Starting early is key to successful future planning, and students at four school districts in Allegan County can now begin that journey in kindergarten thanks to My Future Fund.

Recently launched by the Allegan County Community Foundation (ACCF), My Future Fund is a children’s savings account program designed to strengthen long-term educational opportunity and financial stability for students across Allegan County. With support from a grant from CEDAM and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), the program is available to kindergarteners in Plainwell Community Schools and Allegan Public Schools, kindergarteners and 6th graders in Fennville Public Schools, and K-5 students at Glenn Public Schools. 

My Future Fund automatically opens custodial savings accounts on behalf of eligible students. Program coordinators intentionally made design choices that eliminate barriers—such as banking restrictions that apply to minors or some families’ general uncertainty about banking—and ensure that every student has access to building savings and financial literacy opportunities. 

“The name ‘My Future Fund’ reflects one of the program’s core goals: helping students understand that their future belongs to them,” said Amanda Chappell, youth services manager at the Allegan County Community Foundation. “It’s not just about dollars in an account; it’s about helping students believe that higher education and workforce training are not only possible, but achievable. By engaging students at a young age, it helps them see the real impact of saving and reinforces that their future is in their hands.”

Collaborations have been central to the My Future Fund’s early momentum. ACCF has built successful partnerships with a number of local libraries in Allegan County. These partnerships have helped ACCF engage families in the community by hosting launch events and integrating financial literacy and joint incentives into summer reading activities. The program’s financial partner, Huntington Bank, has also been an excellent resource, sharing their philosophy towards the importance of early financial education. As My Future Fund gains steam and pursues additional funding avenues, ACCF coordinators are hoping to expand eligibility to include more districts in the county. 

“Opportunities to connect directly with families have been especially meaningful. Having one-on-one conversations allows for deeper engagement, where parents can ask questions and really begin to understand the impact of the program. Those personal interactions bring the work to life in a way that emails or flyers simply can’t,” shared Chappell.

Families in Allegan County now have a powerful new tool for planning their children’s futures. The launch of My Future Fund is a testament to the dedication of everyone who worked to make it a reality—and we couldn’t be more excited to support what comes next. If you want to expand My Future Fund into your Allegan County school district, contact our office at 269-673-8344 or [email protected].

My Future Fund is one of 18 programs currently enrolling students as part of the Michigan Children’s Savings Account (CSA) Network, a statewide initiative led by CEDAM. The Michigan CSA Network supports local CSAs by offering infrastructure, technical assistance, and resources to community-based programs. 

To learn more, visit the Michigan CSA Network webpage or email CEDAM’s director of economic initiatives, Madeleine March-Meenagh, at [email protected].