Scholars of Finance was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2017 and the Co-Founder and CEO stepped in as the first full-time staff member in 2019.

Scholars of Finance is a rapidly-growing nonprofit on a mission to inspire character and integrity in the finance leaders of tomorrow. We seek to solve the world’s largest problems by investing in undergraduate students through leadership development, mentorship, and the active support of purpose-driven finance executives and investors. Our students then join top firms, funds, and a life-long support community that empowers them to spend their careers serving the greater good using the biggest lever in the world: finance.

Students are selected for membership through an inclusive yet rigorous application process organized nationally and operated by each chapter. Broadly, we look for students who have the potential to build successful and impactful careers in finance, but we especially look for students who demonstrate our core values and bring a purpose-driven orientation to their career aspirations. They apply, complete several interviews, the Leadership Development Program, and other programs to become a lifetime member.

We are the only national finance organization which is primarily focused on developing purpose-driven, principled leadership in finance. Our team and student-led chapters deliver a transformative Leadership Development Program, values forums, symposia, speaking events, technical workshops, and one-on-one mentorship to students who will be the future generation of financial decision-makers. We teach them six core values through our programs: Compassion, Courage, Humility, Integrity, Curiosity, and Impact, and help them understand how to apply these values in their lives and careers. We provide them with technical finance and recruiting skills to assist them as they navigate their entry into the workforce.

We have developed 7 core programs, operating nationwide to shape the futures of thousands of emerging leaders in finance.

• Student-Led College & University Chapters: Students build and lead local chapters on their college or university campus, delivering all of our programs to their peers, and sharpening one another through their leadership journeys as a team. Each chapter selects a Leadership Team, which meets weekly. Members meet multiple times per month to plan meetings, community building events, and other programs (see below).
• Leadership Development Program (LDP): Students spend seven weeks in deep introspection and discussion with their peers, learning to examine their values, determining what kind of character and professional ethos they aspire to have, and establishing the discipline necessary to become the next generation of principled financial leaders.
• Mentorship Network: The Mentorship Network enables students to directly request a coaching session from our network of financial professionals. These sessions may be one-time or they may develop into longer-term relationships organically – all to provide our students the opportunity to receive 1:1 guidance in their personal and professional journey.
• Speaker Series: Student leaders host finance professionals and executives at least once per month, in private sessions, and discuss how to navigate tough choices and ethical challenges they may face in finance. Leadership Symposia: Executives and students come together for panel discussions, keynotes, and intimate dinners to discuss leadership principles. These also serve as networking and recruiting opportunities for our students.
• Technical Workshops: This program teaches our members the hard skills they will need to enter into the finance industry, including networking, resume building, interviewing, and financial skills.
• Values Forums: This new program provides our members the opportunity to continuously examine, develop, and learn how to practically apply their values after the LDP is completed or when a new member is waiting for the LDP to start. They meet at least once per month to discuss how they can keep growing.

Scholars of Finance is also committed to helping underserved communities and increasing diversity within finance – socioeconomic, gender and racial diversity as well as diversity of thought. Many SOF members and alumni have been the first in their families to attend college, are the sons and daughters of immigrants, and have been at comparative disadvantages.

Current Metrics:
6 HBCUs and 4 HSIs
62% of our students are minorities
24% of our members are first-generation, low-income (FGLI) college students.

To date, we have raised $6.7M in collected and committed capital, much of which has been committed via our “Alpha Fund” and “Momentum Fund” donors. The Alpha Fund and Momentum Fund donors (consisting of both individuals and corporations) fund the most critical aspect of Scholars of Finance’s budget: operations. These donors pledge annual commitments to fund Scholars of Finance. We utilize 100% of other donations to directly fund student programs (for local chapter events and programming). Splitting up program and operational expenses in this manner has been coined “The 100% Model”.

www.scholarsoffinance.org/get-involved/