Arkansas Asset Builders

The mission of Arkansas Asset Builders is to empower hardworking Arkansans with limited income through free income tax preparation and financial literacy services to flourish economically as individuals, families, and communities. We envision a future in which all people have access to the financial resources they need to live a full, satisfied life, achieving their financial goals and making their unique contributions to the community where they live. We believe that individuals should identify their own financial priorities and define what wellbeing looks like in their context.

We also believe that free tax assistance and financial education are key services that enable individuals and families to break cycles of financial instability and take control of their financial future. Within this context, our financial literacy program focuses on the following five core content areas: accessing free tax assistance, setting financial goals, managing spending, paying down debt, and building savings. We then provide free, high-quality, unbiased, and relevant financial resources that empower individuals to take concrete steps toward improving their financial wellbeing.

Arkansas Asset Builders is committed to the following values:

• Dignity: That all individuals, regardless of age, gender, race, ability, sexuality, marital status, nationality, or employment status, have equal value and each offer a unique contribution to the world.
• Humility: That everyone has something to offer and something to learn about the world, regardless of their economic status or perceived financial knowledge.
• Empowerment: That individuals have the right and privilege to self-determine their financial goals. Our programs provide resources, tools, and information that empower individuals to set, work toward, and achieve their goals – not defining what those goals “should” be.
• Flourishing: That material wealth itself does not indicate whether a person is flourishing. We work toward a world in which all people have access to the financial resources they need to live a full, satisfied life, achieving their financial goals and making their unique contributions to the world.
• Reflection: That all people who engage with our organization as clients, volunteers, staff, donors, or board members have important things to say about whether we are successfully achieving our organization’s mission and what could be done differently.
• Improvement: That all behaviors, programs, and systems can be improved through careful observation of current outcomes, thoughtful data analysis, and identification of strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for change.