Robinhood Partners with Howard University to Empower Student-Athletes with Financial Education

Robinhood Markets, Inc. is excited to announce a new partnership with Howard University, aimed at addressing the financial challenges student-athletes often face. This marks Robinhood's first partnership with a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), bringing its signature Money Drills program to Howard, the ninth D1 university for the program, and expanding access to comprehensive financial education for student-athletes. Through this collaboration, participants will gain the tools and knowledge needed to secure a stable financial future, both during and after their athletic careers.

The event was announced and celebrated on-campus this week and joined by Howard Athletics Director Kery Davis, Howard School of Business Dean Anthony Wilbon, former NFL player and Athletes.org CEO Brandon Copeland, Washington Wizards alum Etan Thomas, and others. The day's events also included two financial education workshops for student athletes led by Planned To a T that included a guest lecture from Brandon Copeland.

"Technology serves as a powerful democratizing force in the financial system - we've utilized it to usher in a new generation of investors and equip them with educational tools that welcome them into financial markets," said Mary Elizabeth Taylor, VP of Global Government and External Affairs at Robinhood Markets, Inc. "Money Drills is yet another way Robinhood is driving financial education in innovative ways, and we are thrilled to collaborate with our first HBCU, Howard University, in this exciting partnership."

This initiative is not only about financial education; it's also about empowering the next generation to break cycles of financial inequity and build sustainable futures. With recent changes in NCAA rules allowing college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL), it's important to equip athletes with financial literacy tools early on in their careers. Despite earning millions during their careers, a significant number of professional athletes face severe financial difficulties after retirement. According to findings, 16% of NFL players file for bankruptcy within 12 years of retiring, while a staggering 60% of NBA players encounter financial hardship. This alarming trend is rooted in the short peak-earning periods athletes experience, combined with a lack of long-term financial planning, risky investments, and the pressure to maintain a lavish lifestyle. As a result, many find themselves struggling financially soon after leaving the spotlight.

The Robinhood Money Drills program is designed to help rewrite the narrative by giving student-athletes the tools they need to avoid these financial pitfalls. The program helps scale university resources to cover essential financial topics such as budgeting, saving, investing, and understanding credit, empowering athletes to manage their income and plan for the future.

This initiative adds Howard University to the growing list of institutions already participating in the Robinhood Money Drills program, including Florida State University, Coastal Carolina University, University of California, Berkeley, Texas Christian University, University of Memphis, Kansas State University, West Virginia University and Duke University. In total, nine universities nationwide have adopted the program, which continues to expand its reach. Since the program launched over two years ago, 95% of participating students have reported that their ability to manage personal finances has improved thanks to the financial education provided through the course, which Robinhood proudly sponsors.

"We are grateful to Robinhood for bringing Money Drills to Howard University and that we are the first HBCU to partner on this initiative," said Dr. Mariko Carson, Howard University's Director of the Office of Graduate Affairs. "This is long overdue as many students lack adequate education on financial and contract management which is critical for preparing them for life during and after their academic careers. By equipping our students with the necessary knowledge and resources to effectively manage their finances, the Money Drills collaboration empowers us to jointly promote an inclusive and sustainable approach to economic growth in our respective communities and beyond."

"As a student-athlete, I've come to realize that my name, image, and likeness are powerful assets that extend far beyond the field. I embrace the opportunities that come with them because they allow me to share my unique story, build my personal brand, and create a future that aligns with my passions," said Kaiya Creek, a Howard University Women's Basketball Player and Master's of Finance student. "The opportunity that I have with the partnership between Howard and Robinhood provides me the chance to showcase what I have learned from Money Drills and the classroom and connect with my community to inspire others about the importance of financial literacy."

This partnership is just the beginning, as Robinhood continues to expand its efforts to democratize access to financial education and ensure that athletes across the country are equipped to secure a sound financial future.

Student Group Shot with our educators, Planned to a T - Connor McLaren PhotographyAthletics Director, Kery Davis - Connor McLaren PhotographyStudent shot - Connor McLaren Photography(Left to right) Brandon Copeland, Professor Jean Wells, Esq., CPA, Sara Chima, Mary Elizabeth Taylor, Howard School of Business Dean Anthony Wilbon - Connor McLaren PhotographyStudent shot with Planned to a T - Connor McLaren Photography(Left to right) Karen Hampton, G-Wiz, Kaiya Creek - Connor McLaren Photography (Left to right) Jocelyn Logan, Josiah Edouard, Trinity Gore - Connor McLaren Photography

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