Deconstruct
Take something too big to hand off in one piece and find out what it's made of.
Our vision: 1,000 Scholars. $100K Jobs. $100M in Economic Mobility. Year after year. One Scholar. It starts with one. One job. A career they can build a life on. One family. Parents supported. Kids who grow up with more. One community. A neighborhood invested in. A next generation that starts ahead. Now multiply that by a count from 1 to 1,000. Year after year, that's Economic Mobility at Scale.
The degree
isn't the barrier.
The first job is.
Greenwood Project prepares Black and Latino college students for high-trajectory careers in financial services. We start early, train for a year, and coach until you can win the job yourself.
Greenwood Project is open to all who meet the criteria, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or other demographic identity.
Since 2016, Greenwood Scholars have earned roles at Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Citadel, BlackRock, and dozens of firms that had never heard of us before they met one of our Scholars.
- Scholars trained since 2016
- transition into high-trajectory roles
- average starting salary
Building the AI-enabledanalysts of tomorrow
At Greenwood Project, we believe AI is not a technology problem. It's a managerial one. Break work apart, define what good looks like, judge what comes back. That's not an AI skill. That's the job description of every manager who's ever lived, and it outlasts whatever the tools become.
Set the bar
Define what good looks like before the work starts, not after.
Interrogate
Judge what comes back. The first answer is not the right one.
Own it
Assemble the pieces into finished work you stand behind.
Scholars build and manage agents on real workflows, in Claude Code, not a chat window.
Where Scholars launch their careers
Our Scholars earn their place at the world's most competitive firms.
ApolloGoldman SachsDRWFederal Reserve Bank of ChicagoUBSAmerican ExpressPEAK6Morgan StanleyMizuhoNorthern TrustFidelityGuggenheimBlackRockBain & CompanyFINRABank of AmericaAllstateJPMorganChaseIG GroupPiper SandlerVanguardCapital OneBloombergWellington
How it works
Twelve months of training, starting sophomore year, built around the recruiting calendar you're about to compete on.
Discovery
The training opens here. Before we teach a single technical skill, you get clear on who you are: your strengths, your values, where you'll actually thrive. That self-awareness becomes your edge. A Scholar who walks into an interview knowing the career was built for them isn't competing, they're winning.
Academy Training
Then the technical core, calibrated to the roles you're actually competing for. Live classes, case work, and the technical fluency each Academy's employers expect from a competitive candidate. Your instructors and coaches are industry veterans who have held the seats you're training for, and they aren't mentors checking in occasionally. They're coaches at every practice.
The Unwritten Rules
Research says soft skills drive up to 60% of career advancement, and almost nobody teaches them. How to show up, how to communicate, how to navigate corporate environments, and how to build strong professional networks. That's the difference between an internship and a career, so we teach it as core curriculum rather than a workshop bolted on the side.
Internship and Career Launch
We help you target the right internships, get the applications right, and be ready when the offer comes. Travel, housing, and professional wardrobe support is there for Scholars who need it, so cost never decides which opportunity you can take. If an internship doesn't convert, we keep working with you through graduation until you land.
We put you on the timeline
Finance hires sophomores. By the time most students hear that, the window has closed. We find you freshman year, before it does. Then you get the information insiders grew up with, on the clock that actually matters. Not a summer program you age out of, but the year that decides which internships you can compete for.
Finance isn't one job. Pick the Academy that fits how you actually think.
One Scholar's proof
Steven S. came through the Investment Banking Academy and earned a summer internship at Apollo Global Management, a firm with no Greenwood relationship. He competed for it and won it himself.
While he was there, Apollo ran an intern competition: pitch a nonprofit to the Apollo Opportunity Foundation. Steven pitched Greenwood. His team won. Apollo gave us $50,000.
“I wouldn't be anywhere near the position I am without the support of the GP Staff and Community.”Steven S., Investment Banking Academy
“We spend a lot of time preparing Scholars to argue for something in front of people who can say yes. Watching one of them do it on our behalf is a different kind of proof.”Kwesi Smith, CEO
Where do you come in?
Students
You're a freshman. Finance is on your mind and you don't know anyone who does it.
That's exactly who this is for.
Partners & Donors
Fund the preparation. Scholars earn the rest.
- Support economic mobility that compounds for generations
- Underwrite a Scholar's training year
- Develop your employees as coaches and mentors through GP Connect
- Host Scholars for site visits
- Share your open roles with Scholars in our pipeline
Frequently asked questions
Who is Greenwood Project for?
Black and Latino college students preparing for careers in financial services. Most of our Scholars are first-generation college students and most come from low-to-moderate-income families. Greenwood Project is open to all who meet the criteria, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or other demographic identity.
When should I apply?
Freshman year. We're currently recruiting students graduating in 2030. Training runs twelve months starting sophomore year, which puts you ready for the internship recruiting that happens before junior year.
What does it cost?
Nothing. Training and coaching are free to Scholars. We also provide travel, housing, and professional wardrobe support to Scholars in need, so money isn't the reason you turn down an opportunity.
Do you guarantee an internship?
No. We prepare you to compete for one, and 88% of our Scholars transition into high-trajectory roles. If an internship doesn't convert to an offer, we keep working with you through graduation.
Who's eligible?
U.S. citizens and permanent residents, including DACA participants. We can't sponsor work permits. You'll need a minimum 3.2 GPA, or a short essay if you're between 3.0 and 3.2. The Investment Banking Academy requires a 3.5.
You don't have to be in Chicago. The program is virtual and students apply from across the country.