November 03, 2011

Open Position: Executive Director

Cents Ability is a nonprofit organization that delivers financial literacy workshops to high school students throughout New York City.  Cents Ability's mission is to empower New York City high school students to achieve their goals through the prudent and informed management of their financial resources.

We seek a motivated person with strong organizational skills and “self starter” instincts to become our Executive Director.  Responsibilities include managing the organization’s day-to-day operations and exploring several key growth initiatives (outlined below).  Salary based on candidate profile and experience.

Organization description:

Cents Ability partners with schools and community centers around New York City to conduct financial literacy workshops for high school students.  Cents Ability’s curriculum is taught in seven 45-minute modules over three to seven weeks depending on the time allotted to each class.  We can adjust our class time according to the needs of each teaching location.  Classes are generally taught on the same day over consecutive weeks and short homework assignments are administered between classes. Class sizes vary but our target student-to-teacher ratio is 8-to-1. Our volunteer teachers are professionals in fields such as finance, media, education and law or college students pursuing business majors.  These volunteers bring real world experience to the classroom while serving as role models to their students.  Cents Ability teaches and administers all student materials free of charge.

Our curriculum reviews general financial topics.  The first 3 sessions focus on the financial planning process and place a strong emphasis on goal setting, the value of budgeting and risks and benefits of credit.  Students learn why they should start saving today.  In the 4th  and 5th  sessions, the material encourages students to think about investing saved money over the short term and long term so that they can achieve their financial goals.  The last 2 sessions include a high level discussion about the stock market and a review of the entire course.

Cents Ability has taught classes at 40+ locations across New York City.

Day-to-Day Operational Responsibilities:

• Volunteer and teaching venue coordination

• Communicate with volunteers, teachers, principals and community center leaders to ensure a smooth program experience at each teaching location

• Provide logistical support to the lead teacher at each teaching venue

• Organize school follow ups, feedback, evaluations, etc.

• Manage organization communications

• Maintain correspondence with volunteer base

• Respond to inquiries (website, e-mails, calls, etc.)

• Oversee Cents Ability volunteer database management system

• Work with Executive Committee to source new teaching opportunities

• Maintain records (Executive Committee meeting minutes, documents, etc.)

• Coordinate organization events
  

Growth Initiatives:

Cents Ability is in a period of rapid growth.  We are expanding our website, sourcing new teaching opportunities, engaging new fundraising initiatives and growing our volunteer base.  The Executive Director may become involved in a number of these initiatives based on experience and interest.  An enthusiastic attitude will be key.

• Fundraising

• Grant writing

• Identify and communicate with potential donors

• Fundraising events

• Improve tracking metrics to demonstrate success to donors

• Oversee communications and presentations to sponsors

• Organization communications

• Consider a monthly newsletter (for volunteers, students, etc)

• Curriculum improvements

• Enhance classroom experience through multimedia integration

• Investigate addition of mentor/mentee model

• Publicity

• Spearhead media outreach

• Volunteer recruitment

• Publicly represent Cents Ability

• Work with Website Director and 3rd party software provider to develop online budgeting tool

Time commitment:

We seek a minimum two-year commitment with promotional opportunities after 2-3 years

• Work normal business hours (9-5) plus Executive Committee meetings (held in the evenings), events, classes, and other engagements when appropriate

• Must be available to meet with principals/donors periodically

• Must learn the Cents Ability curriculum and teach classes with other Cents Ability volunteers

Candidate competences:

• Desire to work in a young, growing organization

• Ability to multitask

• Ability to work independently

• Interest in education/financial literacy

• Strong communication skills

• Energetic / passionate

• 3-5 yrs work experience

• Excel/PowerPoint proficient

• Attention to detail
  

Candidate Qualifications:

• 3-5 yrs work experience in related field

• Undergraduate degree, graduate degree preferred

Thanks for your interest!  Candidates please e-mail your resume and cover letter to: alexa@cents-ability.org

August 02, 2011

***Volunteer Training***

Join the Cents Ability Volunteer Corps!  Teach teens the fundamentals of finance and get them on track for financial security.

All volunteers must attend 4 hours of training and orientation.  Please see details and register for both days of training:

Wednesday, August 24, 2011 from 6pm - 8pm

Thursday, August 25, 2011 from 6pm - 8pm

All training sessions take place at

Societe Generale, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, 10th floor, NYC 10020. 

Please be sure to bring ID to get through the building security.

Please click on the button below to register for Cents Ability Volunteer Orientation and Curriculum Training.

***Volunteer Opportunities***

Teach

Teach teens how to manage their money on a college student budget!

TEAK Fellowship 

*Workshop for TEAK Fellows heading off to college

Date:  Saturday, August 6, 2011

Time:  10:15am - 12:45pm

Location:  TEAK Fellowship, 16 West 22nd Street, 3rd floor, NYC 10010

Topics:  Setting SMART financial goals, creating and maintaining a budget, and how to use credit responsibly

*Workshop for TEAK Alumni who are current college students or recent college graduates

Date:  Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Time:  6pm - 7:30pm

Location:  Societe Generale, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, 10th floor, NYC 10020

Topics:  managing credit responsibly, understanding investment options and your 401K

Seinfeld Scholarship Program 

Date:  Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Time:  1pm - 3pm

Location:  CUNY Journalism Building, 219 West 40th Street, room 442, NYC 10018

Topics:  Setting SMART financial goals, creating and maintaining a budget, and how to use credit responsibly

A Better Chance

Date:  Saturday, August 20, 2011

Time:  10am - 2pm

Location:  Skadden Arps,  4 Times Square, West 43rd Street entrance, NYC 10036

Topics:  Setting SMART financial goals, creating and maintaining a budget, and how to use credit responsibly

If you are interested in any of the above volunteer opportunities, please contact Kristine Rivera at krivera@cents-ability.org or 212-278-6144. 

April 26, 2011

CentsAble Money and Careers Fair

In partnership with Goldman Sachs Community TeamWorks and

Baruch Cents Ability

Date:  Thursday, May 12, 2011
Time:  10am to 3pm

Location:  Baruch College,

Vertical Campus Multipurpose Room

Participate in fun interactive workshops on budgeting, savings, credit and learn about careers in finance. 

Win raffle prizes! Refreshments and lunch will be provided!

Agenda

10am:  Registration and Check In

10:15am - 10:30am:  Opening Session SMART Goals

10:45am - 11:45am:  SAVE Your Life on a Budget

12pm - 1pm:  To Credit or Not To Credit? That is the Question!

1:15pm - 1:45pm: LUNCH

2pm - 2:45pm:  Goldman Sachs Career Panel

3pm:  Closing Remarks

For more information, please email mailto:baruch@cents-ability.org.

To register for the event, click on the button:

April 13, 2011

April is National Financial Literacy Month!

Celebrate Financial Literacy Month with Cents Ability by teaching teens the fundamentals of finance!

Cents Ability volunteers are celebrating Financial Literacy Month by teaching young people money management skills.  Join our volunteer corps and spring into action by signing up to teach personal finance to youth in the NY metropolitan area.

Students participating in the Cents Ability workshops learn basic money management skills and are given the tools to create a budget to build wealth, comparison shop checking and savings accounts, learn the pros and cons of credit and how to handle credit responsibly.  Past participants state that the information is interesting and important to share what they have learned with their family and friends.

Cents Ability volunteers make a difference for our youth bringing real world solutions to real world problems in this tough economy of layoffs and budget cuts.    

"I will begin to save and think about tomorrow with today's money."   - Cents Ability Student at New City Kids, NJ

"Thanks again for the fantastic 2 day workshop on financial literacy that you provided for my Juniors.  They were so engaged and learned many valuable skills for life."    - John Fadel, Math Teacher at HS of Hospitality Management

To learn more about Cents Ability and how Cents Ability volunteers are celebrating Financial Literacy Month, check out our April e-newsletter. 

Make the pledge to take the first step to financial wellness, visit http://www.financialliteracymonth.com/.

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