Fort Valley State among 11 HBCUs in new Brilliance Initiative
The program, launched by Reinvestment Fund, provides grants and financing to help HBCUs improve infrastructure and financial stability.
FORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Fort Valley State University is among 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universities selected nationwide for the inaugural cohort of Reinvestment Fund’s new HBCU Brilliance Initiative.
According to a news release from the organization, the program combines grants and technical assistance to strengthen the financial health and sustainability of HBCUs. Each school in the cohort will receive a $40,000 grant and up to $1 million in financing to support infrastructure improvements, planning and sustainability projects.
Reinvestment Fund, a national Community Development Financial Institution headquartered in Philadelphia and Atlanta, launched the Brilliance Initiative to help HBCUs secure long-term financial stability and expand their impact in their communities.
According to its website, Reinvestment Fund envisions a future “where all Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are community anchors and flourishing centers of academic excellence, innovation, and cultural pride” and is committed “to a reality for HBCUs where financial barriers no longer hinder institutional growth and impact.”
“We are so thrilled to announce this inaugural cohort of the HBCU Brilliance Initiative program, a transformational experience that will help to build thriving higher education institutions and sustainable communities,” said Christina Alexis, head of the HBCU Brilliance Initiative Program. “The selected institutions demonstrate a high level of excellence already, as well as the ongoing need for support through knowledge building, access to capital and incomparable technical assistance.”
The 11 schools named to the first cohort are: Bethune-Cookman University, Coahoma Community College, Fort Valley State University, Interdenominational Theological Center, Paine College, Shorter College, Stillman College, Tougaloo College, Virginia Union University, Voorhees University and Wilberforce University.
Reinvestment Fund President and CEO Donald Hinkle-Brown said the initiative is intended to be a starting point for continued investment in HBCUs.
“Our goal is not for this initiative to be the sole source of support, but rather the first step in a broader, ongoing effort to advance opportunities for the students and communities HBCUs serve,” he said.
The cohort began orientation in early November and will hold its first in-person meeting in early 2026, sponsored by the Kresge Foundation.
To learn more about the HBCU Brilliance Initiative, visit reinvestment.com/grants/hbcu-brilliance-initiative.
