Forbes BLK Newsletter: Expanding The HBCU Pipeline

BusinessForbes BLK Newsletter: Expanding The HBCU PipelineByAsia Alexander,Forbes Staff. Asia Alexander is a editorial fellow at Forbes on the Wealth team. Follow AuthorDec 12, 2025, 02:18pm ESTJACKSON, MISSISSIPPI - NOVEMBER 9, 2024: The Jackson State University Baby Tigers captivate the crowd with their halftime performance at Veterans Memorial Stadium on November 9, 2024. (Aron Smith/Jackson State University via Getty Images)Jackson State University via Getty ImagesThis is the published version of the ForbesBLK newsletter, which offers the latest news and events surrounding the Black community. Click here to get it delivered to your inbox every Thursday!Florida A&M University (FAMU) was my first classroom. I started first grade at FAMU’s Developmental Research School, spent summers trailing behind college students during enrichment programs, and looked up to my young aunt as she made her way through the university. Black excellence wasn’t an idea — it was the environment that raised me. And even though I chose to become the only Bison (a Howard University Alumna) in a family surrounded by proud Rattlers, the spirit of FAMU shaped me long before I earned my own degree at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).Hey everyone! (Or “hey y’all,” because I’m Southern.) My name is Asia Alexander, and I am an editorial fellow at Forbes. Over the past month, I’ve been tracking billionaire donations to Historically Black Colleges and Universities—an ongoing trend this year that now totals over $800 million, including a recent $25 million gift to Lincoln University from MacKenzie Scott.And as someone shaped by Howard University’s legacy, and a Forbes journalist covering this topic, it’s not rocket science: HBCUs remain deeply underfunded, yet they hold enormous power and community presence. They produce 40% of Black engineers, 50% of Black lawyers, 70% of Black doctors — including my aunt, a three-time FAMU alumna who graduated from FAMU’s pharmacy school — and 80% of Black judges, while also expanding opportunities for students in the communities they serve.In my latest article, I reported on Bloomberg Philanthropies and the City Fund each giving $10 million to launch two HBCU-pipeline public charter schools: D.C.

Wolfe Charter School in Shorter, Alabama, opening near Tuskegee University in fall 2026, and the I Dream Big Academy on Stillman College’s campus, now Alabama’s first HBCU–charter school partnership. Students will be able to take dual-enrollment university courses and participate in community internships.This stood out to me personally because I grew up in a city where university-based charter schools were considered top-tier—FAMU DRS being one of them. But charter schools aren’t always popular in the broader community. Many believe charter schools pull money from the public school system and create inequitable access. But what happens when a community itself calls on a billionaire and an organization to support its education system? That’s what happened here. University presidents and residents wanted these pipelines, especially if they could boost the economy of small Black Belt towns and give students real-world experience.More than a third of children ages 5–17 in Alabama’s Black Belt—where Stillman and Tuskegee are located—live below the poverty line, compared to the statewide average of 20%.Reporting this story gave me a clearer understanding of the impact these schools could have, including the opportunity for students to secure post-graduation jobs directly with the Academies. I also spoke with other HBCU pipeline charter school leaders, such as Evelyn Edney, who oversees Early College School at Delaware State University. She shared that most of her students end up attending Delaware State because they’ve already been immersed in campus culture. Her experience and dedication reflect a larger truth the past four years have shown us: the power of supporting and expanding Black education.I saw myself in this pipeline. Even though I graduated from Florida State University Schools, university partnerships shaped my entire K–12 experience—and I understand the opportunities they can create. While there is still much work to be done, building this pipeline for educational success is a significant step in the right direction.Until next time, stay connected with me on LinkedIn and InstagramGot a tip? Share confidential information with Forbes.Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions