D2D Fund

D2D Fund and its partners tested U.S. Savings Bonds at in 2007 at VITA sites and H&R Block ("HRB"), and in 2008 (VITA sites only). The results were encouraging.

The 2007 Pilots ("R2A4"):

Bonds were offered at 4 VITA sites and at 31 HRB tax preparation sites (Boston, Schaumburg, IL).

Key Findings from the 2007 pilot:

• Demand for U. S. Savings Bonds among tax filers is strong.
• Bond purchasers bought bonds as gifts for their offspring.
• Tax filers bought bonds for the long term.
• Bonds may represent starter or first time savings.
• Take-up for bonds was higher than competing products (savings account, IRA) in the HRB pilot.

See "America’s Best—Savings Bond Final" for more on the VITA pilot, and "Tax Time Savings: Testing US Savings Bonds at HRB Tax Sites" for the HRB pilot.

The 2008 Pilot ("R2A-5")

In 2008, D2D and its partners offered bonds to 30 sites in 11 cities. Eight were research ("R2A-5") sites. Twenty-two offered bonds but did not participate in the research. All sites used the "Savings Bond Portal" developed with H&R Block.

For the R2A-5 pilot, D2D focused on four objectives:

• Test the findings of the 2007 pilot, especially take up rates.
• Improve savings bond order processing, volunteer training and marketing.
• Better understand who buys bonds and why.
• Better understand bonds’ longer term impact.

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