Why Fundalario exists
A statement of purpose, principles, and the commitments that guide every piece of work we publish.
Financial knowledge is not evenly distributed. In Spain, as in many countries, access to reliable information about money, savings, debt, and planning depends heavily on education level, family background, and geography. Fundalario was created because we think that gap is worth measuring — and worth closing.
What we stand for
Independence above all
We do not accept funding from banks, insurance companies, investment firms, or any entity with a commercial interest in financial products. Our operational costs are covered through grants from public institutions and foundations dedicated to civic education. This is not a policy we adopted reluctantly. It is the premise on which the observatory was built. Data that serves commercial interests cannot be fully trusted — and we want our data to be trusted.
Measurement as a public service
Understanding how much the population knows about financial concepts matters for policy, for education, and for individual decision-making. Without reliable measurement, conversations about financial literacy remain anecdotal. We publish quantitative indicators precisely because we believe the public deserves a clear, regularly updated picture of where financial knowledge stands and how it changes over time.
Open access is non-negotiable
Every report, every indicator, every dataset, every educational resource we produce is available to anyone without payment, registration, or restriction. Financial education research locked behind paywalls contradicts its own purpose. If the work is meant to serve the public, it needs to be accessible to the public. This will not change.
Methodology must be visible
We document every methodological choice we make. Sample design, weighting procedures, question wording, indicator construction — all of it is described in technical annexes that accompany each quarterly report. We do this because transparency is the only way for external parties to evaluate whether our findings are sound. Conclusions without visible methods are not research; they are opinion.
We do not give financial advice
Fundalario measures and publishes. We do not recommend products, endorse institutions, or tell individuals what to do with their money. The distinction matters enormously. An observatory that begins advising quickly becomes an advocate. Our role is to provide information — what people do with it is their decision, and rightly so.
What we commit to, every quarter
We publish a full quarterly report on a consistent schedule. We do not delay publication because results are inconvenient. We do not omit findings because they complicate an optimistic narrative. If financial literacy levels decline, we say so. If particular demographic groups show persistent gaps, we highlight them.
We also commit to keeping our educational resource library updated. As financial products, regulations, and economic conditions change in Spain, the resources we curate need to reflect that reality. Outdated guidance is not neutral — it can be actively misleading.
Finally, we commit to remaining a non-profit entity. Fundalario will not convert to a commercial structure. Our purpose is public education, and that purpose is incompatible with the incentives that come with commercial operation.