activities · 11
what they do
direct service · 10
- Bankruptcy counseling courses Bankruptcy Counseling & EducationOffers two court-mandated online courses for individuals filing for bankruptcy: a pre-filing counseling course and a post-filing financial management course, each available 24/7 with progress-saving features and lasting approximately 90 minutes and 2 hours respectively.
- Couples' financial management strategies Employment & Financial CoachingProvides strategies for couples to manage money more effectively through shared and individual financial responsibilities.
- Debt management services Debt Management & Credit Repair ServicesProvides debt management programs that help thousands of individuals eliminate credit card debt annually, with a track record of assisting over 2 million people since 1987 in repaying more than $6 billion in debt.
- Debt relief education and consumer protection guidance Debt Management & Credit Repair ServicesProvides educational resources on debt relief options, compares credit counseling and debt settlement services, offers criteria to identify legitimate credit counseling agencies, and advises on considerations before signing agreements with debt relief companies.
- Financial education for individuals with disabilities Financial Literacy Education & CoachingProvides accessible financial education tailored to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), focusing on practical money management skills.
- Financial guidance for life stages and behaviorsProvides practical financial strategies for various life stages and behaviors, including teaching children money allocation through labeled containers, involving teens in grocery shopping for value assessment, advising on early college financial planning, and offering tips to reduce spending on food delivery, social activities, and streaming services to boost retirement savings.
- Free financial workshops and counselingOffers free financial workshops and 24/7 online credit counseling sessions to help individuals assess their financial situation, manage debt, and improve financial health. Counseling sessions include progress-saving functionality and result in downloadable credit report summaries.
- Housing counseling services Homebuyer Education and CounselingOffers housing counseling that extends beyond mortgage preparation to address broader housing-related financial needs.
- School-based financial education programs Financial Literacy Education & CoachingDelivers financial education to students and staff in school systems across Maricopa and Pima Counties, including grade-specific lesson plans on topics such as barter vs. money, wants vs. needs, and saving, using children's literature and aligned with academic standards.
- Strategic use of tax refunds Matched Savings with Financial EducationOffers guidance and strategies for using tax refunds to achieve long-term financial stability and make financial progress, with specific resources targeting the 2026 tax season.
capacity building · 1
- Capacity-building resource hubsCompiles and provides access to curated resources and support organizations in financial, legal, and health areas, with specialized collections for veterans and teens interested in starting small businesses.
strategies · 2
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Client-centered debt management and counseling client_centered_debt_managementThe organization provides empathetic, non-judgmental, and individualized debt management support. This involves objective financial reviews, exploring all debt relief options, and recommending tailored solutions, with a focus on debt repayment and long-term financial stability rather than solely credit repair.
- Empowerment through comprehensive financial education financial_educationThe organization empowers individuals across diverse backgrounds, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, to achieve financial well-being and make confident financial decisions by providing high-quality, tailored financial education and counseling. This education covers practical skills, budgeting, debt management, responsible credit use, and long-term financial planning, utilizing various tools and curricula.
named programs · 4
what they call their work
Free Credit Counseling
Online and phone-based credit counseling service available 24/7, helping individuals manage debt, create budgets, and regain financial control. Includes credit report summary and personalized guidance.
Free Credit Counseling Session
Online and phone-based credit counseling services to help individuals regain control of their money, eliminate credit card debt, and achieve financial freedom.
Free Financial Education Lesson Plans
Grade-specific lesson plans for grades 1-5 that use children's literature to teach financial literacy concepts such as saving, budgeting, credit, and money management. Each includes worksheets, activities, and academic standards alignment.
Money Lesson Plans Grades 1-5
Free financial education lesson plans, activities, and worksheets designed to help students build real-world money skills, covering topics like barter, wants and needs, saving, price, jobs, work, sales, counting money, savings accounts, shopping, choices, scarcity, budgeting, market prices, money vs. trade, managing money, counting change, comparison shopping, debt, labor, sales tax, mental math, characteristics and functions of money, role of money, spending money, savings and earnings, earning an income, borrowing and lending, taxes, production and trade, starting your own business, government goods and services, wise shoppers, saving and creating a personal budget, saving and investing, using credit, short-term and long-term savings goals, currency and exchange rates, and wise spending.
relationships · 49
who they work with
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Partner — Listed as a resource for a twelve-step program for individuals who wish to stop drinking alcohol.
- Alliance for Information and Referral Systems Partner — Spearheads the 2-1-1 telephone number that connects consumers with community services.
- American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Partner — Listed as a resource for people 50 and over to improve their quality of life.
- American Hospice Foundation Partner — Supports programs that serve the needs of terminally ill and grieving individuals.
- American Psychological Association Partner — Cited as a source for data on children's exposure to advertising.
- Better Business Bureau of Arizona Government — Maintains an A+ rating from the BBB of Arizona for sound and transparent business practices.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Government — Provides information to enhance health decisions and promotes health through partnerships.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Government — Offers detailed information on Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP.
- Council on Accreditation Network — Has attained COA Accreditation, demonstrating adherence to high standards in program and service delivery.
- Credit Karma Partner — Cited source of data on Millennial spending behaviors related to social media.
- Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Government — Listed as a resource for buying and selling homes, consumer rights, and help for the homeless.
- Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. Partner — Listed as a resource that creates opportunities for affordable homes, safer streets, and access to jobs and childcare.
- Equifax Partner — Listed as one of the three major credit reporting agencies.
- Estrella School District Partner — Partner school district where Take Charge America provides financial education programming.
- Experian Partner — Listed as one of the three major credit reporting agencies.
- Feeding America Partner — Listed as a resource for its food bank network, which is the nation's largest charitable hunger-relief organization.
- Financial Counseling Association of America Network — Member of the FCAA, meeting strict statutory requirements and committing to integrity and professionalism in service delivery.
- FindLaw Partner — Listed as a resource for lawyer search and information on legal issues.
- Findhelp Partner — Listed as a resource for finding free or reduced cost community services.
- Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Government — Offers resources and advice on good nutrition, food shopping, and food stamp services.
- Gamblers Anonymous Partner — Listed as a resource for a twelve-step program for problem gamblers.
- Glendale Union High School District Partner — Partner school district where Take Charge America provides financial education programming.
- Grady Health System Partner — Partnered to integrate financial wellness resources into patient support services.
- Hope Now Partner — Represents lenders and housing counselors who help homeowners struggling with mortgage payments.
- Life Development Institutes Partner — Partner educational institution where Take Charge America provides financial education programming.
- Maricopa Community College District Partner — Partner community college district where Take Charge America provides financial education programming.
- Mesa Public Schools Partner — Partner public school system where Take Charge America provides financial education programming.
- Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Partner — Listed as a resource for a twelve-step program for recovery from drug addiction.
- National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA) Partner — Listed as a resource for lawyers promoting justice for consumers.
- National Council on the Aging Partner — Hosts the Benefits Check Up website, an online directory for seniors to find programs for various needs.
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