Great teaching starts with a great idea. Sometimes all it takes is a little support to turn that idea into an unforgettable learning experience.
Community Choice Credit Union created Cash for Classrooms, a teacher grant program designed to help Michigan educators bring financial literacy lessons to life. This year, we’re awarding 10 grants of $500 each to K-12 teachers across Michigan who are helping students build real-world money skills and financial confidence.
As Michigan’s personal finance education requirements continue to expand, the need for classroom resources has never been greater. Cash for Classrooms helps educators create engaging, hands-on experiences that teach budgeting, saving, entrepreneurship, earning, and responsible financial decision-making.
The impact of these grants can be seen in classrooms throughout the state.
For teacher Tiffany Stano, the grant helped students create and operate their own storefronts, giving them hands-on experience with business and financial concepts:
“My students were deeply engaged in the work needed to create their storefronts. They were working to sell, make a profit, and create products that their classmates would like to purchase. It provided valuable life lessons including financial literacy. The students agreed that it was a highlight of the year!”
Projects like Tiffany’s reflect exactly what Cash for Classrooms is all about: making financial literacy meaningful, memorable, and fun. In past years, grant recipients have launched classroom economies, school stores, budgeting simulations, entrepreneurial projects, and other creative programs that connect money lessons to real life.
Jennifer Rowe, a previous recipient, shared:
“It was so quick and easy to apply for the grant provided by Community Choice Credit Union that I honestly forgot that I had applied. Their generosity has allowed my students unique, real-world experiences that would not have happened otherwise. Take a moment and apply today!”
That simplicity is by design. Teachers can apply through a short online application with no lengthy essays or unnecessary hoops. Since launching in 2021, Cash for Classrooms has become a favorite among Michigan educators. Whether you’re introducing kindergartners to saving and spending, helping middle school students manage a classroom business, or teaching high school students how to budget for adulthood, Cash for Classrooms can help bring your vision to life.
Apply today and give your students the real-world money skills they’ll use for a lifetime!
