30 Years of HOPE:
The History of Operation HOPE
Timeline


FL4A Joins Nasdaq Stock Market for Opening Bell Ceremony
Financial Literacy for All joins Nasdaq to kick off National Financial Literacy Month
SBA adds 1MBB to strategic alliance
U.S. Small Business Administration revises and renews strategic alliance with HOPE to include 1MBB programing for small businesses
FDIC collaborates with HOPE
U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation launches new collaboration with Operation HOPE to incorporate an extension of financial education activity with HOPE’s 1MBB and Small Business Programs.
FICO joins the growing number of FL4A partners
FICO joins Mastercard, BlackRock, TIME for Kids, Nextdoor, US Bank, Santander, Truist and First Horizon Bank along with FL4A founding members Walmart, Disney, NFL, NBA, Delta Air Lines, Walgreens, Bank of America, Khan Academy and Ares Management as part of this first-of-its-kind coalition. FICO’s involvement complements FL4A’s existing efforts to promote greater financial well-being among American working adults and young people.
Robinhood Markets signs Investors’ Bill of Rights
Financial Literacy for All (FL4A) launched
Operation HOPE launches the Financial Literacy for All movement in partnership with CEO’s of companies such as Walmart, Delta Air Lines, the NBA and NFL, Walgreens, Bank of America, and Disney to infuse this initiative in their business plans for the next 10 years to help people with financial literacy and generational wealth.
Third Reconstruction Launched
“Third Reconstruction: A 3-Point plan to make Financial Literacy the Civil Issue of this Generation” published in the Milken Review.
Investors’ Bill of Rights launched
Operation HOPE announced its Investors’ Bill of Rights to address the greater need for individual investor protections. The Investors’ Bill of Rights was created by Operation HOPE’s Chairman and CEO, John Hope Bryant, with input from a variety of organizations and leaders in the US financial markets.
Twitter partners with HOPE
1MBB Launched
The One Million Black Business and Entrepreneurship Initiative is launched, in partnership with Shopify, to create, scale or grow one million Black businesses by 2030 at the HOPE Global Forum, conducted virtually in response to COVID-19.
HOPE Global Advisory Board established
Established the HOPE Global Advisory Board with preeminent corporate and social leaders.
Columbus, GA gives HOPE Key to the City
John Hope Bryant and Operation HOPE receive Key to the City from Mayor of Columbus, Ga and Congressional Recognition at keynote for Columbus Urban League.
100th HOPE Inside location opens
HOPE’s 100th location opened in Baltimore, Maryland, in partnership with The Columbia Bank to deliver Operation HOPE’s core programming to residents of Baltimore and communities in the surrounding area.
MBDA signs MOU with HOPE
U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and Operation HOPE signed a MOU designed to provide U.S. minority business enterprises (MBEs) with greater opportunities to access technical and financial resources.
Legacy Forum honors 150th Anniversary of the Freedman’s Bank
U.S. Treasury Department, U.S. National Archives, and Operation HOPE host the first Freedman’s Bank Legacy Forum commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Freedman’s Bank
President Clinton speaks at HOPE Global Forum
Former President Bill Clinton is keynote speaker at the HOPE Global Forum.
CFPB signs MOU with HOPE
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Operation HOPE Sign a Memorandum of Understanding to Promote Financial Education.
SBA signs MOU with HOPE
The U.S. Small Business Administration and Operation HOPE signed a Strategic Alliance Memorandum to encourage entrepreneurship and economic empowerment for small business owners.
HOPE recognized in the UAE
Bryant’s work in financial literacy was recognized by the Emirates Foundation in the United Arab Emirates. The new Esref Sah (Spend Wisely) Personal Finance curriculum, which features Bryant’s personal life story, likeness and image, is a UAE wide partnership between the Emirates Foundation and Operation HOPE that seeks to boost youth financial literacy skills and confidence, as well as encouraging personal financial dignity through role modeling.
President Obama creates the President’s Advisory Council For Financial Capability For Young Americans
President Obama creates the President’s Advisory Council For Financial Capability For Young Americans. John Bryant serves as a founding member.
OECD recognizes HOPE for best practices in Financial Education
Operation HOPE has been a “financial education best practice” on behalf of the USA highlighted in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Global Money Week 10 Years Of Celebrations since 2013.
Global Money Initiative launched
HOPE receives Hidden Heroes Award
Operation HOPE and Bryant received the Andrew Goodman Foundation, Hidden Heroes Award for 2010 in Harlem, New York, presented by the brother of Andrew Goodman himself. The award and foundation is named after one of three brave young men who gave their lives in support of the civil rights movement of the 20th century in America.
Department of Education signs MOU with HOPE
U.S. Education Department White House Initiative On HBCUs creates MOU with Operation HOPE around financial education for HBCU collegiate students.
HOPE partners with SBA’s Office of Entrepreneurship Education
U.S. Small Business Administration launches the Office Of Entrepreneurship Education. Operation HOPE becomes a national alliance partner.
Peace Corps partners with HOPE
SBA National Small Business Week honors HOPE
U.S. Small Business Administration National Small Business Week recognized Operation HOPE and John Bryant for superior financial inclusion work.
1st Presidential Meeting on Financial literacy
At the request of Chairman Bryant and Operation HOPE, U.S. President George W. Bush, Treasury Secretary Paulson, Education Secretary Spellings, HUD Secretary Jackson, U.S. Treasurer Cabral and 6 financial literacy experts in the Roosevelt Room of the White House for a first-ever Presidential meeting on financial literacy in America.
15TH Anniversary of Bankers’ Bus Tour
Chairman Bryant and Ambassador Andrew Young host the HOPE Bankers’ Bus Tour of the Los Angeles riots, attended by more than 500 leaders from government, community and the private sector.
HOPE joins Clinton Global Initiative
American Red Cross Partners with HOPE
HOPE inspires change to Community Reinvestment Act
A provisional change in the federal Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) law, at the request of Chairman Bryant and Operation HOPE, allowing and authorizing “credit for emergency disaster financial counseling” under CRA for thrifts (OTS approved) and state and federally chartered banks (OCC and FDIC approved), for all victims of Hurricane Katrina and Rita, irrespective of income or location throughout the nation.
USA Freedom Corps Partners with HOPE
President Bush’s USA Freedom Corps announces partnership with Operation HOPE Citizen Corps and Volunteers For Prosperity with a focus on a Financial Literacy corps.
White House Office on Faith-Based & Community Initiatives Partner invite HOPE
Operation HOPE’s founder and CEO served as a featured speaker on behalf of Operation HOPE, Inc. for the first ever-national conference of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community-Based Initiatives, on two separate panels, namely “Community Development Successful Partnerships” and the “Foundations and Corporations Forum.”
Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) Created
The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK), now an official federal government document (FEMA document #532) was created and became available to all Americans, at no cost.
Veteran Affairs partners with HOPE
FDIC partnership
A memorandum of agreement was signed with the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, creating a partnership to educate the whole family in economic literacy.
HOPE Coalition of America created
In response to 9/11, HOPE Coalition America (HCA) was established as America’s “economic Red Cross.”