turnkey resource to help financial planning groups, nonprofits and others organize an event that offers a combination of educational sessions and free one-on-one advice from CFP® professionals to at-risk people from the community. The resource will include general instructions, guidelines and templates.

Other resources important to the execution of pro bono financial planning programs include:

Sample Volunteer Agreement Disclaimer: This document ensures that pro bono financial planners and nonprofit organizations agree to a set of terms as they engage with one another.

Sample Client / Planner Letter of Engagement: A letter of engagement, which must be signed by the financial planner and the client, is an important tool in a pro bono relationship. The Foundation for Financial Planning provides a letter of engagement for pro bono financial planners. For FPA members who engage in pro bono financial planning, the Financial Planning Association also provides a letter of engagement for FPA members that engage in pro bono financial planning.

Sample Confidential Questionnaire: This questionnaire can be filled out by the client in preparation for a one-on-one session. Volunteer financial planners may also use it during the session to collect information about the client.

Sample Financial Habits Survey: This survey, developed by Britepaths, can be taken by clients prior to and post- financial planning sessions as a part of a nonprofit’s performance measurement process.

Sample Volunteer Resource Manual: This manual, developed by Goodwill of Lane and South Counties, was developed to give volunteers access to information that will support Prosperity Program members. It contains information about community resources including childcare, housing, food, health insurance, career counseling, vehicle purchase, education, and more.

Lastly, this deck provides a summary of many key aspects of building a pro bono financial planning program, from promoting the program to potential clients to recruiting and training pro bono financial planners.

Workbooks

Worksheets

Volunteer Engagement Letter
A letter of engagement, which must be signed by the financial planner and the client, is an important tool in a pro bono relationship. The Foundation for Financial Planning provides a letter of engagement for pro bono financial planners. For FPA members who engage in pro bono financial planning, the Financial Planning Association also provides a letter of engagement for FPA members that engage in pro bono financial planning.