About the Investment Company Institute Education Foundation

Formed in 1989, the ICI Education Foundation (ICIEF) is the educational affiliate of the Investment Company Institute, the national association of US investment companies. ICIEF partners with government agencies and other nonprofit organizations to develop, deliver, and promote investment education programs to a variety of specific audiences. The Foundation also participates in financial education advocacy coalitions, conferences, and initiatives that promote saving and investing nationwide.

For example, ICIEF partnered with the National Urban League and Hispanic College Fund to produce and sponsor the “Investing for Success” workshops and web courses designed to strengthen investor awareness within the African-American and Hispanic communities. Through the Society for Financial Education & Professional Development, ICIEF introduced investor education materials into Historically Black Colleges and Universities. ICIEF partnered with the SIFMA Foundation to incorporate mutual funds into the Stock Market Game,™ (a market simulation with curriculum materials correlated to educational standards) and to train teachers how to use it in the classroom.

ICIEF has worked with the U.S. Labor Department on Retirements Savings Summits, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Saving and Investing Campaigns, and for several years during which the SEC held Investors Town Meetings, ICIEF sponsored a seminar on understanding mutual funds. Beginning in 2011, working with the Departments of Treasury and Education, ICIEF is funding an awards program to encourage participation by DC high schools and DC high-school students in the National Financial Capability Challenge. ICIEF is a partner of the American Savings Education Council, the Alliance for Investor Education, and the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, and the Greater Washington Jump$tart Coalition. In April 2010, ICIEF cosponsored the first Financial Literacy Leadership Breakfast hosted by the Greater Washington Jump$tart Coalition and attended by about 250 local financial education advocates.

In April 2009, ICIEF launched a microgrant program for schools and other nonprofit organizations to incorporate investor education into existing financial education courses, programs, or activities within the greater metropolitan Washington, DC area. Grants have been awarded to STRIVE DC, the Arlington County Office of Virginia Cooperative Extension, Junior Achievement of the National Capital Area, UNCF (the United Negro College Fund), the SIFMA Foundation for Investor Education, the University of Maryland, and Fairfax County Public Schools. For more information about the microgrant program, please see the grant guidelines and eligibility requirements. For more information about ICIEF, please contact Sue Duncan.