About us

Cents Ability

Is a non-profit that teaches teens the basics of personal finance.

We partner with schools and community-based organizations to provide FREE financial literacy instruction to high school students. Our program is flexible, and modules can be offered (by our trained volunteers or staff) on a one on a one-time basis or for the entire series of our nine-module curriculum.

What we care about

Our Mission

Cents Ability is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to educating and empowering high school students to achieve their goals through the prudent and informed management of their financial resources.

Our Vision

We envision a nation where every person is equipped with the real-world skills necessary to achieve their goals.

Our History

Cents Ability, Inc. was founded in 2004 by two Harvard University graduates, Alexa DuPont and John Moore, who saw a need in the country for education in personal finance.

The organization was established to provide young adults in New York City public high schools and low-income communities with the financial tools and knowledge necessary to achieve their goals.

A team of volunteers developed our curriculum alongside the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) and the standards set forth by the Jump$tart Coalition.

Our Process

Cents Ability partners with schools and community centers to conduct financial literacy workshops primarily for high school students, but we also can accommodate middle school students .

Our curricula is taught in up to eight modules; however, you can pick and choose which modules you would like us to cover. Classes are generally taught on the same day over consecutive weeks.

The first 4 sessions focus on the financial planning process and place a strong emphasis on goal setting, the value of budgeting and risks and benefits of credit. Students learn why they should start saving today.

Based on pre-workshop questionnaire

THERE IS A CRITICAL NEED FOR FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION

0 %

OF OUR STUDENT

'never' or 'rarely' discuss money with their family

0 %

OF HOST SITES

report that our program covers material not taught in their curriculum

0 %

OF RECENT PARTIPANTS

say they 'never' write down financial goals.

0 %

OF OUR ALUMNI SAID CENTES ABILITY

"Absolutely prepared me to manage my own finances"

0 %

OF ALUMNI REPORTED THAT

"Cents Ability 'absolutely' or did a 'good job' of helping me decide to go to college"

0 %

OF OUR

Students, Volunteers and host sites say they would recommend Cents Ability to friends