Several HBCUs will receive millions in grant funding to further innovation.

Grant Funding

According to a news release from The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), eight of its member institutions — all of which are HBCUs — will receive $2 million each in grant funding through its Project HBCU Capacity Building: Maximizing HBCU Institutional Performance through Investments in Research, Operations, and Innovation initiative, funded by the Lilly Endowment Inc.

Established in 1987, TMCF is “the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black college community,” according to the organization’s website. TMCF’s $16 million investment is sure to make a big impact.

“Through these investments, we are equipping HBCUs to thrive as engines of economic mobility and academic excellence,” Dr. Harry L. Williams, president & CEO of TMCF, said in the news release.

“This initiative is not just about funding projects — it’s about building sustainable capacity so that our institutions can continue to lead, innovate and transform lives for generations to come,” he continued.

Recipients

Delaware State University’s eHBCU Campus Consortium is among the grant’s recipients. As AFROTECH™  previously reported, Dr. D’Wayne Edwards founded eHBCU. He is a designer with more than 50 patents who has been inspiring the next generation beyond his career trajectory through education. In 2021, he reopened Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design in Detroit, MI.

In 2025, he launched eHBCU, a digital hub that expands access to fields including criminal justice administration, health information management systems, science and applied technology, business administration, Adobe InDesign, Blender 3D Design, and more. eHBCU offers 10 undergraduate degrees, 13 graduate degrees, and 35 certification programs. eHBCU has also scored partnerships with fully accredited HBCUs, including Delaware State University.

Additional recipients of the grant include:

  • Alabama State University
  • Fayetteville State University
  • Lincoln University
  • North Carolina Central University
  • Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
  • University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
  • Virginia State University

“When we invest in HBCUs, we invest in the future of our nation. These grants ensure that our campuses have the resources and infrastructure needed to remain competitive, to produce world-class research and to prepare the next generation of leaders who will shape industries and communities across America,” Dr. Williams explained in the news release.