Program Spotlight
Women Investing in Security and Education
WISE Program Profile
WISE® is a 501(c)(3) mission-driven organization that educates women and girls from all socioeconomic backgrounds on investing and personal finance. We believe that better managing finances expands options in life and provides all the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Young Girls: WISE conducts workshops for young girls focusing on essential financial topics such as budgeting, credit management, understanding credit cards, and banking. These workshops, totaling 10-12 per year, aim to empower young girls from diverse backgrounds, with an average audience size of 600 per workshop.
University Students: For university students, WISE presents workshops under the theme “Tearing Down the Pink Wall,” which combines education and inspiration. These workshops cover financial markets, career advice, and strategies for navigating the financial landscape, with a minimum of two sessions held annually and an average audience of 1,200 per workshop.
Communities: WISE’s community empowerment workshops cover a range of topics including personal investing, retirement planning, and estate planning. Conducted two to three times per year, these workshops aim to empower community members with financial knowledge and skills, with audience sizes typically ranging from 300-400 attendees.
WISE utilizes various distribution channels to reach its audience, including our mailing list with over 3,000 subscribers, corporate partners, universities, and trade associations. Notable partners include Capital Group, PIMCO, Pacific Life, CFA, FPA, Girl Scouts, Girls Inc., UCI, UCLA Chapman University, UMass, PBS and many more, enabling WISE to amplify its reach and impact. Each year, WISE reaches thousands of individuals through its financial empowerment message for community organizations and WISE members. This widespread outreach helps fulfill WISE’s mission of educating and empowering women and girls from all walks of life.
WISE Board Member & CEO Angela Dailey
The WISE programs’ best qualities include:
Inclusivity: WISE’s program is inclusive, welcoming women and girls from all socioeconomic backgrounds. By providing accessible financial education, WISE ensures that everyone has the opportunity to enhance their financial literacy and achieve their goals.
Empowerment Focus: WISE’s program is centered around empowerment, empowering women and girls to take control of their financial futures and reach their full potential. Through education and inspiration, WISE instills confidence and self-reliance.
Comprehensive Curriculum: The workshops offered by WISE cover a comprehensive range of financial topics, including budgeting, credit management, investing, retirement planning, estate planning and more. This ensures that participants receive a well-rounded education that equips them with the knowledge and skills needed for financial success.
Commitment to Lifelong Learning: WISE’s program instills a commitment to lifelong learning in participants, encouraging them to continue building their financial knowledge and skills beyond the workshops. By fostering a culture of continuous learning, WISE empowers individuals to adapt to changing financial landscapes and achieve long-term financial success.
What have been some of the biggest accomplishments of your program in terms of student / participant success?
Some of the biggest accomplishments of our program in terms of student/participant success have been truly inspiring and impactful:
Life-changing Events with UCI: Our partnership with UCI has yielded remarkable results, with our Tearing Down the Pink Wall events being described as “life-changing” by the university. This testimonial underscores the transformative nature of our workshops in empowering individuals to take control of their financial futures.
Inspiration through partnering with Girls Inc: A young women attended a WISE-Girls Inc event eight years ago which serves as a testament to the lasting impact of our program. The attendee set a goal of becoming an accountant, and through her determination and our inspiration, we learned that she has achieved that goal! Now working as an accountant for one of our partners, Girls Inc, her success exemplifies the potential for personal and professional growth that our programs foster.
Sasha’s Journey to Homeownership: Sasha’s journey is a shining example of how our program equips participants with the knowledge and tools to achieve their dreams. Years ago, Sasha asked a WISE speaker at our event what she needed to do to buy a house. Following the steps outlined, Sasha worked diligently towards her goal, and five years later, she proudly purchased a condo in Orange County. Her testimony showcases the tangible impact of our program in empowering individuals to attain financial independence and stability. From Sasha: “Something clicked-five years later, I was debt free, built up my credit and savings. I was able to buy a condo in Orange County on my own!”
These success stories highlight the transformative power of our program, demonstrating its ability to inspire and empower women to pursue their goals and build brighter futures for themselves.
Recent Webinar Feedback:
“Thank you!!! Best webinar I have attended since the start of Covid.”
“Really appreciated the explanations and the resources given for novice investors. Thank you for doing this.”
“I have done investing via mutual funds through work but this has inspired me to consider other financial planning options too.”
NFEC Credentials
Within our WISE programs, we prioritize the utilization of qualified financial educators who possess the necessary expertise to effectively impart personal finance knowledge. We particularly seek educators who have earned the Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ (CFEI®) through NFEC as a testament to our mutual dedication to excellence and our relentless pursuit of empowering others through knowledge and expertise.
This credential holds significant weight as it ensures that our educators meet rigorous standards and possess specialized knowledge in the realm of personal finance education. The CFEI® credential specifically equips educators with the skills and techniques required to engage our learners effectively and facilitate meaningful understanding of financial concepts.
By having educators with this credential at the helm of our program, we can guarantee a high standard of instruction that is tailored to the unique challenges and complexities of personal finance. This, in turn, enhances the overall effectiveness of our program by fostering deeper engagement and comprehension among participants.
Additionally, all WISE board members have generously been given access to NFEC certification materials with several in the process of working towards the CFEI® credential.
NFEC Resources
WISE leverages a variety of resources provided by NFEC to enhance the effectiveness and impact of our initiatives. These resources encompass a wide range of tools and materials that are instrumental in shaping the delivery and content of our financial education efforts.
One key resource we utilize is the pool of CFEI credentialed speakers provided by NFEC. These speakers bring a wealth of expertise and experience to our programs, ensuring that participants receive instruction from qualified professionals. Their expertise not only enriches the learning experience but also instills confidence in our participants, knowing that they are receiving guidance from trusted authorities in the field of personal finance.
Additionally, NFEC offers customized content development services, tailoring our educational materials to the specific needs and demographics of our audience. This customization ensures that our curriculum remains relevant and engaging, catering to the diverse learning styles and preferences of our participants. By incorporating personalized content developed in collaboration with NFEC, we can deliver targeted financial education that resonates with our audience and drives meaningful behavior change.
Moreover, NFEC provides scripts and communication templates that help streamline our outreach efforts and ensure consistency in messaging across various channels. These resources empower us to effectively communicate key financial concepts and program details to our audience, maximizing engagement and participation. Whether through email campaigns, social media posts, or presentation scripts, NFEC’s communication tools enable us to convey our message clearly and compellingly, driving awareness and interest in our program.
NFEC also facilitates data gathering and analysis through their comprehensive assessment tools and surveys. These tools allow us to measure the impact and effectiveness of our program, gathering valuable insights into participant knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to personal finance. By leveraging NFEC’s expertise, we can track progress, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions to enhance the overall efficacy of our financial education initiatives.
Plans For Growth and Future Impact
Our plan for growing our impact aligns closely with the strategic review WISE conducted and the objectives suggested by NFEC. Here’s how we intend to achieve these goals:
1. Expanding Partnerships: We will actively seek out new partnerships with organizations that share our mission and values. By broadening our network of collaborators, we can reach a wider audience and increase the scope of our impact.
2. Engaging Content: We understand the importance of providing high-quality, relevant content to our participants. We will continuously work on developing engaging and informative materials that resonate with our audience and address their needs.
3. Enhanced Revenue Generation: To sustain and expand our programs, we will explore various avenues for revenue generation, including grants, sponsorships, donations and potentially fee-based services. By diversifying our funding sources, we can ensure the long-term viability of our initiatives.
4. Recruiting New Partners: We will actively recruit new partners who can contribute to our mission through their expertise, resources, or networks. By forging strategic alliances with like-minded organizations, we can amplify our impact and reach new audiences.
5. Deepening Relationships with Current Partners: Building strong, enduring relationships with our existing partners is crucial. We will prioritize communication, collaboration, and mutual support to foster long-term partnerships that drive meaningful change.
6. Hosting Additional Community Workshops: We recognize the importance of grassroots engagement in driving social impact. We will look to increase the number of community workshops we host, providing accessible education and support to individuals from diverse backgrounds.
7. Continuing Sponsorship with WealthTrack: Our partnership with PBS’s WealthTrack has proven to be instrumental in expanding our reach nationally. We will continue to leverage this sponsorship to promote financial literacy and empowerment on a broader scale.
8. Increasing Programming and Podcasts: We will expand our programming offerings, including the development of podcasts to deliver valuable insights and advice to our audience in a convenient and accessible format.
9. Gathering Measurement Data: We recognize the importance of data in assessing our impact and refining our strategies. We will look to implement robust measurement systems to track key metrics and gather feedback from participants and partners.
10. Expanding Volunteer Base and Partner Organizations: Volunteers play a critical role in our organization’s success. We will work to expand our volunteer base and cultivate partnerships with organizations that can provide additional support and resources.
By implementing these strategies and working collaboratively with our partners and stakeholders, we are confident that we can grow our impact and make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and communities.
