Strategic Initiatives in Uncertain Times

So I am a bit anxious (and irritated) with the apparent "surprise" by HBCUs after the announcement of the freeze of Federal Funds; some responses seem to be of shock intermingled with magical thinking "oh Pell Grants will not be impacted, our students rely on these funds to go to school" OK.

The time is now to be STRATEGIC and forward thinking to develop and implement initiatives that will not only protect the institutions and the student who attend but also ensure survival. Here are some ideas:

Build partnerships with the Private Sector: Create alliances with businesses to secure sponsorships and collaborative opportunities - which will require some additional lifting due to the smearing of DEI

Enhance Alumni Engagement: Explain the impacts of federal funds to Alumni, and develop targeted fundraising efforts for student support and operations.

Expand Grant Writing Efforts: Develop a dedicated team to pursue diverse grant opportunities BEYOND federal sources.

Build Coalitions: Partner with other educational institutions, HBCUs and organizations to strengthen lobbying efforts and employ skilled lobbyists to advocate for supportive policies and funding at various governmental levels.

These strategies are not just about survival but about proactively positioning HBCUs for more institution sufficiency no matter the administration.

#HBCUs #project2025 #pellgrants #strategicplanning #executiveorders #federalgrants #federalfunding