Foundation for Financial Planning (FFP) is founded as an independent nonprofit and grantmaking organization, focused on reaching underserved families in need of financial planning services. An endowment fund is established to help fund FFP’s grantmaking for years to come.

FFP’s endowment fund secures its first $1 million gift (from Ameriprise Foundation), with other companies following their lead. FFP awards its first-ever grants to community-based nonprofits.

In response to the 9/11 attacks, FFP takes out a full-page ad in the New York Times, announcing the creation of the FPA National Financial Planning Support Center, which would provide pro bono financial planning services to victims’ families and first responders to the attack. 

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FFP’s board hires its first full-time Executive Director, Jim Peniston, and crafts its first organizational mission statement.

FFP establishes strong ties to the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ mark, stipulating in its grant policies that all pro bono financial planning programs must engage CFP® professionals to qualify for a grant.

FFP extends its Financial Planning Days initiative, in partnership with FPA, CFP Board, and the US Conference of Mayors, offering pro bono financial planning service days in 30 communities nationwide.

FFP moves its headquarters to Washington, D.C., bringing on Jon Dauphiné as CEO. Under the new staff, FFP launches a rebrand, including a new tag line: “Powering pro bono financial planning.”

FFP launches its first issue-based fundraising campaign, the Pro Bono for Cancer Campaign, designed to fund FFP’s first-ever national, virtual, and multi-touch pro bono program. Since its launch, the Pro Bono for Cancer effort has engaged 700 volunteers and reached over 2,500 cancer patients and their families with pro bono financial planning. This would be the first of many issue-based signature initiatives FFP would pursue, including one for Military & Veterans, At-risk Seniors, Communities of Color, and Underserved Women.

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FFP establishes the Corporate 100 Club, a corporate giving program designed to engage industry-leading companies in the pro bono movement. This group has now grown to 19 members, all dedicated to the shared purpose of advancing pro bono financial planning for underserved groups.

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Longtime FFP trustee and co-founder, Alexandra Armstrong, CFP®, receives FFP’s first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award. FFP establishes the Alexandra Armstrong Innovation Grant in her honor.

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, FFP launches ProBonoPlannerMatch.Org, the first online hub where financial advisors can connect to virtual pro bono opportunities around the country. Since its launch, the platform has registered over 2,800 financial advisors as volunteers.

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FFP begins offering free E&O liability insurance for any CFP® professional volunteering through ProBonoPlannerMatch.Org or an FFP-funded program.

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FFP launches its RIA Impact Partners program to engage leading employers of CFP® professionals as supporters and partners in volunteerism. FFP partners with MarketCounsel to develop compliance resources for firms adopting supportive policies on pro bono service, adding to FFP’s suite of ongoing resources for advisors and their firms.

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FFP establishes a robust, national nonprofit outreach program, promoting the value of CFP® professionals as volunteers for financial capability programs—and encouraging nonprofits to post their volunteer opportunities to ProBonoPlannerMatch.Org. To date, over 175 nonprofit organizations have posted to the platform, resulting in thousands of “matches” to CFP® volunteers.

FFP releases its first major piece of original research, “The Case for Pro Bono Financial Planning”, offering a detailed look at the views of financial advisors on pro bono service.

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In light of the “Case for Pro Bono” findings, FFP’s CEO testifies to the CFP Board’s Competency Commission, requesting that some level of Continuing Education credits be made available to CFP® professionals providing pro bono service. CFP Board also issues a resolution recommending that all CFP® professionals provide at least 20 hours of pro bono service each year.

FFP celebrates 30 years of pro bono financial planning with its “Power of Pro Bono” 30^th Anniversary Campaign, with leading partner, the Charles Schwab Foundation.