The LeCount R. Davis, CFP® Endowed Scholarship
About the Scholarship
The LeCount R. Davis, CFP® Endowed Scholarship aims to advance the financial planning profession by growing the next generation of diverse CFP® professionals. The scholarship provides financial assistance to qualified Black or African American students who strive to obtain the CFP® certification and who demonstrate merit or financial need.
In an effort to create a more diverse and sustainable financial planning profession, the CFP Board Center for Financial Planning created an endowed scholarship honoring LeCount R. Davis, CFP®, the first Black person to earn the CFP® certification in 1978. During his long career, Davis’s client portfolio included national organizations, international labor unions, pension funds, individuals, small businesses, religious organizations, investment clubs and other entities. In 2001, Davis founded the Association of African American Financial Advisors, whose mission is to expand the community of successful Black financial professionals. To further inspire and prepare the next generation of financial planners, he published his autobiography in 2020: “One Step Back – Two Steps Forward: The Dance of My Ultimate Plan.”
The scholarship awards up to $5,000 per student seeking to complete an undergraduate-level or a certificate-level CFP Board Registered Program, either of which would qualify the student to sit for the CFP® exam.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must not be a prior recipient of a CFP Board Center for Financial Planning scholarship;
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident;
- Must identify as Black or African American;
- Must demonstrate merit via involvement in community service AND/OR must have a demonstrated financial need, as explained in an essay to be submitted during the application process;
- In order to receive the award, must be enrolled in an undergraduate or certificate-level CFP Board Registered Program. Click here for a list of eligible programs.
- If not enrolled at the time of applying, scholarship awardees will have up to 3 months to enroll or forfeit the award;
- If applying for an undergraduate-level scholarship, must not be in the final semester at the time of the application;
- If applying for a certificate-level scholarship, must possess an undergraduate degree and must not have completed 6 or more courses in the certificate-level program at the time of the application.
- Must provide documentation of enrollment in an eligible program and costs prior to receiving the award;
- Must demonstrate commitment to the financial planning profession, as explained in an essay to be submitted during the application process; and
- Applicants will be required to pass a background check conducted by CFP Board, and must enhance and maintain the profession’s public image.
Submission Requirements
Please note that applications will only be accepted through this webpage. Please do not attempt to submit application materials via email, mail or fax.
When submitting application essays and materials, please pay close attention to spelling and grammar, as that will be factored into the grading process.
Award Process
Scholarship awards will be disbursed in two equal installments. To receive the first installment, recipients must demonstrate proof of enrollment in an eligible undergraduate or certificate-level CFP Board Registered Program. If not currently enrolled in a program, recipients will have up to 3 months to enroll after being notified of the award. The second installment will be awarded either upon completing the program (if the awardee has already started coursework) or when the awardee is half-way through the program (if the awardee has not yet started coursework).
Application Deadline
This application cycle is closed.
The next application cycle will begin in August 2025.
Award Decision
Scholarship applicants will be notified of the award decision via email on June 2, 2025. If you have a question about the status of your application, please contact us at [email protected].