About - MakingChange

We’re changing lives with financial education.

Based in Howard County, Maryland, MakingChange is a nonprofit organization that provides free and personalized one-on-one and group education financial and housing counseling to individuals and families. We partner with the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development while also partnering with state and local governmental agencies, community organizations and local employers.

Our clients benefit significantly from the one-on-one, professional and unbiased guidance we can provide them in all aspects of their financial lives: budgeting, housing, credit building and repair, debt management, tax preparation and much more. All of this adds up to our goal of financial stability for members of our community.

People come to us at all stages, from basic personal finances to working towards their goal of homeownership. They may meet with us just once, on an ongoing basis, or in times of crisis. With the compassion and competency of our staff, we help all of our clients develop plans that makes them feel good about the future. Financial stability changes lives.

Our Vision

We envision a community where all people have financial independence to achieve their hopes and dreams.

Our Mission

Providing pathways to enhance lives through financial education and services.

Our Values

Client-focused: Respect for the strengths, perspectives and voices all while engaging and empowering everyone to reach their unique goals. We meet people where they are and aid them in achieving their goals.

Collaboration: Working together with our partners, stakeholders and the community creating strong and meaningful partnerships with the community, banks and local government.

Innovation: Embrace and promote diverse ideas and best practices. We believe in pursuing change through economical risk-taking, carefully building the resources needed to create new solutions.

Impactful: Supporting the community we serve through guiding clients create goals that are measurable in demonstrating progress. We see the results of reducing our client's stress levels about their finances and homeownership.

Empathy: Listen well and understand the client’s perspective without judgment.

Aspirational: Helping our clients and the community achieve their hopes and dreams. We believe in helping our clients and community dream big for the future.

Our Goal Statement and Strategies

Programs

Provide programs that guide people to achieve their personal financial goals.

Provide a comprehensive financial counseling program with a focus on goal-setting and achieving one’s own financial success story in light of their current financial situation (whether planning, event-driven crisis, etc.)

Provide pathways to comprehensive counseling through:

Free Tax Preparation Assistance and Other Financial Services – with a focus on providing free services to jumpstart participation in other programs and behavioral change

Trainings and Events – with a focus on providing access to information, raising awareness and opening up access (put out the welcome mat) to those in need of services

Direct, Targeted Educational Seminars with a focus on providing general knowledge and tools for planning and prevention

Within all programs outlined above, enhance use of technology to effectively deliver, evaluate and, if applicable, expand reach.

Partnerships

Collaborate with government agencies, businesses, and non-profit organizations.

Strengthen partnerships with human service organizations.

Engage employers, local government, and others who are affected by the decisions of those who are struggling financially to build support for the direct benefits of changing behavior.

Use technology to improve referrals, strengthen communication among agencies and partners, enhance access to programs by clients, potentially develop new training tools, and conduct program evaluation.

Sustainability

Ensure that MakingChange has the systems, processes, procedures, and resources needed to maximize its impact.

Create a three-year financial plan that includes annual revenue & expense projections that align with this strategic plan to include revenue raising tactics and staffing requirements.

Create a communications/marketing plan to assure that there is alignment with this strategic plan, particularly in fund development and outreach to prospective clients.

Assure that staff and volunteers are well trained/certified and have the tools they need.

Define a more repeatable service delivery model.

Use technology to create databases for clients and donors; evaluation; and any other organizational needs.

History

For over 30 years, MakingChange has been helping people create their own financial success stories through educational programs that are user-friendly and meaningful. We work with the best financial and educational institutions to assemble content around a wide array of money topics that touch the lives of people of all ages and income levels.

Founded by former Howard Community College President Dwight Burrill and his daughter, Michelle Glassburn, MakingChange began with credit counseling programs and services. We soon saw a larger need for financial education. To meet that need, in November of 2001, we changed our focus to developing and delivering financial wellness programs.

About Us