Portfolios with Purpose

What Portfolios with Purpose does

Portfolios with Purpose (PwP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2011 and headquartered in New York, NY, that provides investment and financial literacy education to high school and college students, with a particular focus on underrepresented communities including Black, LatinX, and female students. The organization delivers its mission through several programs: the PwP Academy, the PwP Fellowship, a Fantasy Stock-Trading Platform, and a Digital Faculty composed of professional investors who serve as instructors and mentors. Its footprint extends to 100+ universities and high schools across the United States and Canada.

The organization's core technology offering is a fantasy stock-trading platform that allows students to simulate investment decisions. In 2017, PwP launched a $1 Million Fantasy Portfolio Model, and in 2018 it introduced trading fees that are donated to charity, linking the educational simulation to a philanthropic mechanism. The 2021 launch of the PwP Fellowship Program and the inaugural PwP Fellowship Investment Challenge marked a more formalized program structure, with corporate sponsors including Brown Advisory (founding sponsor of the Fellowship), Penserra (Featured Sponsor of the 2022 Fellowship), Troutman Pepper, and EY. The Digital Faculty provides human instruction from professional investors rather than automated tutoring.

PwP operates as a volunteer-run non-profit funded primarily through corporate sponsorships, individual donations, and contest entry fees, with 100% of entry fees directed to charity. Its partner ecosystem includes organizations such as 100 Women in Finance, CAIA, CUNY, America Needs You, and Invest in Girls. The organization has set an explicit public goal of reaching 1 million students by 2030, and there is no public disclosure of revenue, headcount, or operating budget.

Name

Portfolios with Purpose

Legal name

Portfolios with Purpose

Website

https://portfolioswithpurpose.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Portfolios with Purpose is a 501(c)(3) non-profit delivering investment and financial literacy education to high school and college students, particularly underrepresented communities, through academies, fellowships, a fantasy stock-trading platform, and a Digital Faculty of professional investors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Education and Financial Literacy

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Investor Education, Research & Portfolio Analytics Services (Retail) (FSAAAAAO)

Keywords

• Investment education programs
• Fantasy stock trading
• Financial literacy training
• Student investment contests
• Nonprofit education services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contest Entry Fees: Entry fees for Market Challenge ($100), Novice ($100), and Master Class ($10k) competitions. 100% of entry and trading fees go to charity.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Charity-focused model where first place awards 60% of donation pool to their charity, second place 30%, third place 10%. All entry and trading fees go to charity.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Featured Sponsor Penserra and Supporting Sponsor Brown Advisory provide funding to support PwP Fellowship and Academy programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Portfolios with Purpose is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that delivers free investment education and fantasy stock trading competitions to high school and college students across the US and Canada. The core offering is a fantasy stock trading platform where participants build $1 million virtual portfolios through contests (High School Challenge, College Challenge, Market Challenge, and Master Class), with 100% of entry and trading fees donated to charity. Educational programs include the self-paced PwP Academy and the two-week instructor-led PwP Fellowship, both taught by a volunteer Digital Faculty of professional investors.

Product overview

Portfolios with Purpose is an education non-profit operating a unified platform combining a fantasy stock-trading competition platform with educational programs. The core offering consists of the Fantasy Stock-Trading Platform where users build $1 million fantasy portfolios through contests (High School Challenge, College Challenge, Market Challenge), supported by the PwP Academy for on-demand self-paced learning and the PwP Fellowship for intensive instructor-led training. The Digital Faculty of professional investors teaches all curriculum components. Together, these products create an ecosystem for investment education targeting students from underserved communities across the US and Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PwP Academy: Online self-paced learning platform covering fundamentals of investing and portfolio management, taught by professional investors from the Digital Faculty.
• PwP Fellowship
• Digital Faculty
• PwP Student Challenge

Products and services

• PwP Academy Online self-paced learning platform covering the fundamentals of investing and portfolio management. Free for students from more than 100 universities and high schools across the US and Canada. Includes on-demand videos, tailored curriculum, and digital workshops taught by the volunteer Digital Faculty of professional investors.
• PwP Fellowship Two-week instructor-led immersion program covering real-life investing scenarios including stock investing, portfolio construction, risk management, and fundamental analysis. Designed to create pathways into the finance industry for historically underrepresented communities (Black, LatinX, and female students). Graduates are eligible for $1,000 educational stipends.
• Fantasy Stock-Trading Platform Fantasy stock portfolio competition platform where participants build portfolios using $1 million in fantasy capital, supporting both long and short positions. Integrates with global stock exchanges including NYSE, NASDAQ, TSX, and European/Asian exchanges. Performance is calculated using historical total return methodology. 100% of entry and trading fees go to charity.
• High School Challenge Fantasy stock trading competition designed for high school students. Free participation with unlimited trading and no fees. Participants learn investing from PwP's Digital Faculty while competing for charitable donations.
• College Challenge Fantasy stock trading competition for college students. Free participation with unlimited trading. Students build portfolios and compete to direct charitable donations to their chosen causes.
• Market Challenge General fantasy stock trading competition open to all participants. $100 entry fee with 100% of entry and trading fees going to charity. First place directs 60% of the donation pool to their chosen charity, second place 30%, and third place 10%.
• Master Class Invitation-only premium fantasy stock trading competition with a $10,000 entry fee. After the trading window closes, Master Class participants pay $500 per trade. All fees go to the charitable donation pool.
• Digital Faculty Volunteer faculty of prestigious professional investors who teach PwP Academy lessons, lead digital workshops, and provide mentorship. Includes Master Class players and industry leaders from firms such as Tudor Investment, Franklin Templeton, Lyrical Asset Management, and Morgan Creek Capital.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89%+ of students felt more confident about investing after completing the Fellowship program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• PenserraflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 October 2021Official featured sponsor of the 2022 PwP Fellowship Program. San Francisco-based institutional financial services firm providing sponsorship to help scale PwP's online learning platform and Fellowship program. Certified Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE).
• Brown AdvisoryflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2021Official sponsor of the PwP Fellowship program. Independent investment management and strategic advisory firm with $100+ billion in client assets. Partnership aligns Brown Advisory and PwP's commitment to creating positive industry change through education and diversity initiatives.
• 100 Women in FinancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner providing access to professional women in finance for PwP programs and career development resources.
• CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner supporting PwP's mission to diversify the investment community through education and mentorship.
• Connext ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner supporting PwP initiatives.
• NY-AIR (New York Alternative Investment Roundtable)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner providing networking and educational resources for PwP community.
• America Needs YoucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner fighting for economic mobility for ambitious, first-generation college students. Provides volunteer opportunities and supports PwP mission.
• Invest in GirlscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit dedicated to cultivating financially literate girls and increasing women working in finance. Collaborates with PwP on educational programs.
• The Street SmartsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial internship program started by Kingsford Capital providing education on investing topics.
• CUNY (City University of New York)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor university system partner with multiple campuses participating in PwP programs including Baruch, Hunter, and Macaulay Honors College.
• Greenwood ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit introducing Black and Latinx high school and college students to careers in financial services, creating pipeline of diverse talent.
• Black Girls CODEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit dedicated to leveling the playing field for girls of color in STEM. Partner in PwP's diversity mission.
• Troutman PepperminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting sponsor providing resources for PwP Fellowship and Academy programs.
• EY (Ernst & Young)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting sponsor contributing to PwP's educational initiatives.
• Net ImpactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit inspiring and equipping emerging leaders to build a more just and sustainable world.
• Chinese for Affirmative ActionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil rights organization protecting rights of Chinese Americans and advancing multiracial democracy.
• DC-CAP (District of Columbia College Access Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit dedicated to helping DC students enroll and graduate college.
• Color of ChangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit helping black community voice be unignorable and powerful enough to change systems.
• D.R.E.A.M (Developing Responsible Economically Advanced Model-Citizens)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit focused on developing economically advanced model-citizens.
• The Surfrider FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental nonprofit protecting oceans, waves, and beaches.
• A Leg to Stand On (ALTSO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC nonprofit providing free prosthetic limbs and mobility devices to children in developing countries.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• HowTheMarketWorks: Web-based educational stock-market simulation used in K-12 and university classrooms. Overlaps with PwP's Student Challenge in target market (students) and simulation-first approach to investment education.
• Wall Street Survivor: Online platform combining paper trading simulations with investing courses. Directly comparable to PwP on the educational-fantasy-trading model and retail-investor audience.
• StockTrak: Educational stock trading simulation platform widely used by universities and high schools to teach investing. Directly comparable to PwP's fantasy stock trading platform in target market (students), delivery (web-based simulation), and revenue model (institutional + participant fees).
• America Needs You: Nonprofit fighting for economic mobility for first-generation college students. A current PwP partner with shared mission-focus on underserved students and economic advancement through education.
• Greenwood Project: Nonprofit introducing Black and Latinx high school and college students to careers in financial services. A current PwP partner targeting essentially the same audience with complementary talent-pipeline programming.
• Invest in Girls: Nonprofit cultivating financially literate girls and increasing women in finance. A current PwP partner with highly overlapping mission, audience, and program design (education + mentorship for underrepresented groups entering finance).

Broad incumbents

• Investopedia: Largest consumer-facing financial education site. Comparable to PwP as a retail-investor learning resource but much broader in scope, with no fantasy trading component or nonprofit/Diversity-and-Inclusion mission focus.
• MarketWatch Virtual Stock Exchange: Simulated stock-trading game operated by MarketWatch inside Dow Jones/News Corp's financial media portfolio. Comparable mechanism (paper trading contest) and audience (retail/educational), but as part of a much larger paid-media business.
• The Motley Fool: Retail investment education and media company with broad financial content and tools. Comparable to PwP on the retail-investor-education axis; differs in being a for-profit subscription/media business rather than a simulated-trading nonprofit.

Emerging players

• 100 Women in Finance: Industry nonprofit providing networking, education, and mentoring for women in finance. A current PwP partner addressing overlapping DEI-in-finance themes but from a professional (rather than student) entry point.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/playpwp
• Facebookfacebook.com/PlayPw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/portfolios-with-purpose

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Portfolios with Purpose