Lumicent: Lighting the path to independent financial futures
A new website is on the way!
In the meantime, our mission remains the same:
To equip K-12 students and their families for economic advancement.
BREAKING THE POVERTY CYCLE ONE STUDENT AT A TIME.
A common experience for children growing up in low-income households is lacking the knowledge or resources to become financially independent adults. Lumicent is dedicated to changing this by providing essential financial education and making a
long-term investment in the lives of those children in the Waterloo community.
Lumicent's Framework for Success
Education
Lessons take place during the school year, equipping students with financial and leadership skills
to become financially independent adults.
Conditional
Cash Transfers
Students receive earnings based on good grades, attendance, and behavior at school.
Mentoring
Students are paired with a volunteer mentor that serves as a long-term positive role model in their lives.
Together, we can ignite hope and opportunity.
By equipping our youth with the skills to manage money and build assets, Lumicent is transforming individual futures and fostering a community where every child can thrive and contribute to a more equitable world.
31 Graduates
Thirty-three students have successfully completed the K-12 program and graduated since 2019.
146 Students
There are currently a record 146 students enrolled in Lumicent's Brightside program for school year 2026-27.
$127,000
Our students who've graduated since 2019 have collectively received more than $130,000 in their savings accounts!
"Lumicent is transforming lives through its work with families in our community. The importance of education is reinforced while teaching the fundamentals of money management through instruction and hands-on practice."
- MIKE & LIZA HULME
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
Share our story with friends, family, and your community members.
Invest in the life of a child and become a mentor.
Support our program by helping students increase financial literacy through learning, earning, and saving.
Become a part of sustainable change in our community.
MISSON
To equip K-12 students and their families for economic advancement.
VISION
All people achieving financial success.
METHOD
Lumicent helps students see what is possible:
A future that is financially stable and attainable.
