Press Release: 8/6/2025

State Agencies Announce Recipients of Financial Education Grant for Veteran-Serving Institutions 

Organizations Will Use Funds to Offer Financial Education Programming to the Military Community

For immediate release:

8/05/2025

Office of State Treasurer and Receiver General Deborah B. Goldberg

Office of Economic Empowerment

The State Treasurer’s Office of Economic Empowerment (OEE), the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation and its Division of Banks (DOB) announced the 2025 Operation Money Wise grant recipients. This grant funding promotes financial education programming for nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and higher education institutions that serve the military community in Massachusetts.

This year, six organizations received $5,000 each to create new or improve pre-existing financial programs. Funding is possible through DOB settlements over alleged unlawful lending practices.

The 2025 grant recipients are:

Grantee	City/Town
Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts	Leominster
Bridgewater State University	Bridgewater
Falmouth Community Veterans Center	Falmouth
North Shore Community College	Danvers
Springfield Partners For Community Action	Springfield
Veterans Legal Services	Boston

Grantee	City/Town

“The Operation Money Wise grants provide programming that helps our servicemembers and veterans access the financial knowledge they need to succeed,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg. “By supporting organizations that deliver this type of targeted education, we are working toward creating increased economic stability for our military communities.”

“As a gesture of appreciation and gratitude for service and sacrifice, the Division of Banks is honored to be able to support financial education opportunities tailored especially for the military community,” said Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks Mary L. Gallagher “We are proud to help members of the military through these programs.”

“It is important to help servicemembers and veterans successfully transition to civilian life,” said Undersecretary of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation Layla R. D’Emilia. “These grants provide opportunities for military community members to learn critical skills like budgeting, managing debt, and preparing for retirement.”

Since 2016, Operation Money Wise has provided more than $270,000 in funding for financial education programs offered by veteran-serving nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and higher education institutions. This grant opportunity allows organizations to use their knowledge and expertise to design or enhance a program that would best serve their community. Many of these workshops will include strategy sessions on basic budgeting, managing debt, preparing for retirement, and decisions around money.

About the Office of Economic Empowerment  Treasurer Goldberg created the Office of Economic Empowerment, led by a deputy treasurer, with the deliberate goal of implementing a range of economic empowerment initiatives that include closing the race and gender wage gap, addressing racial equity, increasing access to financial education, and creating pathways to economically stable futures for all residents across the state.

About the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation protects and empowers consumers through advocacy and education and ensures a fair playing field for the Massachusetts businesses its agencies regulate.

About the Division of Banks  The Division of Banks (DOB), which is a division of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation within the Executive Office of Economic Development, is the chartering authority and primary regulator for financial service providers in Massachusetts. DOB's primary mission is to ensure a sound, competitive, and accessible financial services environment throughout the state. The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation protects and empowers consumers through advocacy and education and ensures a fair playing field for the Massachusetts businesses its agencies regulate.