Colorado Credit Union Empowers Foster Youth Through New Financial Literacy Program

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on May 28, 2025

Colorado Credit Union recently launched the Fund Your Future Financial Literacy Program, a new initiative created to advance economic mobility for young adults with lived experience in the foster care system. This pilot program, made possible through a grant from the National Credit Union Foundation, was developed and delivered in partnership with the credit union’s nonprofit partner, TGTHR to End Youth Homelessness (TGTHR), an organization dedicated to supporting youth and young adults facing housing instability, including foster care youth as they transition to adulthood.

The program was piloted in Spring 2025 with residents of TGTHR’s supportive housing site in Denver. Over four weeks, Colorado Credit Union staff facilitated a hybrid curriculum of in-person financial workshops paired with self-paced online modules for young people who were previously unhoused. Participants explored essential personal finance topics such as saving, budgeting, and credit fundamentals, all designed to support long-term financial stability.

The Fund Your Future program provided more than just knowledge; it delivered tangible outcomes. Each participant earned savings incentives for completing modules and attending workshops, with incentives deposited directly into newly opened savings accounts at Colorado Credit Union. These savings incentives rewarded progress, reinforced smart saving behaviors, and helped many participants build their first financial safety nets.

“This program was designed to meet young people where they are — with compassion, trust, and practice tools they can use right away,” said Teagan Werden, Community Impact Manager at Colorado Credit Union. “We saw firsthand how financial education, when paired with encouragement and access, can empower individuals to take meaningful steps toward stability. That’s the heart of why we do this work.”

One dedicated Fund Your Future participant, Monte, reflected on how the program sparked a turning point in his financial journey. “I’ve never actually had a bank account. I was looking to learn about credit and everything, and [Fund Your Future] actually gave me a lot of knowledge. I realized how much money I was wasting on unnecessary things when I could be saving for a car. It opened my eyes a lot. It changed a lot for me.”

“Partnering with thoughtful organizations like Colorado Credit Union brings vital resources to young people who might not have been able to access them,” said TGTHR’s CEO, Annie Bacci. “CCU truly showed up for our youth by customizing their financial workshop to meet them where they are and understanding many are starting without bank accounts or financial guidance. These partnerships are how we create real pathways to stability, helping young people build the foundation they need to thrive.”

The program is directly aligned with Colorado Credit Union’s mission to promote economic mobility in the community by helping participants build relationships with a financial institution and encouraging consistent saving habits. Colorado Credit Union’s partnership with TGTHR began in 2022 and continues to expand, with shared goals of creating brighter, more secure futures for Colorado’s youth.

Posted in Colorado, Community Impact, Regional Member News.