Strengthening Communities

Reflecting on the first six months of 2026, I am filled with immense gratitude for what our community has accomplished together. At the Minnesota Financial Empowerment Initiative (MNFEI), our mission remains steadfast: to offer free, high-quality financial education by partnering compassionate, skilled volunteer educators with adults who are eager to build a brighter financial future.

As we cross the midpoint of the year, I am proud to share our 2026 Mid-Year Impact Report. This update is a testament to the hard work of our participants, the dedication of our volunteers, and the vital support of our non-profit network. Together, we are transforming financial literacy into tangible economic empowerment across Minnesota.

2026 Mid-Year Impact Report

Our Impact So Far This Year

The numbers from the first half of 2026 highlight a vibrant, growing community effort:

• 177 Participants Served: Adults actively taking control of their financial journeys.

• 49 MNFEI Classes: Comprehensive financial education sessions delivered directly to our community.

• 14 New Volunteer Educators: Talented professionals stepping up to give back and share their expertise.

• 3 New Partner Organizations: Expanding our ecosystem to reach individuals where they are.

Celebrating Our Mid-Year Wins

Beyond the statistics, the first half of this year has been marked by exciting expansions and service enhancements:

• Launched "MNFEI Mondays": We introduced free, public monthly financial education workshops to ensure that foundational financial skills are accessible to everyone.

• Expanded Strategic Partnerships: We are thrilled to grow our collaborative footprint with incredible organizations, including Women Building Futures at Summit Academy, the Economic Mobility Hub, and Dress for Success.

• Secured Critical Grant Funding: MNFEI was awarded significant new grant funding, allowing us to maintain stable, high-quality programming and build a foundation for sustainable growth.

• Feedback-Driven Excellence: We have actively updated and enhanced our curriculum based on participant and partner feedback. Our internal participant surveys continue to reflect high satisfaction, increased financial confidence, and real-world practical knowledge.

Looking Ahead: The Work Continues

While we celebrate these benchmarks, we remain keenly aware of the growing need in our communities. For the remainder of 2026, our goals are focused on broadening our reach and ensuring long-term sustainability:

• Deepen Holistic Support: We will continue expanding community partnerships to seamless connect our participants with additional supportive resources.

• Grow Our Volunteer Network: To keep up with demand and reduce our non-profit waitlist, we are prioritizing recruiting more volunteer educators.

• Advance MNFEI Mondays: Future workshops will feature targeted guest speakers with content driven directly by participant interests.

• Strengthen Fundraising & Outreach: We are accelerating corporate outreach to ensure sustainable growth and increased localized community impact.

A Heartfelt Thank You

None of this life-changing work would be possible without our incredible foundational non-profit partners—including Goodwill Easter Seals, Jeremiah Program, Summit Academy OIC, The Salvation Army, Learning In Style, and Interfaith Action—as well as our donors, board members, and volunteer educators.

Want to join our mission? Whether you want to become a volunteer educator, partner your non-profit with us, or support our fundraising efforts, please visit us at MNFEI.org or reach out to me directly at tinao@mnfei.org.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to strengthen communities through financial empowerment!

info@mnfei.org

Minnesota Financial Empowerment Initiative is a Minnesota nonprofit corporation operating through a fiscal sponsorship with Players Philanthropy Fund, Inc. a Texas nonprofit corporation recognized by IRS as a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Federal Tax ID: 27-6601178, ppf.org/pp). Contributions to Minnesota Financial Empowerment Initiative qualify as tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.