Pro Bono FAQs

Pro bono financial planning is free, no-strings-attached financial advice and services provided to individuals or families in need. It can be a formal volunteer engagement, or something as informal as helping a friend, neighbor or someone in your faith community.

While many CFP® professionals volunteer with nonprofit organizations or with membership organizations such as FPA and NAPFA, many also offer their expertise informally to friends, neighbors, or members of their faith-based and other local communities. We encourage CFP® professionals looking for opportunities to register with ProBonoPlannerMatch.org, a clearinghouse of pro bono volunteer opportunities compiled by the Foundation for Financial Planning.

If you volunteer through ProBonoPlannerMatch.org, you will be required to take a one-hour virtual course that offers 1 CE credit. Some organizations require further training, while others only require the one-hour course.

Reporting is easy. All you do is sign into your CFP Board Account and navigate to the pro bono section. Pro bono reporting is based on the honor system. No documentation is required, just report your hours to help track the impact of our profession.

Pro bono financial planning volunteers assist with a wide range of topics, including:

• Budgeting and building an emergency fund
• Managing debt and finances through critical illness or emergencies
• Planning for college and saving for retirement
• Improving credit scores and buying a home
• Setting and prioritizing financial goals
• Creating or assessing household budgets
• Avoiding scams and financial predators
• Navigating employee and government benefits

Not at all. Pro bono financial planning can be done in person or virtually. In fact, most opportunities posted on ProBonoPlannerMatch.org are virtual.

If you volunteer through ProBonoPlannerMatch.org, you are covered under the Foundation for Financial Planning’s Errors & Omissions (E&O) Insurance.

Absolutely. The core financial planning principles are the same, regardless of income level. In fact, your expertise can have an even greater impact on underserved communities where access to quality financial advice is limited.

That’s no problem! Even just one hour can make a meaningful difference. Email us to learn more.

Email us, we are glad to help you get started!

In appreciation of the incredible work CFP® professionals do in their communities, we are excited to announce that we will be awarding $25 gift cards to the CFP® Pro Store to 10 certificants who reported pro bono hours during the previous month. Drawings will occur monthly, and winners will be notified by email.

How it works:

• Step 1: Provide no-cost financial planning.
• Step 2: Report your hours (for any, or all, of the years 2023-2025) in your CFP Board Account.

In recognition of the remarkable dedication of CFP® professionals who provide more than 20 hours of pro bono volunteering a year, CFP Board has introduced pro bono badges. The digital badges will be awarded monthly to individuals who have completed and reported 20+, 60+ or 100+ hours of pro bono financial planning in 2023, 2024 and/or 2025.

How it works:

• Step 1: Provide no-cost financial planning.
• Step 2: Report your hours (for any, or all, of the years 2023-2025) in your CFP Board Account.