Onward

ABOUT

Onward, a nonprofit, was founded on the principle that no family should be destabilized because of a $400 expense. The organization was born after founder Ronnie Washington witnessed the impact such a small expense could have. His own relative turned to a high-cost payday lender after a car issue threatened their ability to get to work. After this experience, Ronnie realized that workers across the country were too often one paycheck away from ruin.

CHALLENGE 

Nearly two-thirds of Americans have less than $1,000 in savings. These include working individuals who, despite all their efforts to save or plan, have a financial shock like a car issue or unexpected bill destabilize their lives. Onward believes that people need better options to deal with emergencies other than high- interest credit cards, payday loans, and even car title lending  from vendors who often make money when workers slip up or miss payments.

SOLUTION

Onward provides an employer-based mobile savings and credit app that enables workers to save effortlessly, build financial knowledge, and access responsible credit when emergencies strike.

FINANCIAL HEALTH FOCUS

Onward’s mission is to provide every worker – many of whom are low- to moderate-income – with the tools to build a financial cushion. The combination of an emergency savings account, bite-sized financial education, and low-interest emergency loans makes it possible for users to break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle.