HBCU Gold Rush: Students Now Managing $8M in Capital

The landscape of high finance is undergoing a strategic shift, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are at the forefront of this transformation. In a bold move to diversify the asset management industry, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) has expanded Project ACCLAIM (Accelerating Learning in Asset Investment Management). This expansion is fueled by a massive $10 million injection from Adage Capital Management and the Elizabeth and Phill Gross family, signaling a new era of trust in student-led financial management.

As a result of this funding, Morgan State University and Florida A&M University (FAMU) have each been awarded $4 million in direct investment capital. For the student body, this initiative is far more than a simple scholarship or a line item on a resume; it is about providing student entrepreneurs and future finance titans with the “keys to the kingdom.” By putting real-world capital into the hands of students, Project ACCLAIM is bridging the gap between classroom theory and the high-stakes reality of global markets.

The Strategy: Closing the “Experience Gap” with Hands-On Capital

Project ACCLAIM is specifically designed to solve a persistent and damaging challenge in the financial sector, the “experience gap.” Historically, undergraduate students learn the complex theory of portfolio analysis, risk assessment, and market volatility through textbooks, without ever experiencing the physiological pressure of a live trade. This program flips that script entirely, moving finance education from the chalkboard to the terminal.

At Morgan State University, the $4 million award is a game-changer. It will dramatically scale their existing Student-Managed Investment Fund, which previously operated with a modest $250,000. Now, students are moving into the big leagues. They will be tasked with managing multi-million dollar portfolios across both the stock and bond markets, making decisions that impact real wealth. As Royce D. Burnett, Ph.D., Dean of the Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management, noted, this level of decision-making authority is rarely accessible even at the graduate level. This practice-based education ensures that when these students graduate, they aren’t just entry-level candidates; they are seasoned asset managers with a documented track record of performing under pressure.

Beyond the Ticker: Community Impact and Generational Wealth

The mission of Project ACCLAIM extends far beyond the edges of a trading screen. It carries a profound social mission: to equip HBCU students with the financial acuity needed to influence systemic change. Financial literacy and asset management are the cornerstones of supporting civil rights, ensuring fair employment, and funding education access. By mastering these tools, students become architects of their own communities’ economic futures.

The program is also built to be self-sustaining. A portion of the earnings generated from the student-managed funds is returned to the universities, creating a “virtuous cycle” where student success funds future institutional growth. At FAMU, the impact is already being felt. Finance students like Zion Hackney and Candace Harrison recognize that they are part of a career-defining opportunity. By mastering the nuances of the capital markets while still in school, they are positioning themselves to lead an industry that has historically lacked diverse leadership. They are not just learning how to make money; they are learning how to manage power.

Tactical Lessons for the Modern Student Founder

The expansion of Project ACCLAIM provides three vital lessons for any student founder, regardless of their major. First, seek out hands-on experience. If your institution has an investment fund or a startup incubator, join it. There is no substitute for the experience of managing real resources. Second, understand asset management. Even if you are a creative founder, knowing how to grow and preserve wealth is a “superpower” that allows you to fund your own future ventures.

Finally, leverage institutional support. Organizations like the UNCF have raised over $6 billion to support student success. These organizations are actively looking for the next generation of leaders to fund. Stay connected to your career services and business school deans to find these “hidden” capital opportunities that can launch your career before you even have your diploma.

Opportunity Details
Program Name: Project ACCLAIM (UNCF)

Grant Amount: $4 Million per institution

Target: HBCU Business and Finance Students

Partners: Adage Capital Management, UNCF, Morgan State, FAMU