Chris Sain Jr. Gives $50,000 to HBCU Investing Plan

Financial educator Chris Sain Jr., through the Chris Sain Foundation, has committed $50,000 to the Melanin Money Foundation’s MM Vested In U initiative. The gift represents half of the initiative’s inaugural $100,000 fundraising campaign, alongside a matching investment from Melanin Money. MM Vested In U is designed to help Historically Black Colleges and Universities equip students with funded investment accounts and financial education before graduation. The national initiative has a longer-term goal of helping 100,000 HBCU students begin building wealth before entering the workforce.

Investment Accounts for Students

The funding supports an effort to introduce investing and asset ownership to students while they are in college. The initiative focuses on providing both investment opportunities and financial education before graduates begin their careers.

“I've always believed financial education is one of the greatest equalizers. Supporting initiatives like MM Vested In U allows us to give students more than encouragement. We're giving them an opportunity to begin investing, understand ownership, and build wealth while they're still in school.”

Focus on Wealth Building

The release points to the United Negro College Fund’s The Power to Prosper report, which identifies wealth, rather than income, as one of the strongest predictors of long-term economic mobility. HBCUs produce approximately 20% of all Black college graduates while representing about 3% of U.S. colleges and universities, according to the release.

The report found that Black households have significantly less wealth than white households, which can limit homeownership, entrepreneurship, and long-term financial security. It also links earlier access to investment opportunities and asset ownership with financial stability, retirement readiness, and future homeownership and business ownership.

A Broader Community Mission

Sain’s work includes a digital financial education platform that reaches millions. Earlier this year, he became the first Black finance creator to host an interview show from the New York Stock Exchange. His Pull Up Campaign also makes financial donations to community leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, nonprofit organizations, and everyday changemakers.

“This initiative aligns with everything I've worked toward. Whether I'm educating someone online, investing in HBCU students, or pulling up to support people making a difference in their communities, the goal is the same. I want more people to experience ownership, opportunity, and financial independence.”

Supporting Financial Independence

For HBCU students, MM Vested In U is intended to pair a college degree with practical financial tools and a starting point for investing. The $50,000 commitment gives the new fundraising campaign a substantial early contribution as it works toward its goal of expanding wealth-building access for students.