College Financial Empowerment Workshop
Uncompromised Financial Education for College Students Navigating Independence
The College Financial Empowerment Workshop is a high-impact financial education program designed for college students ages 18–24 who are navigating financial aid, credit exposure, employment decisions, and early adulthood independence.
Delivered by TKI Foundation, operating as Thrive Wisely, this workshop provides uncompromised financial education grounded in systems literacy, practical decision-making, and real-world financial strategy—before predatory financial messages lock in.
Thrive Wisely is based in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, Ohio, serving colleges and universities throughout Northeast Ohio and through national partnerships.
Why College Financial Education Must Be Different
Financial stress is one of the leading reasons students stop out or drop out of college—not academic ability. Traditional financial literacy programs often focus on budgeting basics without addressing how financial systems, credit structures, and predatory products impact students in real time.
This workshop teaches financial education students actually need—how money systems work, how credit decisions follow them long after graduation, and how to protect themselves while building long-term stability.
This program is especially effective for first-generation students, Pell-eligible students, and students from underserved communities who are encountering credit, loans, and financial products for the first time.
Who This Workshop Serves
College students ages 18–24
First-year and transfer students
First-generation college students
Students receiving financial aid or work-study
TRIO, bridge, and student success programs
Institutions use this financial education workshop during orientation, first-year experience programming, financial aid referrals, and academic department initiatives.