About My Future Fund

The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners has provided the initial investment of over $6.8 million for the My Future Fund program as part of their commitment to equity in Washtenaw County. In addition, the City of Ann Arbor contributed $28,000 for the first year. The Washtenaw Intermediate School District operates this initiative, in close collaboration with Washtenaw County government. My Future Fund joins 17 other Children’s Savings Account programs across Michigan. 

The My Future Fund program has the following goals:

Increase college expectations  - The My Future Fund program supports kids and families in building college-bound identities. 

Increase the number of students completing post-secondary programs - Not only does the My Future Fund program seek to increase the number of students enrolling in higher education, but also to ensure that more students earn their degree or certificate. 

Bring parents into the financial mainstream - My Future Fund is a family focused program that strives to assist parents and caregivers in building college & career savings as well as engaging with other types of financial tools.  

Address educational disparities exacerbated by COVID-19 by increasing resources to students in high poverty districts. -The COVID Recovery Deposit for students who individually are eligible for free or reduced lunch will provide a savings boost for families and students who were disproportionately  impacted by the pandemic. 

My Future Fund is structured as a Children Savings Account (CSA) program, a research based approach to fostering a college-bound identity in young people. Research has shown that students from low-and moderate- income households who have a dedicated savings of $1-$499 for higher education are more than three times more likely to enroll in college.¹  In addition, early findings suggest that providing progressive incentives, such as the $475 equity boost, may help reduce the college savings gap between high and low income students.²

Local University of Michigan Children’s Savings Account experts Dr. William Elliot and Dr. Trina Shanks have shared best practices based on their research in the development of the Washtenaw County program and will continue to share their expertise with My Future Fund staff as the program evolves.

^{1 Elliot, W., Song H., & Nam, I. (2013). Small-dollar Children’s Savings Accounts and children’s college outcomes by income level. Children and Youth Services Review 35(3): 560-671}

^{2 Elliot, W. (2018) Lessons learned from Children's Savings Account programs: Tools to leverage spending to facilitate saving among low-income families.Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan, Center on Assets, Education & Inclusion.}

The My Future Fund Advisory Committee is a group of stakeholders from across Washtenaw County who are providing insight and guidance to the program.

Alisha Spencer /Parent

Anthony Webster/Eastern Michigan

Brian Rakovitis/CEDAM

Ché Carter/Community member

Cherarnissa Williams/OCED

Darryl Johnson/Mentor2 youth

Kelly Mickel/Erickson ES

Kim Lijana/UM center for Educational outreach

Craig McCalla/Dexter schools central office

Latisha Peters/Parent

Lyle Culp/Parent

Lynwood Powell/Bad Credit is Childish

Lysa Davis/University bank

Marshall Averill/WCC

Nivean Farha /Parent

Pam Smith/United way

Rosalind Vaugh/Ypsi/AA chamber

Ryan Rowe/Saline

Trina Shanks/University of michigan

Teresa Gilloti/community member

Tanisha Whorton/Michigan works

Bob Jansen/Lincoln superintendent

Jennifer Burke/MESP

Sara Saylor, Children's Savings Account Coordinator

Contact: Email  or 734-884-8100, ext. 1754

Lisa Stanton, Children's Savings Account Program Assistant 

Contact: Email or 734-302-2626