Getting Started
Financial Opportunity Center® (FOC) sites offer more complex programs than many organizations have provided in the past. The resources section provides staff at partner organizations running an FOC programs with a mix of materials, websites and other resources. These resources can be useful to practitioners working with clients, administrators who keep the programs running, or both.
A Financial Opportunity Center® site, in its inherent design, requires an organization or program to provide integrated programming to clients, which often requires a complex, intentional process and organizational structure. Use these resources to help you plan for an efficient and effective integrated service delivery model that supports client success and operational excellence.
Launching a new FOC program takes time, intention, and money. Here's a general timeline and overview of the three phases of planning and piloting to launch your FOC programming.
Thinking about starting a Financial Opportunity Center® site? In the middle of planning? Read these key initial resources to understand the core framework and approach of the model.
This guide pulls from nearly a decade of experience working with FOC programs and local partners across the country in order to present a framework for organizations considering adopting the integrated services delivery (ISD) model.
Local Initiatives Support Corporation | November 2013
An independent study by the Economic Mobility Corporation found that Financial Opportunity Center® clients, who access a range of services, have more success meeting their financial goals than people in programs offering employment assistance alone. Their gains include landing and keeping a job, growing credit and increasing annual earnings.
Anne Roder | Economic Mobility Corporation | September 2016
This set of slides from a presentation covers seven ways to build impact of a program, from the power of defaults to appealing to identity.
Amy Brown | Aspen Institute | March 2009
This study shows that LISC’s Financial Opportunity Center® programs are uniquely successful in getting clients on the path to stability.
Economic Mobility Corporation | October 2016
This PowerPoint deck helps enhance partner knowledge of marketing and outreach techniques and to develop strategies and actionable plans related to FOCs. The presentation is in seven chapters, covering brochures, posters, a communications plan and more.
Local Initiative Support Corporation & United Way| Janurary 2017
Using the Financial Opportunity Center® Trademark
Over the past 20 years, LISC and our partners have tested, researched, and honed the Financial Opportunity Center® (FOC) model that you know today. You are leading and creating impact with this model every day, but communicating our strategy, how it works, and how it can meet the moment can be challenging.
Watch this webinar and review these slides to hear guidance from LISC’s legal counsel about accurately using the FOC trademark to help protect our brand and stay in compliance as a LISC FOC partner. Find out about our new Financial Opportunity Center® Communications Toolkit which includes draft talking points, boilerplate & website text, and other useful information to make it easier to talk about our impact, highlight FOC programming, and achieve your goals.