At the Institute for Consumer Money Management (ICMM), we are committed to funding research and initiatives that provide practical solutions to everyday financial challenges. One area of particular interest is financial education—especially programs that empower individuals to build long-term financial security through investing. That’s why we are thrilled to announce our partnership with Stackwell and the Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) to support the expansion of the Student Investment Program (SIP) in 2025.
Investing in Financial Education and Wealth Building
Stackwell, a leading fintech platform focused on closing the racial wealth gap, has been working to improve financial literacy and increase access to investing for underrepresented communities. Their mission aligns closely with ICMM’s dedication to supporting low-to-moderate-income individuals and families through rigorous evaluation and translational research.
Through the SIP, Stackwell and SFI provide HBCU students with up to $1,000 in seeded investment funds, allowing them to gain hands-on investing experience while receiving comprehensive financial education. The program aims to break down traditional barriers to investing by equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to participate in the stock market.
Expanding Impact with ICMM’s Support
The inaugural SIP cohort, launched in 2023, demonstrated significant improvements in financial knowledge and investment confidence among participating students. According to research conducted by the Financial Health Network:
- Knowledge about investing increased by 167%
- Comfort with investing grew by 88%
- Confidence in reaching long-term financial goals improved by 63%
- 99% of students who began investing on the Stackwell platform remained engaged in the markets
Encouraged by these results, Stackwell and SFI are expanding the program to reach even more students in 2025. ICMM is proud to contribute to this effort by funding seed investments for 100 HBCU students, providing them with a $1,000 investment each. This funding will support rigorous evaluation of the program’s impact, assessing the effectiveness of financial education alone versus financial education combined with a seeded investment.
Looking Ahead
As this program grows, we are excited to see how hands-on investing experiences influence students’ long-term financial behaviors and wealth-building strategies. By supporting evidence-based initiatives like SIP, we hope to drive meaningful change in financial literacy and empowerment for the next generation of investors.
For more details on the Student Investment Program and its expansion, check out Stackwell’s latest report here. Stay tuned for updates on our research findings and the impact of this initiative in the months ahead!