Organization Overview Disclosures:
Starting Now is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing consumers with one-on-one housing, credit coaching, and financial education. Our mission is to help enrollees strengthen and build their credit profiles, empowering them to achieve greater economic success. Our credit coaches work closely with enrollees to create custom-tailored plans that meet individual needs and goals. Clients are guided through every step of the process to navigate the complex credit landscape and achieve their ultimate goals, whether it’s qualifying for a mortgage, buying a car, or developing general financial wellness skills.
Since our founding in 2017, Starting Now has helped thousands of families improve their financial literacy through hands-on coaching. By increasing housing, financial, and credit literacy for historically overlooked communities, we empower individuals to make positive, lasting changes for themselves and their families. We aim to set the standard for best practices in consumer financial literacy for other communities.
Leadership and Staff Disclosures:
The majority of Starting Now’s leadership team and staff are women who migrated to the United States either at an early age or as adults. They understand the financial hardships immigrants face, especially those who do not speak English. Our board is predominantly composed of women. Our mission is to help underserved communities, women, and veterans achieve greater economic success through credit and financial education, along with sustainable solutions that reflect changing lifestyles.
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing
Starting Now does not and will not indicate any preference or limitation or otherwise discriminate based on race, color, disability, religion, sex, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, ancestry, children, marital status, or the receipt of public assistance. Exceptions may apply if the preference or limitation is pursuant to a lawful eligibility requirement. All advertising that includes depictions of people (photographs or illustrations) will include representations of both majority and minority groups. Starting Now will not advertise a local preference for any programming or service offered. The Fair Housing logo and slogan will be included in all marketing materials.
Client Rights and Responsibilities:
As a potential client of Starting Now, you have the right to know the following disclosures:
- Free Initial Consultations: Starting Now provides all initial consultations free of charge. As a potential client, you are under no obligation to receive, purchase, or utilize any of our services. If you wish to pursue assistance, Starting Now will help you determine which program best fits your needs.
- Confidentiality: All information submitted to Starting Now is considered confidential and will be kept confidential unless you consent to the disclosure of such information.
- Non-Profit Status: Starting Now is NOT a loan company; we do not lend money. We are a non-profit agency supported by the monthly fees paid by our clients, as well as funding and/or grants from some creditors for the counseling and education we provide.
- Legal Advice Disclaimer: Our advice is not legal advice, and our counselors are not authorized to provide legal counsel.
- No Guarantees: We do not make false promises or guarantees, even though we stand behind the soundness of our advice. We cannot monitor your financial behavior 24 hours a day. Lenders make their own decisions to grant credit based on a variety of factors beyond the scope of our service.
- Freedom of Choice: As a client, you have the freedom to select and engage in any business transactions with professionals in the financial, mortgage, real estate, homeowner education, housing counseling, or other homeownership industries. You have the right to make voluntary and informed decisions free of coercion, intimidation, or undue pressure.
Text Message Terms and Conditions:
Starting Now Corporation (“Starting Now,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) offers a text messaging program to help clients stay on track with their housing counseling, and financial education services.
If you consent to receive text messages from us, you may receive messages about:
- Appointment scheduling, reminders, and confirmations
- Requests for documents needed to complete your file
- Updates on the status of your counseling session or action plan
- Program deadlines, class and webinar reminders, and follow-up steps
- General service updates related to your enrollment
We do not send marketing or promotional text messages.
How You Give Consent
You may enroll in text messages from Starting Now in either of the following ways:
Verbally. During a phone call with a Starting Now staff member or counselor, you may be asked whether you would like to receive text messages about your file. You will be told what the messages cover, how often they are sent, that message and data rates may apply, and how to get help or opt out. You must clearly answer “yes” to be enrolled. If you say yes, we will send you a confirmation text message.
On a paper form. When you complete an intake, enrollment, or consent form in person or by returning a signed form to us, you may provide your mobile phone number and check the consent box and sign to indicate that you agree to receive text messages from Starting Now as described on that form.
By text. You can also start text updates yourself at any time by texting START to (954) 833-1135. We will reply with a message explaining what we would text you about, how often, that message and data rates may apply, and how to get help or stop. That message will ask you to reply Y to confirm. You will not receive further messages unless you reply Y, and you can stop at any time by replying STOP.
Consent is not a condition of service. You are not required to agree to receive text messages in order to receive counseling, education, or any other service from Starting Now. You may decline text messages and still participate fully in all of our programs.
You may only enroll a mobile number that belongs to you or that you are authorized to use. You must be at least 18 years old to enroll.
Message frequency: Message frequency varies based on your enrollment and where you are in the counseling process. You will receive up to [8] messages per month.
Messages and Data Rates: Message and data rates may apply depending on your mobile phone service plan. Starting Now does not charge you for text messages. Please contact your wireless carrier with questions about your plan or any charges you may incur.
How to Get Help: Reply HELP to any message from us for assistance, or contact us directly at 954-833-1135 or cc@startingnow.org
How to Opt Out: You may cancel text messages at any time by replying STOP to any message from us. After you reply STOP, we will send you one final message confirming that you have been unsubscribed, and you will not receive further text messages from that program.
You may also opt out by calling us at 954-833-1135, emailing cc@startingnow.org, or telling your counselor. Opting out of text messages does not remove you from your counseling program, and we will continue to reach you by phone or email as needed.
If you want to rejoin later, simply enroll again through one of the methods described above.
Your Mobile Information is NOT shared: Starting Now does not sell, rent, or share your mobile phone number or your text messaging consent with any third party or affiliate for marketing or promotional purposes. Mobile information is used only to deliver the messages described in these terms, and is shared only with the service providers that help us send them.
For full details on how we collect, use, and protect your information, please review our Privacy Policy at https://startingnow.org/privacy-policy.
Carriers and Delivery: Delivery of text messages depends on your wireless carrier’s network and is not guaranteed. Wireless carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. Starting Now is not responsible for messages that are delayed, undelivered, or received by someone other than you.
If you change or deactivate your mobile phone number, please notify us promptly at 954-833-1135 or email cc@startingnow.org so that messages intended for you are not sent to someone else.
Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The current version will always be posted at https://startingnow.org/terms-and-disclosures with the date it was last updated.
By choosing Starting Now, you are taking an important step toward achieving your financial goals. We are here to support and guide you through this journey with integrity and respect for your individual needs
