Scholars of Finance

What Scholars of Finance does

Scholars of Finance (SOF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2016, headquartered in New York with a mailing address in Los Angeles and a fully remote national team of 51-100 staff. Its mission is to inspire character and integrity in the finance leaders of tomorrow by investing in high-performing undergraduate students through leadership development, mentorship, and engagement with finance executives and investors. The organization operates a chapter-based delivery model at 60+ universities including Princeton, UC Berkeley, NYU, Georgetown, and Harvard, serving 3,700+ active members and candidates and having impacted 8,300+ students since inception, with 20% identifying as first-generation.

SOF's core products form a structured four-year curriculum: the 8-week Leadership Development Program (LDP), Industry Introductions for freshmen, Recruitment Bootcamp for sophomores, LDP 2 for upperclassmen, supplemented by Principles Workshops, Professional Success Events, and annual Leadership Conferences. The organization also operates the Investing in Integrity Podcast and an online Mentorship Marketplace platform that connects students with finance professionals for 1:1 coaching. Technology is supportive rather than differentiating — a web platform for membership, login, mentor profiles, and meeting requests, maintained by a small in-house engineering team, but no proprietary AI, data, or SaaS product is disclosed.

SOF is funded through a hybrid nonprofit revenue model: individual donations via tiered giving programs (Angel Fund for monthly donors; Momentum Fund at $10k+ annually for 3+ years; Alpha Fund at $25k+ annually; Legacy Fund at $50k+ annually), corporate sponsorships from 100+ financial institutions including Goldman Sachs, Blackstone, Morgan Stanley, BlackRock, KKR, and Piper Sandler, and free chapter membership for students. The organization reports cumulative funds raised of $10M+ since founding and is governed by a Board of Directors and Advisory Board comprising senior finance executives.

Name

Scholars of Finance

Legal name

Scholars of Finance

Website

https://scholarsoffinance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Scholars of Finance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs 60+ university chapters delivering leadership development, mentorship, and career programming to undergraduate students aspiring to finance careers, funded by individual donors and 100+ corporate financial-institution partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional & Leadership Development (Nonprofit)

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scholarships, Grants & Donor-Funded Awards Management (EDALAJAB), Field-of-Study & Discipline-Specific Funding (EDAIAOAD)

Keywords

• Leadership development programs
• Student mentorship network
• Finance career pipeline
• Campus chapter network
• Nonprofit education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through various programs including The Angel Fund (monthly recurring donations), The Momentum Fund ($10k annual pledges for 3 years minimum), The Alpha Fund ($25k minimum annual commitments), and The Legacy Fund ($50k+ annual commitments). Donations can be directed to Programs (directly funding local chapter activities) or Growth (national operating expenses).
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners provide financial support in exchange for access to student talent, campus chapter visibility, event sponsorship opportunities, and brand amplification. Partners include Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Blackstone, and 100+ other financial institutions.
3. Chapter Membership: Students join SOF chapters at their universities through an application process to access leadership development programs, mentorship from finance professionals, and professional networking opportunities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Scholars of Finance delivers values-based leadership development, mentorship, and career-preparation programs to undergraduate students at 60+ U.S. universities through student-led campus chapters. Its flagship offerings include the 8-week Leadership Development Program (LDP), 1:1 Mentorship Network, Industry Introductions for freshmen, Recruitment Bootcamp for sophomores, and LDP 2 for upperclassmen. Programs are funded by individual donations and corporate sponsorships from 100+ financial firms.

Product overview

Scholars of Finance operates as a chapter-based membership organization offering a suite of interconnected leadership development and professional success programs. The core offerings include the Leadership Development Program (LDP), Industry Introductions, Recruitment Bootcamp, and Mentorship Network, which together form a comprehensive pipeline from freshman orientation through upperclassman career preparation. Supporting programs include Principles Workshops, Professional Success Events (Speaker Series, Technical Workshops, Corporate Partner events), and annual Leadership Conferences. The organization also produces the Investing in Integrity Podcast as a thought leadership extension. All programs are delivered through a network of 60+ campus chapters across universities nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Angel Fund: Monthly donor community supporting Scholars of Finance mission
• The Momentum Fund
• The Alpha Fund
• The Legacy Fund
• Investing In Integrity Podcast

Products and services

• Leadership Development Program (LDP) An 8-week flagship program for new SOF members featuring leadership development, introspection, and peer discussions that help undergraduate students identify their purpose and values. Delivered through campus chapters.
• Industry Introductions A 6-week program for freshmen providing a comprehensive overview of the finance industry, potential career paths, and guidance on finding the right passion-fit. Delivered through campus chapters.
• Recruitment Bootcamp A 6-week program for sophomores developing technical and soft skills, teaching how to recruit with integrity, and helping students find firms and teams aligned with their values. Delivered through campus chapters.
• Mentorship Network A program providing student members access to a network of finance professionals from 100+ firms for 1:1 coaching and long-term mentoring relationships.
• Principles Workshops Chapter-based workshops held at least 6 times per year focused on the practical application of SOF Principles in finance through activities and case studies.
• Professional Success Events Events including Speaker Series, Technical Workshops, or Corporate Partner events (at least 6 per year) helping students learn how to be successful in the finance industry.
• LDP 2 (For Upperclassmen) A 4-week series aimed at empowering juniors with tools to excel during summer internships, secure return offers, and learn how to stay true to their values in the workplace.
• Leadership Conferences Annual regional conferences bringing together students and professionals for panel discussions and keynote speeches focused on SOF values.
• Investing in Integrity Podcast A podcast featuring conversations with leading minds in finance (e.g., Howard Marks of Oaktree Capital) helping investors, finance professionals, and students learn how to make finance a force for good. Distributed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
• Mentorship Marketplace An online platform where students can view mentor profiles and request meetings with finance professionals, and where mentors can manage requests and connect with students for 1:1 coaching.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,300+ students impacted since founding
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Goldman SachscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGoldman Sachs engages with SOF as a founding corporate partner, with executives participating in mentorship programs, speaking engagements, and student recruitment activities through the campus chapter network.
• Morgan StanleycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMorgan Stanley provides executive mentors and speakers to SOF programs while gaining access to top student talent for recruitment at chapter universities.
• BlackstonecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBlackstone participates as a founding partner with executives serving on the Board of Directors and Advisory Board, providing mentorship and thought leadership.
• DeloittesecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerDeloitte supports SOF through sponsorship of events and chapter activities, engaging employees as mentors for finance students.
• CitigroupsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCitigroup engages as a sponsor with executives participating in speaking events and mentorship programs at SOF chapters.
• JPMorgan ChasesecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerJPMorgan Chase provides executive participation in SOF programs and sponsors chapter events as part of talent recruitment strategy.
• US BanksecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerUS Bank hosts career development programming through strategic campus partnerships with SOF college and university chapters.
• Piper SandlercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPiper Sandler is a founding partner with deep engagement including executive speakers, board representation, and employee mentorship programs.
• Wells FargosecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerWells Fargo sponsors SOF events and engages employees as mentors at participating campus chapters.
• PNC BanksecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerPNC Bank participates as a corporate partner supporting chapter events and student programming.
• Chatham FinancialsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerChatham Financial engages with SOF as a corporate partner providing executive mentorship and event sponsorship.
• BairdsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerBaird participates in SOF programs with executives serving as speakers and advisors to student chapters.
• Deutsche BanksecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerDeutsche Bank sponsors SOF chapter events and provides employee mentors for the student network.
• BlackRockcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBlackRock executives serve on the Board of Directors and participate actively in SOF programs, providing mentorship and thought leadership.
• KKRsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerKKR engages as a sponsor and provides executives for speaking and mentorship activities at SOF chapters.
• State StreetsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerState Street supports SOF as a sponsor with executives participating in chapter events and mentoring programs.
• Bain CapitalsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerBain Capital participates as a sponsor supporting SOF conferences and chapter events.
• Capital OnesecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCapital One sponsors SOF events and engages employees as mentors for student members.
• Northern TrustsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerNorthern Trust executives serve on the Board of Directors and support SOF programs.
• FidelitysecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerFidelity sponsors SOF programs and events as part of its talent development and recruitment strategy.
• Insight PartnerssecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerInsight Partners supports SOF as a sponsor of chapter activities and student programs.
• Oaktree CapitalsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerOaktree Capital's Howard Marks featured on the SOF Investing in Integrity podcast and participates in program events.
• HarbourVestsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerHarbourVest Global Private Equity sponsors SOF events and programs.
• SoFisecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerSoFi supports SOF as a sponsor of chapter events and student activities.
• a16z (Andreessen Horowitz)secondaryGTM or Marketing Partnera16z executives participate on the Board of Advisors and engage in SOF mentorship and speaking programs.
• LazardsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerLazard sponsors SOF events and provides executive participation in programs.
• KPMGsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerKPMG supports SOF through sponsorship and executive mentorship programs.
• Ernst & Young (EY)secondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerEY sponsors SOF chapter activities and provides mentors for student development.
• NomurasecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerNomura participates as a sponsor of SOF programs and events.
• VontobelsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerVontobel Board Director Kristine Braden serves on the SOF Board of Directors.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity): SEO is a nonprofit that provides career development, mentorship, and internship pipelines for underrepresented students into high-prestige firms including banks, consulting, and law. Operates a similar mission, target population, and corporate partnership model.
• Forte Foundation: Forte is a nonprofit consortium focused on launching women into business and finance careers through education, mentorship, and corporate partner access. Closely comparable in target demographic and finance-industry partner model.
• Girls Who Invest: Nonprofit dedicated to increasing women's representation in investment management through education, mentorship, and internship programs. Overlaps directly with SOF on finance-career pipeline and corporate partner engagement.
• Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT): MLT is a nonprofit that prepares high-achieving underrepresented students for careers at top companies, including finance, through MBA and undergraduate career-launch programs. Comparable in mission, target population, and corporate sponsorship economics.
• ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals For America): ALPFA is the largest Latino professional association, with a strong finance and accounting focus, providing student development, mentorship, and corporate partner pipelines. Highly comparable in chapter-based student development and corporate partner model.
• INROADS: INROADS is a nonprofit that develops and places talented underrepresented youth into business and finance careers through internship pipelines and corporate partnerships. Direct comparable in mission, audience, and corporate revenue model.
• NABA (National Association of Black Accountants): NABA advances Black professionals in accounting, finance, and business through student chapters, mentorship, and corporate partnerships. Comparable in chapter-based university model and corporate sponsor structure.

Emerging players

• Year Up United: Year Up is a workforce development nonprofit offering skills training, mentorship, and corporate placements for young adults. Comparable in corporate partner model and skills/leadership development mission.
• The Posse Foundation: Posse identifies and trains diverse cohorts of public high school students for college success and leadership. Comparable in mission of developing underrepresented young leaders, though operating earlier in the educational pipeline.
• Bottom Line: Bottom Line is a nonprofit focused on college access and degree completion for first-generation students from low-income backgrounds. Comparable in its first-generation college student focus and post-secondary success mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SOF_National
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/18516542
• Instagraminstagram.com/scholarsoffinance

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Scholars of Finance