What we do
Financial Opportunity Center® (FOC) sites offer career and financial coaching programs to families living on a low- to moderate-income so they can build effective money habits and focus on the financial bottom line to reach their goals. LISC has a network of more than 120 FOC sites across the country, embedded in local community organizations that are trusted, known for their history of providing quality services, and convenient to where people live and seek out services.
FOC programs provide employment and career counseling, one-on-one financial coaching and education and low-cost financial products that help build credit, savings and assets safely. They also connect clients with income supports such as food stamps, utilities assistance and affordable health insurance to bridge gaps as they work towards new career goals. The cornerstone of the FOC model is providing these services in an integrated way—rather than as stand-alone services—and with a long-term commitment to helping clients achieve financial success.
We’ve learned that integrated or “bundled” services lead to concrete gains in net income and job retention.
Research shows that FOC clients who take advantage of all three combined services are 50 percent more likely to land a well-paying job than people receiving employment services alone.
And long-term job retention—holding a job for a year or more—almost doubles when financial coaching reinforces the work of employment counseling.
What we offer
- Grants that help community organizations establish, staff and run FOC programming in neighborhoods that need them, covering everything from start-up to operating costs
- Technical assistance and training to help FOC staff reach out to potential clients and offer effective coaching and job counseling
- Data collection tools that help FOC coaches tailor support for individual clients and inform the work at large
- Professional networking support in the form of national and regional meetings, collaborative groups and an online library of resources on the FOC model’s continued innovations
FOC Network Snapshot
LISC has partners in over 29 urban and rural communities nationwide who work with local community members to set and achieve their career and financial goals. With support from local and national LISC staff, over 120 FOC partner sites tailor the three core services of the FOC model to meet local realities and collectively generate a wave of impact across communities and our country.
In 2023 alone:
- 12,100 people achieved a major savings, career, or other wealth-building milestone.
- Despite strong inflationary and economic headwinds, 53% of people working to build their assets with their coach increased their net worth.
- 7 out of 10 job seekers found employment while working with their FOC coaches with an average starting wage of $18.14 an hour.
Additional FOC Resources
Bridging the Opportunity Gap
A $4.5 million grant to LISC from the U.S. Department of Labor will expand services at LISC's Financial Opportunity Center® sites.
Mapping a Road to Financial Well-Being
A study from the Economic Mobility Corporation showed that LISC’s FOC sites are uniquely successful in getting clients on the path to success.
First Steps on the Road to Financial Well-Being
An independent study by the Economic Mobility Corporation shows the impact of LISC's Financial Opportunity Center® program surpasses other program models.
Building Sustainable Communities Report
Research on the efficacy of our Financial Opportunities Center® model
