TMCF Just Awarded $16M in Grants to Eight HBCUs for Innovation and Institutional Growth

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) has awarded $16 million in grants to eight HBCUs as part of its new Project HBCU Capacity Building initiative, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. The multi-year effort is focused on strengthening HBCUs through strategic investments in research, operations, and innovation.

Each selected institution will receive $2 million to launch campus-specific programs designed to improve student enrollment, retention, graduation rates, and overall institutional performance.

The eight institutions and their funded proposals are:

• Alabama State University – ASU Momentum Initiative—Pathways, Pedagogy, and Progress
• Delaware State University – eHBCU Campus Consortium
• Fayetteville State University – 30-60-90 Student Success Initiative
• Lincoln University (PA) – Restore the Roar: Rebuilding the Lincoln University Brand and Reputation as a Top-Tier Liberal Arts HBCU
• North Carolina Central University – One-Stop Student Success Center
• Southern University and A&M College – Strategic Data Leadership Initiative
• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff – PRIDE RISES: Prioritizing Recruitment to Innovate and Drive Enrollment
• Virginia State University – AI-Enabled Digital Transformation Initiative

According to TMCF President and CEO Dr. Harry L. Williams, the initiative is about more than just supporting projects—it’s about equipping HBCUs with the infrastructure needed to lead and innovate well into the future. He emphasized the importance of building lasting capacity, stating that these grants are a direct investment in the nation’s future.

The initiative prioritizes research expansion, operational effectiveness, and cutting-edge approaches to student success. Over the next two years, TMCF and its partners will track key metrics like enrollment, graduation rates, research output, and long-term sustainability.

This investment affirms what HBCU communities have long known: when properly resourced, these institutions have the power to transform lives, shape industries, and set new standards of leadership across the country.