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.

2024 My Future Fund Advisory Committee

Diane Brewer, Michigan Education Trust

Jennifer Burke, Michigan Education Saving Program

Ché A. Carter, Ann Arbor Community Member

Irina Chen, College Coaching

Christine Deacons, Manchester Community Member

Evan D’Silva, Prudential Financial 

Nivean Farha, Washtenaw ISD Trusted Parent Advisors

Teresa Gillotti, Ypsilanti Community Member

Justin Hodge, Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners

Robert Jansen, Lincoln Consolidated Schools

Darryl Johnson, Mentor2Youth

Kim Lijana, University of Michigan Center for Educational Outreach

Kelly Mickel, Ypsilanti Community Schools

Mia Lanier-Durkins, Washtenaw Community College, Parkridge Community Center

Brian Rakovitis, Community Economic Development Association of Michigan 

Ryan Rowe, Washtenaw ISD Career & Technical Education

Alisha Spencer, Washtenaw ISD Trusted Parent Advisors

Trina Shanks, University of Michigan School of Social Work 

McKenzie Temple, University of Michigan Ginsberg Center

Rosalind Vaughn, Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti Regional Chamber 

Tanisha Whorton, MichiganWorks! Southeast

Cheranissa Williams, Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development

 

2023 My Future Fund Advisory Committee

 

 

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

Current Participating Districts & Public-School Academies

Ann Arbor Public Schools
Chelsea Schools
Dexter Community Schools
Honey Creek Community School
Lincoln Consolidated Schools
Manchester Community Schools
Milan Area Schools
Saline Area Schools
Washtenaw Intermediate School District
Whitmore Lake Public Schools
Ypsilanti Community Schools

And more coming soon…

ADA & Accessibility

Our School Strives To Ensure Our Website Is Accessible To All Our Visitors 

Washtenaw ISD is committed to providing a website that is fully accessible and we are currently in the process of developing a new website to better meet the needs of our customers. Our new website will include improvements to ADA compliance and accessibility, and during this transition, we remain committed to maintaining our existing website's accessibility and usability. 

ADA Compliance

Non Discrimination

It is the policy and commitment of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, height, weight, familial status, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation or any legally protected characteristic, in its educational programs, activities, admissions, or employment policies in accordance with Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, executive order 11246 as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and all other pertinent state and Federal regulations.

Non Discrimination Information

ADA and Title IX Coordinator ADA and Title IX Coordinator
Brian Marcel
Associate Superintendent
1819 S. Wagner Road 
Ann Arbor, MI  48103
(734) 994-8100 ext. 1402
Cassandra Harmon-Higgins
Executive Director, HR & Legal Services
1819 S. Wagner Road 
Ann Arbor, MI  48103
(734) 994-8100 ext. 1311