How to Support
Supporting Economic Education Expands Opportunities
The work of the Council for Economic Education (CEE) is supported by business leaders and educators who are committed to improving economic and financial education in our nation’s classroom. It is only by acquiring economic and financial literacy that children can learn that there are better options for a life well lived, will be able to see opportunity on their horizon line and, ultimately, can grow into successful and productive adults capable of making informed and responsible decisions.
In 2011 we trained more than 55,000 teachers, including 5,000 in some of the nation’s lowest-performing high schools; those teachers, in turn, reached 5 million students. Economics and personal finance are threaded into courses in math, history and even children’s literature, and offered at every level, from AP economics in high school to hands-on economics for the youngest learners. More than 5,500 high school students annually enter our National Economics Challenge, competing in creative problem solving and tests of their awareness of economic principles, world events and business news. Second graders learn the concept of compound interest by using jelly beans, an exercise that sweetens significantly the so-called dismal science.
Why Give – Why Now?
Our global economy has become so complex that the gap between what people know about economics and personal finance, and what they need to know, is widening every day. Americans are increasingly responsible for their financial future, yet an alarming number lack even basic economic awareness.
In the midst of an economic slowdown, and in an absence of a general understanding of economics, political rhetoric can overwhelm facts in the public debate. The result, at best, is disinterest; at worst, disillusionment.
We know that personal finance and economic literacy changes the way people see the world and their roles in it. We get results- testing after CEE programs showed a 39% improvement in financial literacy in elementary school students, and a 47% increase for middle schoolers in Tennessee.
Join us in our effort to make economic and financial literacy a priority in the schools, and to help us educate young people about an economy they will work in, benefit from and ultimately, inherit.
What Can Your Dollars Do?
Every dollar of support to CEE is important. Here are some examples of what your donation can accomplish:
| $150 | Supports one teacher to participate in CEE training in personal finance or economics. That teacher, in turn, will reach 50 – 150 students a year. |
| $500 | Outfits a classroom with books and materials from Financial Fitness for Life. This comprehensive personal finance curriculum for K-12 students teaches students how to make thoughtful, well-informed decisions about important aspects of personal finance, such as earning income, spending, saving, borrowing, investing, and managing money. |
| $1,000 | Provides a full scholarship for a teacher to attend CEE’s Annual Conference, a venue for educators to share best practices in teaching about financial literacy and economics, receive training on new tools and how to infuse finance and economic education into a variety of subject areas. |
| $5,000 | Supports a teacher training workshop in general financial literacy, or on a featured topic, such as Teaching Financial Crises. This workshop includes understanding the history of financial crises, field trips, and using the hands on learning tools provided to bring key concepts back to the classroom. CEE workshops routinely receive top ratings – last year over 95% of 400 participants in NYC based workshops rated them very good to excellent on quality of content and usefulness. |
| $10,000 | Supports one state level competition as part of the National Economics Challenge for high school students. |
| $20,000 | Sends a CEE expert from our broad network of educators on site to create and implement a customized curriculum in economics or personal finance for an area school or district. |
What Do Donors Support?
Donors currently support a variety of initiatives at CEE. These include but are not limited to:
- General operating support
- National partnership initiatives, such as:
- National Standards in Financial Literacy
- National Teacher Training
- After School Pilot Program
- National Economics Challenge
- Special Events
- 2012 Visionary Awards
- National Educator Conference
- Women’s Breakfast
- National Center for Economic and Financial Education Workshops
Ways to Give
| Tribute Making a gift in honor of someone special is a perfect way to recognize that person while supporting CEE. You can commemorate a milestone or celebrate a special occasion such as an anniversary, retirement, graduation or birthday. An acknowledgement will be sent to the individual letting him/her know that you are honoring them in this special way. Making a gift in memory of a loved one is a meaningful way to remember someone special and having the satisfaction of knowing your gift will support CEE and its mission. |
| Matching Gift – Double the Impact of Your Gift Does your company have a matching gift program? If yes, you may be able to double the impact of your gift at no additional cost to you.Don’t know if your company matches gifts? Contact your Human Resource or Personnel department to find out. Many employers match your contribution as part of their corporate giving initiative. |
| Gift of Stock Gifts of stock or appreciated securities allow you to help CEE while receiving an income tax deduction. It may also help with estate or tax planning. Recent legislation benefits donors contributing investments that may have appreciated in value. |
| Gift in Kind In addition to direct financial contributions, CEE also accepts donations of material goods or services to help move our mission forward. |
| Become an Event Sponsor CEE hosts several events throughout the year that help to raise funds and awareness of our mission. Your sponsorship of and participation in of these events is a key to continued success. |
| 2012 Visionary Awards The Visionary Awards, going into its seventh year, is an annual celebration recognizing remarkable individuals who make the case that investing in human capital, through opportunity and education, is the key to self esteem and quality of life. Honorees typically include teacher(s), corporate leader(s), an economist, and a financial media spokesperson. Two of our honorees for the upcoming 2012 Visionary Awards are Duncan L. Niederauer, Chief Executive Officer and Director at NYSE Euronext; and The Honorable Sheila Bair, Former Chairman of the FDIC and currently a Senior Advisor at The Pew Charitable Trusts. CNBC’s Sharon Epperson has been the mistress of ceremonies since its inception. |
| Planned Gifts To leave a lasting legacy for future generations, consider a planned gift. The term “Planned Gift” refers to any major gift that involves financial or estate planning. Such gifts can provide important benefits to you and to CEE. Determining what type of gift is right for you is just as important as your decision to make the gift. There are many options from which you can choose. Making provisions for a planned gift is a simple process; however, it should be made with the advice of your attorney. We welcome your questions about various planned giving arrangements. |
If you are interested in supporting CEE or want to learn more, please contact Cathy Levy, Vice President of Development at 212-730-5658 or CLevy@councilforeconed.org.
Contributions to the Council for Economic Education are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. The Council for Economic Education is a 501(c)3 corporation.
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