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Founder and CEO
Grace Zhou
Bergen County Academies · Academy of Business & Finance
Our story
Where economics, education, and creativity meet.
Hi! I’m Grace Zhou, a senior at Bergen County Academies in the Academy of Business & Finance, and the founder of FinGoose. What started as my DECA project is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit teaching students how money really works.
FinGoose grew from my interests in economic justice, creative education, and the way financial systems shape a student’s opportunities. I pair research and teaching with animation, video, and graphic design to turn difficult money ideas into visual, practical experiences.
What I’ve built
- Founded FinGoose and grew it from a DECA project into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
- Won 1st place at NJ DECA States in Project Management: Financial Literacy and qualified for ICDC
- Wrote the 5-module middle school curriculum, reviewed by BCA’s Business Department
- Led workshops that raised student retention from 43% to 93%
- Set up a 5-district curriculum pilot with the Colorado Department of Education for 2026–27
- Published FinGoose and the Two Mornings: 230 copies sold, 17 five-star reviews, 150 books donated to Africa
- Design and edit all FinGoose videos and graphics, reaching 15M+ views and 35K+ followers
- Built partnerships with Go For Glass, Youth Policymakers for Tomorrow, and Solace Launch
- Launched a student chapter program in the US, Canada, and China
“What started as a passion for global issues transformed into a hands-on mission to empower the next generation with the financial confidence they deserve.”
