About Dollar Matters

Our mission

Dollar Matters is a student-led volunteer organization on a mission to close the financial literacy gap in under-resourced communities. We go directly into high schools and community centers to teach the money skills that aren't covered in most classrooms, because we believe that knowing how money works is a right, not a privilege.

Why we exist

Too many young people enter adulthood without ever learning how to open a bank account, what a credit score is, or why a payday loan can spiral into a debt trap. These aren't complicated concepts, they just aren't being taught. Dollar Matters exists to change that, one workshop at a time.

Our workshops are free for every school and community center we partner with. We provide all materials, and our volunteers are trained college students who understand what it means to be learning about money for the first time.

What we teach

How it works

We partner with schools and community organizations to schedule free financial literacy workshops. Our college volunteers visit in groups, run interactive sessions with real-world examples and activities, and leave behind resource guides students can keep.

Workshops typically run 45–90 minutes and can be customized to what a school needs most. We cover everything from opening a first bank account to understanding the long-term cost of a payday loan.

Our values

• Access for all: Financial literacy should not depend on your zip code.
• Peer learning: College students teaching high schoolers creates genuine connection.
• Plain language: No jargon. We explain things the way a friend would.
• Respect: Every question is a good question. We meet people where they are.