About EFI
EFI is a fast-growing and high impact campaign, now in 11 countries, dedicated to inspiring interest in the learning and teaching of economics. All our activities are funded by the generosity of private and corporate donors. EFI is registered in New Jersey, USA as a non-profit organization 501(c)(3).
Milestones
Economics Olympiad
School round launches in all countries
Kyrgyzstan
Kemel Toktomushev, project team lead, IPPA University of Central Asia, receives the Warrior of Kyrgyz Kaganat collective coin – award by the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic for his contributions to economic and financial literacy in the country
Local languages
Montenegrin and North Macedonian edition of “Common Sense Economics” published on econfun.org
Our Beginnings
EFI was formed with a mandate to translate “Common Sense Economics” into the languages of Eastern Europe and Central Asia and to make the book freely available to anyone wanting to explore the basic principles of economics.
EFI Today
Today, EFI manages and coordinates a network of partners in 11 countries. We bring together our decades of institutional and personal expertise to deliver high impact and cost-effective activities that inspire interest in learning and teaching economics among young people and their teachers.
Board of Directors
Joe DiFiglia
Joe DiFiglia is the Chair of the EFI Board, and Vice President of izzit.org. After 25 years as an equity trader and founder of DiFiglia Capital Management, he advanced K–12 economic education, founding the New Jersey Council for Economic Education. Lehigh BS, NYU MA.
Kalev Ruberg
Kalev Ruberg is CEO of Karu Advisory Ltd and a technology and mining innovator with 45+ years’ experience. A former CIO, researcher and adjunct professor, he leads digital transformation, advises globally, and supports philanthropy.
Kathleen Mone
With a Master's Degree in Public Affairs from Columbia, Kathleen is a financial professional with over 40 years’ experience in the public education sector. She served as Unit Budget Director for Manhattan and the Bronx at the New York City Department of Education, as Business Administrator at a number of charter schools, and as Finance Manager for Academic Affairs at City University of New York.
Renita Esayian
Holding an M.B.A. from Stanford, Renita is a retired financial professional. After several corporate treasury and investor relations positions in the United States and London, she became Vice President of Investor Relations at Hasbro. Before retiring, she was a senior financial writer with The Vanguard Group.