Thinking Money for Kids Program Kits

We all need to master the knowledge and skills to make smart financial choices and prepare for whatever the future brings. Thinking Money for Kids, an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA) and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, strives to teach children and their parents, caregivers and educators about financial topics — like saving, spending, sharing and budgeting — in a way that is both meaningful and fun.

ALA and the FINRA Foundation invited public libraries to apply to receive a Thinking Money for Kids Program Kit, a collection of expertly vetted resources to help libraries offer financial education for children ages 3 to 12, both in the library and in children’s homes.

Three-hundred public libraries were selected to receive a Thinking Money for Kids Program Kit (estimated kit value: $2,000). Libraries will keep all kit contents after the grant period ends.

The programming period will run from September 2024 through December 2025. Please note that applications for this opportunity are closed.

Please choose from the following options:

• Participating Libraries
• FAQs
• Project Guidelines
• Library Support Materials

News

• "Teaching Kids About Money: Libraries Bridge the Education Gap" (Click Orlando, January 17, 2025)
• "Goshen County Library is Thinking Money" (Torrington Telegram, October 2, 2024)
• "Children Can Learn How to Handle Money at Local Libraries" (The Times Leader, September 16, 2024)
• "Osawatomie Public Library Receives Youth Financial Grant" (Osawatomie Kansas, January 30, 2024)
• "North Little Rock Libraries Get Kit to Teach Kids Financial Literacy" (ABC 7, September 30, 2024)

The Thinking Money for Kids Program Kits are administered by ALA’s Public Programs Office in collaboration with the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. To be notified about future grants and opportunities from ALA's Public Programs Office, sign up for ALA’s Programming Librarian newsletter.