Financial Opportunity Center® Network
In an effort to improve low-income families’ financial well-being, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) provides community organizations financial support and technical assistance to operate Financial Opportunity Center® (FOC) sites. FOC programs 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.
Our FOC network helps to increase financial stability for residents in neighborhoods throughout Central Virginia. Increased financial stability is a priority in the neighborhoods we serve and our innovative approach prepares individuals for the workplace and beyond.
LISC Virginia brought the first Financial Opportunity Center ® program to Virginia in 2012, and now includes four FOC partners across Central Virginia.
The FOC model:
The Financial Opportunity Center® model is not a distinct program or organizational entity, but rather, a new way for agencies to conceptualize and approach their work. As such, the model is deployed within the existing infrastructure of established, community-based institutions. The FOC model maintains that the three core services — Employment Services, Financial Health, and Income Supports — work best when they are integrated.
- Employment Services such as job readiness, employment training, and assistance looking for job are essential parts of what is offered at a Financial Opportunity Center® site. A job and opportunities for advancement are the platform that supports a family's financial well-being, and employment services are the initial reason many clients begin working with an FOC program.
- Financial Health support helps clients do a better job in how they handle their money. The goal is for a family to examine their savings and spending habits to see if they can make positive changes that improve their credit scores and stabilize and grow their assets.
- Income Supports can be crucial for giving a worker the time and income necessary to fulfill training to reach a better paying position and career. Coaching helps clients work through the disjointed network of public benefits and helps individuals access all of the services and supports for which they are eligible.
The Virginia FOC network is also actively working on integrating digital inclusion into our FOC model.
Digital Inclusion means affordable, reliable broadband internet, widely available internet-enabled computer technology and digital skill supports that meet user needs.
The Virginia FOC network is integrating digital inclusion as a key strategy to close the digital divide. This integration ensures that clients have access to affordable, reliable broadband internet, internet-enabled devices, and the digital skills necessary to thrive in today’s economy. We recognize the critical role digital inclusion plays in enhancing access to employment, financial coaching, and income support services. By embedding digital inclusion into our FOC model, we empower individuals and families to overcome digital barriers and build a foundation for long-term economic success.
LISC Virginia and the Financial Opportunity Center Network
LISC Virginia proudly serves as the network manager for the Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) program, supporting local partners in delivering high-quality, client-centered services that empower individuals and families to achieve greater financial stability. This involves equipping partners with the tools, training, and resources they need to integrate the FOC model’s innovative, holistic approach into their service delivery.
LISC Virginia also connects partners to best practices, webinars, and national resources from the broader LISC network, fostering innovation and knowledge-sharing across the FOC network. By offering this comprehensive support, LISC Virginia enables its partners to focus on what matters most: delivering impactful services that help clients achieve lasting financial independence.
See LISC Virginia's network of FOC sites below:
HumanKind
Mary Winston Deacon, Director of Economic Opportunities
908 North Thompson St.
Richmond, VA 23230
Phone: (434) 258-4117
Email: mwdeacon@humankind.org
Piedmont Housing Alliance
Shymora Cooper, FOC Manager
682 Berkmar Circle
Charlottesville, Virginia 22901
Phone: 434-817-2436
Fax: 434-817-0664
Email: scooper@piedmonthousing.org
Southside Community Development & Housing Corporation (SCDHC)
Dianna Bowser, Executive Director (and FOC Director)
1624 Hull Street
Richmond, VA 23224
Phone: 804-231-4449
Fax: 804-862-1015
Email: dianna@scdhc.com
The Neighborhood Resource Center of Greater Fulton (NRC)
Breanne Armbrust, FOC Director and Executive Director
1519 Williamsburg Road
Richmond, VA 23231
Phone: 804-864-5797
Fax: 804-622-7523
Email: breanne@nrccafe.org
