FAQs

To participate, you must identify as Black or African-American, between the ages of 18 and 26, and live in certain areas within Oakland or San Francisco.

After you submit an interest form, if you are invited, a team member will contact you by phone to verify your information and schedule your in-person enrollment appointment. Spots are limited, and enrollment in the program is not guaranteed.

The time commitment for participation in this project is approximately 8.5–10 hours over the course of the study.

  • Your first in-person enrollment visit and survey will take about 1.5 hours.
  • Your second in-person visit, including a follow-up survey, will occur one year later and take about 1.5 hours.
  • You will complete three shorter online follow-up surveys, each about 30 minutes, at the 3-, 6-, and 9-month marks (1.5 hours total).
  • You will participate in four to six online financial mentoring sessions, each lasting about 1 hour. 
  1. Commit to the Process: Dedicate time to attend all 4–6 sessions and actively participate in discussions
  2. Be Open and Honest: Share your financial goals, challenges, and concerns to get tailored support from your mentor
  3. Set Realistic Goals: Collaborate with your mentor to establish achievable short- and long-term financial objectives
  4. Stay Engaged: Complete any action steps or tasks between sessions to track your progress and build momentum
  5. Have the Right Tools: Ensure you have access to a phone, laptop, or device that can connect to Zoom for virtual sessions
  6. Ask Questions: Don’t hesitate to seek clarification or dive deeper into topics that matter most to you
  7. Embrace Learning: Be open to exploring new tools and strategies to strengthen your financial skills
  8. Celebrate Milestones: Recognize and celebrate the progress you make along the way to stay motivated
  9.  

Participants will be paid via Cash App for completing the following activities:

ActivityCompensation
Complete Enrollment Visit & First Survey$50
Complete 2 Financial Mentoring Sessions$75
Complete 4 Financial Mentoring Sessions$50
Complete 6 Financial Mentoring Sessions$50
Complete 3-month Survey$25
Complete 6-month Survey$25
Complete 9-month Survey$25
Complete a 1 Year Visit & Survey$100
TOTAL$400
Compensation Breakdown 
Financial MentoringEarn $175 for completing 6 sessions.
SurveysEarn $225 for completing 5 surveys.
Total$400

If you complete all five research surveys (in-person enrollment, 3-month, 6-month, 9-month, 1-year), you will be entered into a drawing to receive $500.

After all participants complete their 1-year survey visits (estimated Fall/Winter Dec 2026) two participants will be randomly selected from the pool of everyone who completed all five surveys. The two participants who are selected to receive $500 will be notified through a phone call from research staff.

You can contact your financial mentor directly or follow this visual guide for a step by step guide to reschedule using the confirmation email you received.