Foundation For Financial Literacy

The Foundation for Financial Literacy is a non-profit that aims to promote financial literacy and education, particularly among the youth, through technology, gamification, and personalized learning experiences. Despite the availability of financial literacy resources and the simplicity of the concepts, over 90% of the population still lacks financial literacy. This issue is deeply rooted in our society and can be attributed to several factors. First, conventional wisdom often perpetuates negative attitudes toward money, such as believing it is the root of all evil or debt is inherently bad. Financial literacy is not consistently taught in schools, with only five states mandating it. Moreover, the rise of social media and instant gratification culture has contributed to the problem. Many people are motivated by likes, comments, and shares and may make financial decisions based on ego and entitlement. Social media platforms like TikTok promote lavish lifestyles and materialism, which can lead to overspending and credit card debt. They may also have a "live in the present" mentality, leading to poor planning and preparation for the future. The consequences of financial illiteracy are severe, with many Americans needing more substantial emergency funds and struggling with debt in collections. This issue is particularly concerning for young people (with an all-time low financial literacy rate), who will soon make up a quarter of the global workforce and will be responsible for managing significant amounts of wealth passed down from their parents. I'm Aadi Gujral, a 16yr old Junior at Monte Vista High School, and I am the founder and CEO of this nonprofit. I invite you to come and join me for this cause.