We give back to our communities – through volunteerism, charitable giving and nonprofit board service – and believe our focus on civic and charitable engagement drives a firmwide mindset that reinforces the fiduciary duty we owe our investors.
Philadelphia Financial Scholars
Philadelphia Financial Scholars’ roots date back to 2016, when the FS Foundation, the philanthropic arm of FS Investments, partnered with the University of Pennsylvania’s Netter Center for Community Partnerships to create a financial literacy program for high school students. Since that time, the program has expanded significantly and now includes in-class financial literacy education, after-school entrepreneurship training, a summer business accelerator program at The Wharton School, and a nights-and-weekends curriculum for the teachers, families and caregivers of our students. The program is currently operating in 15 schools, both public and charter, and has reached thousands of students and families. The program combines:
Education for students
Students learn how to make smart financial decisions, budget, and save for the future through our financial literacy program, which is delivered by teachers in the classroom.
Entrepreneurship incubator
Students learn how to develop a business plan, while thinking critically and creatively, through an after-school program powered by our employees and Wharton School students.
Education for adults
Parents, caregivers and community members learn about various financial topics, like smart shopping, saving for life events and investing basics, through our adult education program.
Learn more about Philadelphia Financial Scholars.
Investing in employee civic engagement
We provide our employees with the resources they need to be more civically engaged:
Employee volunteer program
We offer monthly volunteer opportunities plus ongoing in-office events with partners like Achieve Now. Employees may participate in three paid days of community service each year.
Matching charitable gifts
We support our employees in their personal charitable giving by offering a 1:1 match to contributions made to qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations.
Board placement
For those interested in serving on non-profit boards, we offer board training and placement opportunities.
Being able to work in a different industry and in a much smaller organization has been an eye-opening experience. The board I serve on is one in which you actually roll up your sleeves and do the work. Being able to immediately see your impact has been very meaningful.
Bill G.
FS employee Bill on his Philadelphia Reads board member experience
My board service is incredibly rewarding, both personally and professionally. Tough conversations happen at the board level. They’re one of the many signs of how committed everyone is to the broader purpose of the organization.
Alyssa Q.
FS employee Alyssa on her Rock to the Future board member & volunteer experience
Measuring our impact
All figures approximate as of 12/31/2019.9,316+
volunteer hours contributed
72%
volunteer program participation
103+
service events since inception
Values in action
Drexel co-op led volunteer event with Project Sunshine
Martin Luther King Day of Service
