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ALTFINANCE WAS CREATED TO TACKLE CHALLENGES FACING the Talent Pipeline IN THE ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT INDUSTRY BY CREATING CLEAR PATHWAYS FOR HBCU STUDENTS TO ENTER CAREERS AT ALTERNATIVES FIRMS, PORTFOLIO COMPANIES, AND PIPELINE INVESTMENT BANKING FIRMS.

In Memorium of AltFinance's Founding Board Chair (2022-2024), Trey Pruitt

Trey Pruitt was the first AltFinance Board Chair and was also Partner, Head of Financial Planning and Analysis at Ares Management Corporation. He passed away in 2024 following a prolonged illness. He was essential in establishing and launching AltFinance in 2021, and remained a committed member of the AltFinance Board until his passing.

Trey was a father, husband, friend, mentor, philanthropist and was dedicated to the advancement of others. It is simply impossible to adequately describe the impact that Trey had on this world and on all of us who were lucky enough to have known him.

Trey was the epitome of a culture carrier and championed diversifying the alternative investment industry. He was the founding member of Ares’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, a Champion with the Ares Philanthropy team, and served on the board of Junior Achievement Southern California (JASCA).

A lasting part of his legacy is that he fostered the idea that led to the creation of AltFinance. Trey’s tireless devotion to AltFinance was evident with the time he dedicated to serving as the Chair of the AltFinance Board - a role in which his leadership has been pivotal in helping launch and scale AltFinance.

Trey's commitment to service, strategic thought leadership, and mentorship will forever live on in AltFinance.

founding partners

AltFinance was seeded in 2021 with a 10-year, $90 million commitment from Apollo Global Management, Ares Management Corporation and Oaktree Capital Management. Our Founding Partners also provide invaluable professional mentorship, skills training, executive speaker sessions, career development guidance, as well as firm and investment site visits for AltFinance Fellows.

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our approach

fellowship

Developed and implemented in partnership with Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), the AltFinance Fellowship provides students from partner HBCUs (Clark Atlanta University, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Howard University, Morehouse College, Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T State University, and Spelman College) with intensive preparation, mentorship, and guidance for breaking into a career in alternatives.

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Partnering Schools

Clark Atlanta

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Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University

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Hampton University

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Howard Univeristy

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Morehouse College

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Morgan State University

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North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University

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Spelman College

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Altfinance

Institute

Students at all HBCUs can take courses in our virtual institute, where we provide a mix of top-tier academic content from HBCU finance programs and our academic strategic partner, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, along with new content developed by professionals at Apollo Global Management, Ares Management Corporation, and Oaktree Capital Management.    

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The Opportunity in HBCUS

The percentage of underrepresented minority investment professionals in alternative investments is 7%. This is partly due to recruiting strategies at alternative investment firms, which have been driven by alumni relationships rather than targeting HBCUs as core recruiting sources. However, HBCUs have played a vital role in producing diverse leaders in fields such as STEM, medicine, law, and politics. We are confident that they can also have a similar impact in the alternatives industry. 

Other highly competitive industries are actively working to achieve more equity in their workforces, and they have experienced benefits from recruiting HBCU graduates and students. AltFinance is pioneering as the first industry-wide organization to introduce HBCU communities to the alternative investment industry.
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Source: McKinsey, UNCF

3%
OF US COLLEGES ARE HBCUS
4-7%
OF the entry and post-MBA associate levels IS REPRESENTED BY UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY
13.6%
OF underrepresented minority UNDERGRADS ATTEND HBCUs
<3%
of HBCU students in the AltFinance Fellowship program were aware of the alternative investment industry as a career opportunity

The Opportunity in alternatives

The alternatives asset class, managing over $10 trillion, encompasses private equity, private credit, venture capital, real estate, infrastructure, and more. It stands as one of the fastest-growing asset classes in investment management, gaining market share in institutional and high-net-worth investor portfolios. Additionally, it offers investment professionals very competitive compensation packages across all industries.

Careers in alternative investments offer some of the most rewarding and influential opportunities within the financial services sector. The career trajectory for professionals in this field can lead to roles as investment decision-makers, board leaders, C-level executives, and even entrepreneurs. 

$10T
GLOBAL AUM IN ALTERNATIVE ASSET CLASSES
2-3X
COMPENSATION POTENTIAL VS. INVESTMENT BANKING

impacting the
future

Since forming in 2021, AltFinance has been actively advancing its mission by effectively preparing HBCU students for careers in alternative investments.  

117
total students in the AltFinance fellowship program
81%
FELLOWS IN Cohort 1 COMMITTED TO THE ALTS PIPELINE
30
AVERAGE HOURS OF COACHING AND MENTORING PER FELLOW
200+
Institute courses started by fellows & institute scholars
$5.4M
TOTAL SCHOLARSHIP AND INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS COMMITTED
View Our 2024
Impact Report
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“I had no idea what alternative investments were until I met the AltFinance team on Spelman's campus. Their passion for bringing Black students into the industry really inspired me to get involved."

Nia Phipps

SPELMAN COLLEGE ‘24

Economics Major

“Having a mentor through the AltFinance Fellowship has really been very helpful in terms of understanding the recruiting landscape and learning how to secure a job in alternatives.”

Kareem Michel

MOREHOUSE COLLEGE ‘23

Economics Major

The team behind
the impact

Marcus Shaw
CEO & President
Leslie Espy
Director, Special Projects & Operations
Rachel Ward
Vice President of Programs & Partnerships
Herb Belton
Investor of Residence
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AltFinance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to advancing the future of HBCU students by providing internships, mentorship, and access to the alternative investments industry.
info@altfinance.com