Stronger Financial Resilience. Better Lives. More Sustainable Futures.

Households, small businesses, non-profits and communities face interconnected pressures, from affordability challenges and economic challenges to extreme weather events, technological disruption, changing labour markets and major life events.

Financial stressors, shocks and financial vulnerability rarely affect finances alone. They can undermine health and well-being, housing, employment, family stability, business continuity and community resilience. Conversely, stronger financial health and resilience can help people live with dignity, make informed choices, pursue opportunities and plan confidently for the future. They can also help businesses sustain operations and employment, and communities respond, recover and adapt.

Building financial resilience can therefore generate interconnected social, financial, economic and sustainable outcomes, including greater financial security, improved well-being, more sustainable businesses, stronger employment and more inclusive communities. In doing so, it can contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including reduced poverty and inequality, good health and well-being, decent work and economic growth, sustainable communities and climate resilience.

As a non-profit and leading independent authority on financial well-being in Canada and globally, our purpose is to improve the financial health, financial well-being and financial resilience of Canadians and global citizens. We do this by helping purpose-driven organizations to profoundly understand, measure, and then improve the financial well-being of their customers, stakeholders, small and medium businesses and communities at scale.

Financial services innovation, public policy and programs work best when rooted in data and facts. Our research, intelligence, outcomes-focused impact measurement, and evidence-based cross-sector collaboration spark solutions in programs and practice. We’re working to help expand opportunities for people and improve financial health and resilience for all.

Contributing to six interconnected Sustainable Development Goals

Financial health and resilience interventions cannot achieve the Sustainable Development Goals on their own. Progress also depends on effective economic, social, health, housing, climate, education and labour-market policies, supported by strong institutions and cross-sector collaboration.

However, when combined with these wider policies and systems, evidence-based financial health and resilience measurement and interventions can contribute to four strategic positive outcomes linked to six key Sustainable Development Goals in particular.

1 - Greater financial and economic resilience, prosperity and sustainable growth

Financially resilient households and SMEs are foundational to resilient economies. Helping people and businesses manage their day-to-day finances, withstand shocks, plan for the future and invest in opportunities can strengthen financial and economic resilience, productivity and sustainable growth.

For households, stronger financial health and resilience can increase the capacity to participate in the economy, invest in education and skills, maintain employment or pursue entrepreneurship. For SMEs, access to appropriate financing, savings, insurance, advice and business-planning support can help manage irregular cash flow, respond to disruption, invest in productive opportunities, create and sustain jobs, and grow.

Strengthening household and SME financial resilience can therefore contribute to greater prosperity and more inclusive and sustainable economic growth, supporting SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Advancing impact for Women and Women-Led SMEs also supports SDG 10: Gender Equality and Empowerment for women and girls.

2 - Greater financial security and resilience while helping people achieve their goals

Financial health and resilience are about more than avoiding financial vulnerability and hardship. They support people’s capacity to build financial security, manage uncertainty and make meaningful progress towards their life and financial goals, not only for themselves, but also for their families, communities and future generations.

Helping people build savings, manage debt, access appropriate credit and insurance, make informed financial decisions and prepare for unexpected expenses can reduce the likelihood that a temporary shock becomes prolonged financial hardship. Stronger household financial resilience can help people maintain secure housing, afford food and other necessities, support their families and recover more effectively from setbacks.

Over time, this can help reduce poverty, financial hardship and related social and economic consequences while increasing opportunity across generations. These outcomes contribute directly to SDG 1: Poverty Eradication and SDG 10: Reducing Inequalities. This is particularly when financial health solutions, policies and programs reach populations facing greater financial vulnerability or barriers to appropriate support.

3 - Healthier people, families, workplaces, improved well-being and quality of life

Financial health and resilience are closely connected to overall well-being and quality of life. Financial stress can affect mental and physical well-being, family relationships, people’s ability to participate fully at work and in their communities, and their capacity to plan confidently for the future. Prolonged financial stress can also compound existing health, caregiving and workplace pressures.

The Institute’s measurement provides further evidence of these connections. Households identified as more financially vulnerable based on their Financial Resilience Score report lower levels not only of financial well-being, but across all measured dimensions of well-being, including physical well-being, emotional well-being and belonging. This reinforces the importance of viewing financial health and resilience as integral to people’s overall well-being, rather than as purely financial outcomes.

Building financial health and resilience can strengthen people’s confidence, agency and peace of mind. It can help individuals and families feel more secure, better equipped to manage uncertainty and more able to focus on their health, relationships, work and life goals. Over time, greater financial well-being can contribute to improved physical and emotional well-being, a stronger sense of belonging, greater personal and family resilience, and a better overall quality of life.

Employers, financial institutions and other organizations can contribute through employee financial wellness programs, appropriate benefits, financial coaching and planning, accessible tools, and human-centred products and services designed to improve people’s financial lives. These efforts can support healthier employees and families, reduce the effects of financial stress, strengthen workplace engagement and productivity, and enable more sustainable participation in the labour market.

These interconnected outcomes contribute directly to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being and reinforce SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

4 - Stronger, more resilient economies and communities

The financial resilience of households, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) non-profits, economies and communities is deeply interconnected. Strengthening SME business financial health and resilience is particularly important with SMEs the growth engines of our economies. SMEs create employment, generate income, contribute to innovation and productivity, provide essential products and services, and help sustain local economies.

When SMEs have improved business financial health and resilience, and the financial capacity, tools and support to withstand disruption and invest in growth, they are better positioned to create and maintain jobs, support employees and their families, strengthen supply chains and contribute to broader economic prosperity. The benefits extend across communities through increased economic participation, stronger local services, greater stability and new opportunities.

Financially resilient households can participate more fully in their economies and communities. Resilient SMEs can continue operating, employing people and serving customers through periods of disruption. Financially resilient non-profits and community organizations can maintain essential services and respond when needs are greatest. Similarly, advancing financial health for Women-Led SMEs has multiple knock- on benefits, while advancing SDG 10: Gender Equality and Empowerment.

Together, these outcomes can help economies and communities prepare for, withstand and recover from economic, social and climate-related stressors and shocks. This can also help them navigate challenges and through planned and unplanned life and business events, including as international development is re-defined, more people the lack aid or help to foster their resilience, and need to become increasingly resilient in light of continued and growing challenges and shocks.

They contribute directly to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities and reinforce SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. They also contribute to SDG 1: Eliminating Poverty, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

Aligned with Our Impact Goals, and those of our Clients and Partners

Our Impact Goals and focus priorities guide our contribution to the SDGs. We focus on reducing financial vulnerability, catalyzing positive change, and advancing financial inclusion, health, resilience and empowerment so more people, businesses and communities can thrive.

By aligning with our clients’ and partners’ impact and business goals, together we drive positive change and measurable impact. Learn more about example projects we’ve worked on or contact us to explore how we can support your organization or collaborate.