January 4, 2026

Welcome to our weekly Sunday newsletter. HBCUs are gaining national momentum through major career partnerships, historic recognition, and transformative investments that strengthen campuses and expand student opportunity. From new internship pipelines to groundbreaking funding and cultural celebrations, HBCUs are shaping a stonger future for the communities they serve.

How MacKenzie Scott’s Historic Giving Is Transforming HBCUs

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has delivered hundreds of millions in unrestricted gifts to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) recently — a windfall that leaders say is reshaping the future of institutions long underfunded by traditional philanthropy.

What’s happening:

• Scott’s latest giving spree has poured over $300 million into HBCUs this fall alone, with individual gifts ranging from tens to hundreds of millions.

• Major recipients include Howard University ($80M), Morgan State University ($63M), Spelman College ($38M), Clark Atlanta University ($38M), Virginia State University ($50M) and others — many receiving their largest gifts ever.

• The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) also received a $70 million infusion to support a pooled endowment benefiting multiple HBCUs.

How the funds are being used:

• Strengthening endowments: Schools are growing long-term financial stability, a decades-old challenge for many HBCUs.

• Scholarships & student aid: Funds help close gaps for students with financial need, especially upper-class students navigating rising costs and loan changes.

• Capital projects & tech upgrades: At Howard, part of the gift supports the College of Medicine and new residence halls; at Spelman, investments include classroom technology and AI tools.

• Research & faculty growth: Some campuses are launching new research initiatives and centers that expand academic opportunities.

Why it matters:

• These unrestricted gifts — which give institutions freedom to invest where they see the greatest need — are rare in higher education and especially at HBCUs, which traditionally receive far less philanthropic support than predominantly white institutions.

• The influx reflects a broader trend of high-impact philanthropy and growing confidence in HBCU leadership, fueling momentum for innovation, growth, and expanded student opportunity.

campus chronicles // hbcu edition

Georgia Power and the Atlanta Hawks are continuing their HBCU Pathways Program for a fourth year, offering paid 10-week internships that provide hands-on experience, professional development, and career pathways in sports, entertainment, and business. Since its launch in 2023, the program has supported 21 HBCU students, helping alumni secure full-time roles — backed by Georgia Power’s long-standing investment of more than $5.5 million toward HBCU initiatives statewide.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has approved the historic raising of South Carolina State University’s flag over the statehouse in honor of the school’s 2025 HBCU National Football Championship. The flag will fly on January 19th, aligning with the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Lawmakers say this marks the first time an HBCU flag will fly above the South Carolina Capitol.

Stillman College has been selected as the sole Alabama HBCU in the inaugural national HBCU Brilliance Initiative, earning grant funding and access to financing to strengthen long-term financial capacity and campus development. Each selected school receives a base grant plus potential access to up to $1 million in low-interest capital to support infrastructure upgrades, planning and sustainability projects. Additional schools include Bethune-Cookman University, Coashoma Community College, Fort Valley State University and Interdenominational Theological Center. The initiative aims to help Historically Black Colleges and Universities build financial stability and advance strategic campus priorities.

black history in quotes 

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culture

The Carnegie Museum of Art’s Black Photojournalism exhibition brings together iconic photographs originally published in Black newspapers and magazines from the end of World War II to the mid-1980s, documenting protests, political campaigns, community life and more through the eyes of Black photographers. Featuring work by nearly 60 photographers, including extensive material from Charles “Teenie” Harris’s archive, the show highlights how Black publications like the Pittsburgh Courier, Chicago Defender and Ebony shaped national narratives when mainstream media largely overlooked Black life.

The exhibition underscores both historic struggles and celebrations, offering a fuller and more nuanced record of Black experience during pivotal decades of social change.
Organizers say the images correct traditional photo history and reveal the vital role Black media played in documenting and asserting community identity. By presenting everyday moments alongside major historical events, the show affirms the power of visual storytelling to educate and inspire contemporary audiences.

Our editor, Lisa D. Tinsley, would like to thank you for spending part of your day with KISA News Radio.

See you next Sunday.

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