We are thrilled to share that Neighborhood Allies has received a $100,000 grant from the Highmark Foundation to support and expand the work of the Allegheny County Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) — a trusted, free resource that provides professional, one-on-one financial counseling to residents.
This is the Highmark Foundation’s first major award to Neighborhood Allies and represents a collaboration aimed to improve financial stability and long-term economic mobility for individuals and families across our region.
At Neighborhood Allies, our mission is to build healthy, resilient, and opportunity-rich neighborhoods. Access to high-quality financial guidance is essential to that vision — and this grant helps ensure that more residents can confidently manage their finances and build pathways toward a more secure future.
Investing in Financial Well-Being as a Foundation for Thriving Communities
“Financial stability is a critical social determinant of health,” says Presley Gillespie, President and CEO of Neighborhood Allies. “We are incredibly grateful to the Highmark Foundation for believing in our work and investing in the financial well-being of Allegheny County residents. This award allows us to expand access to high-quality financial counseling and help more households navigate debt, build credit, and strengthen their financial futures, which ultimately supports healthier, more resilient communities.”
Through the FEC — accessible at www.myfinancialpower.org — residents can work with trained financial counselors to improve credit, reduce debt, build savings, create personalized budgets, and access safe, affordable banking products. All services are completely free, confidential, and available to anyone in Allegheny County.
Strengthening and Expanding FEC Services — Including New Legacy Planning
Since launching in 2019, the Allegheny County FEC has served more than 3,000 clients, empowering residents to make informed financial decisions and achieve meaningful, measurable progress in their financial lives.
The Highmark Foundation’s investment will support the continued growth of these core services and enhance one of the FEC’s newest offerings: Legacy Planning. This program provides free guidance on:
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Preparing wills
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Designating beneficiaries
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Understanding life insurance options
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Protecting generational assets
These tools are essential steps toward building long-term stability and closing the racial wealth gap — one of the central aims of our financial empowerment work.
A Proven Model for Economic Mobility
The Allegheny County FEC is part of a national network of nearly 40 centers that utilize the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund’s evidence-based financial counseling model. Locally, the work is sustained through the partnership of Allegheny County, Neighborhood Allies, and a growing group of philanthropic supporters who understand that financial empowerment is foundational to thriving communities.
“Highmark Foundation is committed to strengthening the economic and social conditions that contribute to overall health and well-being,” says Kenya T. Boswell, senior vice president of community affairs for Highmark Health and president of the Highmark Foundation. “We are proud to support Neighborhood Allies and the Financial Empowerment Center as they expand access to trusted, professional financial counseling services.”
Building Financial Confidence and Long-Term Stability
Since its launch, the FEC has helped residents achieve lasting improvements in their financial outlook — reducing thousands of dollars in debt, raising credit scores, building emergency savings, and gaining the financial confidence needed to pursue long-term goals such as homeownership, entrepreneurship, and higher education.
To learn more about the FEC and access free financial counseling, visit www.myfinancialpower.org.
To explore more about Neighborhood Allies’ work across Pittsburgh, visit www.neighborhoodallies.org.
