Atlanta Falcons' Arthur Black Continues His Support Of HBCUs With $50M Commitment

Atlanta's leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) - Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morris Brown College, and Spelman College - will receive a historic $50 million scholarship commitment from The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.

"These grants are a material investment in hope," the foundation's president, Fay Twersky, noted.

Blank has committed to a ten-year investment that aims to provide essential gap scholarships, helping to reduce financial barriers and bolster graduation rates across these institutions.

"This monumental investment will empower our students to remain focused on their academic studies and ensure that their talent, ambition, hard work, and integrity, not financial hardship, will determine their futures,” Dr. F. DuBois Bowman, the president of Morehouse College, told the AP.

Atlanta's HBCUs contribute $1 billion in annual economic impact to the region...helping students move from the lowest 40% of households to the top 60%, according to the foundation's statement.

THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation today announced a landmark $50 million, 10-year scholarship investment to support students at four of Atlanta’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The funding will provide gap scholarships intended to increase the number of students graduating from Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morris Brown College, and Spelman College.

For many students, financial barriers—not academics—stand in the way of earning their diplomas. Eligibility rates for Pell Grants are particularly high across these four schools. A Pell Grant is a need-based form of federal financial aid that provides money to low-income undergraduate students to help pay for college, which does not have to be repaid. Pell-eligible students tend to face more unmet needs and therefore take out more loans, work more hours, face higher degrees of food and housing insecurity, and are at greater risk of forgoing higher education or leaving school without a credential.

The foundation’s investment in gap scholarships is designed to overcome the financial barrier, helping more students complete their education. Beginning in 2026, the program is projected to support nearly 10,000 students, helping raise graduation rates across Atlanta’s HBCUs and serve as a model for other philanthropies to expand investment in HBCU student success.

The funding is from the Blank Foundation’s Founder Initiatives portfolio, including support of essential Atlanta institutions.

“Atlanta holds a special place in my heart and will always be an integral part of our family foundation’s giving,” said Arthur M. Blank, chairman, Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. “We know Spelman, Morris Brown, Morehouse and Clark Atlanta are vital to Atlanta’s future, and we are deeply committed to supporting the students who will carry that legacy forward. We recognize that these campuses, like many across the country, are home to generations of students whose promise inspires us.

Our hope is that by helping more students earn their degrees, launch successful careers, and become alumni who give back, we are investing in a cycle of opportunity that benefits young people and their families in Atlanta and communities across the nation for years to come.”

For many students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Atlanta, the primary barrier to earning a diploma is not academic ability but financial need. The eligibility rates for Pell Grants are exceptionally high among these students, highlighting the widespread economic challenges they face. Although Pell Grants provide some assistance, many students still encounter significant unmet financial needs.

This situation often results in increased reliance on loans, extended work hours, and a heightened risk of food and housing insecurity, which can ultimately jeopardize their ability to complete their education.

To address these issues, the foundation has launched an initiative to provide targeted gap scholarships, helping thousands of students bridge the financial gap that stands between them and their degrees.

Starting in 2026, this scholarship program is expected to support nearly 10,000 HBCU students in Atlanta, a move projected to increase graduation rates and inspire similar philanthropic investments nationwide.

Funding for this initiative will come from the Blank Foundation's Founder Initiatives portfolio, which aims to sustain essential institutions in Atlanta.

The foundation's leader emphasized that supporting HBCU students fosters a valuable cycle of opportunity, benefiting not only young graduates but also the broader Atlanta community and the nation for years to come.

THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

HBCU LEGENDS PODCAST