Bring financial education to your community

A proposal must meet every requirement below.

• The applicant—an individual, nonprofit, or small business—is based in the United States.

• The financial education program is based in the United States and primarily serves people in the United States.

• The program provides education rather than individualized investment, tax, legal, credit-repair, or other regulated advice.

• Education is the program's primary purpose; the proposal is not mainly a sales or promotional campaign.

• The applicant can pay approved expenses first and request reimbursement with receipts.

• The applicant will provide timely updates, privacy-safe aggregate participant information, and appropriately permitted photos or video.

• The individual or organization will submit only one proposal in the round.

• A previous Plutus grant recipient has completed the earlier grant's reporting and reimbursement documentation.

New and existing projects may apply. An existing project must clearly separate completed work from the future activities and expenses requested from Plutus.

The Foundation reimburses approved, itemized program costs incurred after the grant agreement takes effect and within the funded activity period. Costs incurred before approval are not eligible.

• Direct program materials, printing, venue rental, program-specific software, and equipment rental.

• Compensation for people who directly design or deliver the program, up to 25% of the award.

• Program-specific participant recruitment, registration, signage, and promotional materials, up to 15% of the award in total.

• Modest participant refreshments or meals that directly support an in-person program and are separately itemized.

The grant does not reimburse routine administrative payroll, general rent or utilities, insurance, ongoing organization-wide subscriptions, broad brand promotion, logo work, merchandise or giveaways, alcohol, staff-focused meals, profit distributions, or unrelated paid offerings.

A program may charge a reasonable participation fee. The application must disclose the fee and expected revenue, explain why the fee fits the intended audience, and describe any free or reduced-cost access.

Applicants should also disclose other committed or expected project funding so reviewers can understand the complete budget.

A prepared applicant should be able to complete the form in about 20–30 minutes. A separate narrative proposal is not required.

• Applicant and project-lead contact information, U.S. location, and a relevant website or work link.

• Project title, short summary, intended participants, delivery format, and U.S. service location.

• Three concise responses covering the audience and need, planned activities and readiness, and expected results and reporting.

• Funded activity dates and, for an existing project, a short description of work and results to date.

• A simple itemized budget, fees or other project revenue, other funding, and the amount requested.

• Relevant experience, any prior Plutus grant, and the required confirmations.

One supporting PDF is optional. Do not submit tax forms, bank information, identity documents, participant lists, or individual demographic records with the proposal.

The Foundation first checks eligibility and completeness. Eligible proposals are reviewed for:

• a clear financial education purpose and connection to the Foundation's mission;

• a defined U.S. audience and credible need;

• a practical plan, responsible project lead, and achievable timing;

• a reasonable budget using eligible expenses; and

• realistic results and the ability to provide the required reporting, aggregate demographics, and media.

Prior support does not guarantee or prevent a future award. The Foundation may request clarification but is not required to invite revisions after the deadline.

Recipients sign a grant agreement before eligible expenses begin. The Foundation reimburses approved expenses through no more than two claims: one optional interim claim and one final claim. Each claim includes receipts for individual expenses over $25 and a brief progress update.

Within 14 days after each funded event, the recipient provides attendance, privacy-safe aggregate demographics, a brief activity and results update, and available photos or video. Within 30 days after the full project ends, the recipient provides final results, complete expenses, remaining approved media, and the final reimbursement request. A complete one-time-event report may satisfy both requirements.

Recipients obtain appropriate participant or guardian permission before submitting identifiable media. Each file must be marked either approved for Foundation website, newsletter, and social use or documentation-only. Names and identifiable participant-level demographic information must not be submitted.

A grant reimburses approved costs for a defined financial education project. Sponsorship is a separate partnership that may include recognition, participation, or promotional benefits. Scholarship support helps participants access an educational program rather than funding the program's operating proposal.

If sponsorship or scholarship support better describes the opportunity, contact the Foundation instead of submitting it as a grant proposal.