The Lilly Endowment will donate $50 million to the United Negro College Fund to aid career development at historically black colleges and other colleges with high African-American enrollment, The Washington Post reports.
The money will provide grants for nearly 30 institutions, with intent to build career paths using tailored curriculum, faculty support, and valuable work experiences before graduation. More than 87 institutions will be eligible for the grants.
While the need for career-development programs is an issue for many institutions in higher education, African-American students lag behind other underrepresented groups in terms of college readiness, according to a study the fund released this year.
“In today’s marketplace, students need both the knowledge and soft skills to compete in the global economy,” Michael L. Lomax, chief executive of the fund, told the Post. “Sadly, too many of our nation’s talented students are having difficulty finding good jobs after graduation. Our goal is to work with students, faculty, colleges, alumni, and employers to better connect the student experience with the jobs of the future.”
The Lilly Endowment’s support of UNCF now totals more than $100 million, marking a decades-long partnership between the organizations. The endowment’s gift ties for the second-largest the fund has received.
