Ohio’s Department of Commerce recognizes Financial Literacy Month through a grant program

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – April is Financial Literacy Month and Ohio’s Department of Commerce is inviting organizations to apply for the Ohio Financial Literacy Grant Program.

The program offers up to $50,000 to nonprofits, schools, and community organizations to teach essential financial skills. Kenyetta Bagby, from the Office of Consumer Affairs, says offering financial literacy workshops can make a big difference in someone’s life.

“Having financial literacy education as a foundation for your life itself is a opportunity for you to make better choices. It’s an opportunity to learn and grow your prosperity. It’s an opportunity to really extend yourself because you have all of the information you need to be successful,” Bagby said.

According to a report from the National Endowment for Financial Education, poor financial literacy has cost Americans more than $246 million in 2025. That’s why Bagby says offering lessons in financial literacy can benefit everyone in the community and the community itself.

“Financial literacy is important to everyone, no matter how old you are, old or young. It is more than about balancing a checkbook or knowing how to write a check. It’s an understanding of your finances. It’s helping you to make better choices,” Bagby said. “Having a foundation in financial literacy makes people make better decisions, it makes the community stronger, it makes it more stable.”

Five tips for financial literacy include knowing your income, monitoring your spending, setting clear goals, staying flexible, and automating savings. The deadline to apply for the Ohio Financial Literacy Grant Program is April 30. You can visit COM.Ohio.gov/FinLitGrant to learn more or apply.