Non-Profits and Governments

Use the opportunity America Saves Week provides as a time to reach out and develop new partnerships based on program needs and expansion. Use the resources and materials to reach current or potential participants and clients to participate in your savings and wealth building programs. Take advantage of what banks and credit unions are doing to insure that your people have savings accounts for those emergencies that arise every year whether it’s a car issue or a run to the emergency room.

1. Sing the message of Make Savings Automatic as the only way to successfully buy a home, retain a home, become financially stable, save for higher education, save for emergencies, and other program efforts.
2. Tailor America Saves Week messages and materials to encourage participation and success in your programs and mission. Materials can be co-branded.
3. Develop partnerships with banks and credit unions to offer low- or no-cost accounts to your clients, members, and participants to help them succeed in their ambitions.
4. Click here to see what participating non-profits planned for America Saves Week 2008 to use as ideas for America Saves Week 2009; February 22 through March 1, 2009.

Documents for Distribution

• America Saves Week logo
• Posters—download, customize, print, and distribute all five versions 
  • House
  • Car
  • Education
  • Retirement
  • General Savings
• Flyers—download, customize, print, and distribute all five versions
  • Build Wealth
  • House
  • Car 
  • Education
  • Retirement
• Brochures—download, customize, print, and distribute to appropriate partner organizations  
  • Nonprofts 
• Saving Your Tax Refund Made Simple
  Now, taxpayers have an easy way to keep some of the pie for themselves: Finally, savings made simple! Using Form 8888, taxpayers can direct-deposit tax refunds into up to three accounts, making it easy to save a portion of their refunds. They can spend some on expenses, invest some in a long-term goal, and save some for emergency funds. 
• For additional materials like a sample proclamation, power point presentation or payroll stuffer, visit the America Saves website

Success stories from America Saves Week 2007

• Cleveland Saves Week generated a 325% increase in participation from the previous year in a Super Saturday VITA/EITC effort.
• Nonprofits in 20 states reached more than 270,000 people with the messages and materials of America Saves Week through financial education classes, VITA sites, community events, and seminars.

Additional activities

• Place America Saves Week article in newsletter and/or community newspaper.
• Host motivational workshops for clients, constituents, and members.
• Declare a goal of new savings accounts opened, dollars to be saved, homes to be purchased, new businesses to be opened, students to attend college.
• Promote Saving at Tax Time, hold EITC workshops and promote VITA sites while encouraging Saver enrollment.
• Organize local Money Fairs at the public library.
• Set up America Saves Week display/area for reading/research and Web access to saving, debt reduction, and wealth building.
• Encourage enrollment as a Saver at information desks.
• Hold contests/activities targeted to youth on saving and wealth building.
• Send one or more stock emails regarding Saves Week to employees and clients.
• Enclose America Saves Week Saves flier as a payroll stuffer.
• Place a link to America Saves Week on Web site and internal network.

1. Shout the message of Make Savings Automatic as the best way to save and build wealth through proclamations, public endorsements, and mailings encouraging others to be involved. Host an event/rally for America Saves Week, issuing press releases and conducting interviews.
2. Combine the America Saves Week messages and materials to support your community efforts that promote self-sufficiency, savings, and asset development.
3. Encourage employees and clients to become savers and establish opportunities with local financial institutions to provide no-cost accounts and wealth-building opportunities.

Success stories from America Saves Week 2007

• Of the 22 Cooperative Extension Services reporting, educators in 13 estimated reaching about 80,000 potential savers through workshops, roll-your-change events, piggy bank competitions, payroll stuffers, electronic messages, newsletters, and seminars at workplace and tax preparation sites. Educators in six states reached an additional 1.2 million potential savers through media and those in 12 states enrolled over 1, 500 America Savers.
• In New Jersey, 85,000 state employees; in Tennessee, 25,000 University of Tennessee employees; 18,500 employees of San Diego County; and 8,000 City of Cleveland employees received an ASW payroll stuffer.
• Utah’s Department of Health & Human Services committed 18 state agencies to become Utah Saves sites.
• Congresswoman Tubbs Jones introduced a congressional resolution expressing support for America Saves Week.
• Proclamations—Governors, Mayors, County Commissioners, City Council, City Treasurers.
• FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair made a speech in Cleveland during the Week promoting America Saves and America Saves Week.

Success stories from America Saves Week 2008

• The Cooperative Extension Service had educators in nearly 30 states participate in the Week, reaching an estimated 6 million youth and adults during America Saves Week through the media, web presence, advertising, mail and direct contact.
• The Federal Reserve Board offered daily savings tips to employees, and made savings publications available in lobbies and cafeterias. Over 50,000 employees were reached.  
• The IRS contacted all 50,000 employees twice during America Saves Week, offering savings tips. The agency also posted information on its internal website, which was viewed by the majority of its workforce.
• Several state agencies participated and public officials participated, including the Washington State Department of Retirement Services, which promoted the week on its website and to its 1,000 member workforce.
• The New America Foundation, in association with the Congressional Savings and Ownership Caucus, hosted a briefing on Capitol Hill for members of Congress and their staff, titled Beyond Stimulus: Addressing Savings Needs Throughout a Lifetime. The National Council on Economic Education also hosted a national summit on economic and financial literacy at the National Press Club in Washington, DC during Saves Week. The summit featured prominent speakers from both the public and private sectors.

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