Clarifi Tapped as First Ally of the Forum of Executive Women

Clarifi, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that provides a range of financial education and counseling services, has been selected as the inaugural partner, or “Forum Ally,” of the Forum of Executive Women. The Forum is a membership organization comprised of more than 400 women who hold rank in boardrooms and C-suites across the region.

“Clarifi’s mission coalesces nicely with ours and was a perfect fit,” said Suzanne Mayes, a vice president at the Forum and a member of the Center City law firm Cozen O’Connor.

Clarifi, formerly known as Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley, was established in 1966. Fifty-nine percent of the nonprofit’s clients are women and “it has a demonstrated history of partnering with a variety of organizations,” Mayes said. “We thought we could help by giving it added visibility.”

As the Forum’s designated partner, Clarifi will receive a range of support, but no financial contribution from the membership.

“There’s a lot of power in the women of the organization, so we thought what we should really do is harness that power and give a more tangible contribution to Clarifi, one that it could leverage over time,” Mayes added.

That contribution includes access to the Forum’s mentorship program and annual events, free consulting services — provided by the membership — and a pipeline to potential board members and volunteers.

According to Patricia Hasson, the executive director of Clarifi, tapping into the Forum’s resources will allow the nonprofit to reach a new audience, including middle-income families who may benefit from Clarifi College — an initiative that offers counseling about the college planning process.

Clarifi created the program, after seeing numerous families burdened with student loan debt, to “help families think about college selection as a financial choice,” Hasson said.

With a limited advertising budget, Clarifi plans to utilize the Forum’s expertise to create a marketing plan for Clarifi College, and to recruit members to serve as volunteer financial coaches.

The two organizations are also planning a signature event in the spring focused around FinanciallyHers, Clarifi’s popular financial management workshop for women.

Hasson is optimistic that the year-long partnership, official until the end of June, will generate new ideas to benefit Clarifi’s clients.

“There is such a diverse group of women in the Forum that the possibilities are really endless,” she said. “They might think of things we haven’t even thought of yet.”