Annie E. Casey Foundation
The Center for Working Families® (CWF) is a new approach to help low-income families reach financial stability and move up the economic ladder. Pioneered by the Casey Foundation and now supported by other major funders, the CWF offers an innovative framework for how families can increase their earnings and income (“Earn It”), reduce their financial transaction costs (“Keep It”), and build wealth for themselves and their communities (“Grow It”).  The United Way of the Bay Area SparkPoint Initiative is based on the CWF model. SparkPoint at Skyline College is part of the Annie E. Casey’s Centers for Working Families Community College Network.

California Community Colleges
SparkPoint at Skyline College Career and Technical Education (CTE)services receive funding from the California Community Colleges. Through the Career Pathways Initiative (funded by SB70 / SB1133), "the community college system is assisting K-12 in building and aligning coordinated CTE pathways that lead to postsecondary programs of study to prepare students for high-skill jobs with high wages."  Regional Community Collaboratives are a central component of the Career Pathways Initiative. SparkPoint at Skyline College administers the San Mateo County Community Collaborative.

  Community Financial Resources Community Financial Resources (CFR) provides tools for financial empowerment. CFR works with SparkPoint at Skyline College to: Provide a product-based financial education and coaching program Combine financial education with behavioral incentives Promote money management skills Build assets Reduce families’ reliance on payday lenders, check-cashers, loan sharks, debt peddlers, and high-cost money transmitters Provide a low cost banking and payment tools including a prepaid debit card Develop sound money management habits and maintain their upward financial trajectory. Earn It, Keep It, Save It SparkPoint at Skyline College partners with United Way of the Bay Area's Earn It Keep It Save It Program to host a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Center. Free Tax Help: Paying to have your taxes prepared can cost $200 to $300. Households in the Bay Area earning less than $50,000 cannot afford

 to pay! Awareness of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): Many taxpayers do not know about the EITC and that it is a refundable tax credit that can be up to $5,751 for a family with three qualifying children for Tax Year 2011. Types of Returns Processed: 1099 MISC / Schedule C-EZ, Schedule A Refund Anticipation Loans: When residents get an "instant refund" from a commercial preparer, they are taking a loan out on their own money usually paying 300% interest. With direct deposit an EKS site can e-file your tax return and have your refund deposited into your bank account in 7 to 10 days. Franklin Templeton Investments Franklin Templeton Investments (FTI) is a global investment manager, with headquarters located just south of San Francisco, in San Mateo, California. FTI is partnering with United Way of the Bay Area to provide funding for SparkPoint at Skyline College financial coaching activities. Additionally, the partnership creates volunteer opportunities for Franklin employees to support SparkPoint Center activities such job interview practice. Grove Foundation Intel co-founder and former CEO Andy Grove and his family started the Grove Foundation. The Grove family is working through the Grove Foundation to support students who are pursuing Career and Technical Education. Skyline College students who participate in financial education workshops and individual financial coaching, career counseling, and additional services to support academic success and goals may be awarded up to $2000 a semester. Learn more about applying for a Grove scholarship. SparkPoint at Skyline College features a Hall of Fame Photo collection of all Grove Scholars. Please visit SparkPoint at Skyline College in Building One, Second Floor, to see the photos. Opportunity Fund “Opportunity Fund (OF) is a not-for-profit social enterprise helping thousands of California families build financial stability. OF partners with SparkPoint at Skyline College to provide Individual Development Accounts (IDA). These matched savings accounts allow clients to invest in their education or small business. Through the IDA savings program, for every $1 the client saves, they earn $2 in matching funds. The client can save up to $2,000 and earn up to $4,000 in matching funds, for a total of $6,000 to pay for education or business expenses.” San Mateo County Human Services Agency (SMC HSA) San Mateo County Human Services Agency provides programs and resources that support children and families. To see if you qualify, visit your online benefits resource: MyBenefits CalWIN – San Mateo County or visit SparkPoint for assistance. SMC Works: Employment Services Child Care Children & Family Services County Veterans Services Food & Financial Assistance Family Self Sufficiency Teams Health Insurance Homelessness Other Program San Mateo Credit Union SparkPoint at Skyline College partners with San Mateo Credit Union (SMCU) to provide access to quality banking services and resources that include: Second chance checking accounts Potential access to a SMCU loan to help reconcile banking fines / fees Debt counseling service, balance, with potential access to SMCU loans to support a debt restructuring plan Credit repair $25 reward to open a checking account. $10 membership fee waived Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties Second Harvest Food Bank is the primary source of donated, surplus, and purchased food for non-profit agencies in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. In fiscal year 2010 (July 2009 - June 2010), we distributed over 45.5 million pounds of nutritious food to low-income people in need. During the first six months of 2011, the Food Pantry at SparkPoint Skyline College distributed over 18,000 pounds of food valued at over $30,000. Silicon Valley Community Foundation The Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) partners with the best organizations in our region to create change. It awards grants to address the most challenging problems in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, by partnering with innovative nonprofit organizations in the region. SVCF grant-making strategies are economic security, education, immigrant integration, regional planning and safety-net services. SVCG supports SparkPoint at Skyline College through its Economic Security Initiative. United Way Of The Bay Area United Way of the Bay Area is a nonprofit organization that creates pathways out of poverty. Their goal is to cut Bay Area poverty in half by 2020. They focus on helping working families and individuals, ensuring they can meet all of their basic needs, while creating opportunities for them to achieve lasting financial stability. Establishing SparkPoint Centers throughout the region is essential to achieving this goal. Human Services Agency of San Francisco SF Marin Food Bank