We’re delighted to share an exciting new opportunity for undergraduate students called the Student Investment Program (SIP), launched by Student Freedom Initiative (SFI), Stackwell, and Prudential Financial. This program helps students enter the stock market and begin their investing journey, with a goal to foster financial wellness for future leaders.
Student Freedom Initiative is a single-purpose nonprofit organization that aims to reduce the wealth gap through the lens of education by providing a catalyst of freedom to increase students’ social and economic mobility. This is achieved by using a student centric, evidence based, holistic, and collaborative approach. The initiative is for students attending Minority Serving Institutions (“MSIs”) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), including Bennett College, which is proud to be a SFI Participating Institution.
Stackwell Capital, Inc. is a fintech company that has created a digital investment platform for the Black community, designed to eliminate the racial wealth gap in America. Prudential Financial Inc. is a global financial services leader and premier active global investment manager who generously donated $500,000 to seed the Stackwell investment accounts within the Student Freedom Initiative Network — a powerhouse partnership between three incredible organizations.
The Student Investment Program provides participants with hands-on investment education obtained through financial sessions focusing on understanding the fundamentals of securities markets, theories and concepts of security research, and valuation. The knowledge obtained in the sessions and on the platform will allow students to select from multiple portfolios provided.
SIP will distribute $1,000 grants to each participating student’s investment account on the Stackwell platform and will provide access to investment education and other resources to help increase their investing confidence. Students are also encouraged to participate in workshops, focus groups, and other data collection activities.
Financial educational sessions begin in January 2023, and SIP launches in March 2023 for the selected applicants who have met eligibility criteria. Approximately 500 students will be selected.
To be eligible to receive funds, the recipient must:
Be from a Student Freedom Initiative participating institution.
Be a currently enrolled, full-time (unless enrolled in last semester) undergraduate student maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
Complete at least two (2) of the Prudential Pathways sessions between January 2023 and the end of February 2023.
Be a US Citizen or a Visa, Green Card, or ITIN holder.
Students will be notified of their selection into the program starting January 2023.
