Dollar Scholars

A new community of students, instructors, and volunteers committed to increasing financial capacity of adults in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area, and beyond.

Classes

Contact us →

What is Dollar Scholars

Volunteers Transforming Lives with Financial Education

We are an organization intended to educate and inform adults about financial literacy.

Dollar Scholars is a nonprofit organization that provides free financial literacy education in both English and Spanish. Founded by Dr. Jeffrey Dickinson, an Economics professor at American University, Dollar Scholars aims to empower individuals with the tools to manage their finances effectively.

A key objective of Dollar Scholars is to target groups who may not have easy access to financial education.

Rooted in community engagement, Dollar Scholars began with two pilot classes and has since expanded its reach across the DMV area.

Learn more about us by visiting this link.

Our Work

Classes

In addition to offering financial education, Dollar Scholars provides unique volunteer opportunities for students and community members. Volunteers work alongside professors and experts, developing teaching skills and gaining valuable experience in real-world settings. By connecting with local residents and expanding their professional networks through partnerships with organizations like American University, the IMF, and local governments, volunteers play a crucial role in driving Dollar Scholars’ mission forward.

By offering classes tailored to diverse communities, particularly immigrants and underserved groups, the organization helps people navigate essential financial topics, from budgeting to understanding the U.S. financial system.

We believe that everyone will benefit from improved financial literacy, no matter the age or background.

Pilot One: English

Pilot at American University

Dollar Scholars rolled out its first pilot event on Sunday, March 3rd. Dollar Scholars organizers and volunteers came together to test out the curriculum, and conduct a practice run for the content we will teach future beneficiaries.

Learn more →

Pilot Two: Spanish

Pilot at Sagrado Corazon

La amiga del Dr. Jeffrey Dickinson, Teresa A., consiguió contactarlo con representantes de la iglesia. Este articulo relata la experiencia de dar una clase para una comunidad hispana. La iglesia del Sagrado Corazón se ubica en 3211 Sacred Heart Way NW, Washington, DC. Es una iglesia con una historia de más de 100 años. Ellos recibieron con brazos abiertos el proyecto pues se expresó la gran demanda por educación financiera por parte de la comunidad.

Learn more →

Building wealth all together

Empowering Students Through Community Connections

Almost all of our founding members are either American University faculty, or American University students. Many are economics majors, and we are supported by the economics department in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at American University. Economics department chair Professor Kara Reynolds is our faculty advisor and mentor.