Biz Kid$ Business Plan Competition Grants Available from the Foundation

(From the National Credit Union Foundation) – Credit union organizations can now apply for a Biz Kid$ Business Plan Competition Grant from the National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) to help improve youth financial education through hands-on entrepreneurial experience. The Foundation is looking to distribute up to $25,000 in grant funds with a deadline to apply of June 30, 2019.

The application can be found here or by visiting ncuf.coop/bkgrants.

“This is an exciting opportunity for credit union organizations to use Biz Kid$ in a specific way to help students get an introduction to entrepreneurship,” said Danielle Brown, Engagement Director at the Foundation. “Business plan competitions are a great way for organizations to strengthen their relationships with their community while showcasing their commitment to improving youth financial education.”

Hosting Biz Kid$ Business Plan Competitions allows credit union organizations to take a leadership role in providing economic and entrepreneurship education to youth, helping them build a solid financial future. Through these competitions, students showcase their hard work while practicing financial education, entrepreneurial, public speaking, and teamwork skills. The creation of a business plan truly puts what they have learned in the classroom into action and provides hands on, outcomes based financial education to the students.

Examples of credit union organizations that have hosted these types of competitions:

• Cornerstone Credit Union Foundation Biz Kid$ Entrepreneurship Contest Toolkit
• WEOKIE Credit Union Foundation Biz Kid$ Middle School Cooperative Entrepreneurship Competition

Grants Aligned with Biz Kid$

Biz Kid$ is a financial education initiative launched nationally in January 2008 that teaches kids about money management and business. The initiative includes an award-winning TV series, free classroom curriculum, outreach activities and website (bizkids.com) targeting children 9-16 years old. The number one goal of Biz Kid$ is to teach kids from upper elementary through high school to understand and incorporate the skills they need to successfully manage their financial lives. One goal of the Foundation’s Biz Kid$ grants is to extend the reach of the series beyond broadcast into the community. For more information about Biz Kid$, click here or visit www.ncuf.coop/bizkids.

Questions about Biz Kid$ or the grant process can be directed to Danielle Brown at (608) 556-2406 or via email at dbrown@ncuf.coop.