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ICMM

Stackwell’s Student Investment Program

 Partners

Stackwell

Overview

Male college student with books and a backpack smiles at the camera while working in the Student Investment Program

ICMM has partnered with Stackwell, a fintech company focused on expanding wealth-building opportunities for Black communities, to launch a Student Investment Program (SIP) at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The project provides students with a unique opportunity to combine financial education with hands-on investing experience, helping them build financial knowledge, confidence, and resilience at an early stage in their careers.

Project Status

Ongoing (2025) — Early implementation phase with data collection in progress.

ICMM’s Role

ICMM provides funding, evaluation expertise, and research oversight. By reviewing program outcomes, ICMM ensures that the findings contribute not only to participating students but also to the broader field of financial wellbeing research. Read ICMM’s press release.

In the latest SIP cohort, students shared that they not only gained confidence in investing but also came to see it as something relevant and accessible—an opportunity also available for “people like them“.

Stackwell x Student Freedom Initiative x Prudential Financial

 Goals / Objectives

  • Equip HBCU students with investment knowledge and skills.
  • Provide seeded investment funds to encourage participation and engagement.
  • Evaluate how investment education impacts financial confidence, literacy, and long-term wealth-building behaviors.
  • Explore scalable models for integrating financial education into university settings.

 Methods

Students receive access to Stackwell’s investment platform (SIP), along with targeted financial literacy education modules. Half of the students are randomly assigned to receive seeded investment funds, creating a low-risk environment to learn by doing, while other students are encouraged to begin investing and have access to the education materials. Outcomes will be measured through app engagement and investment amounts, surveys, behavioral data, and longitudinal follow-up on financial knowledge and confidence.

 Expected Impact

By combining financial education with direct investing opportunities, the program aims to:

  • Increase financial literacy among HBCU students.
  • Strengthen financial confidence and decision-making skills.
  • Foster long-term habits of saving and investing.
  • Provide insights into scalable interventions that promote equity in wealth-building for underrepresented groups.