Insight into action: How data, timing, and trust led to investment in HBCU medical schools
Find out the key roles that data on funding disparities, strategic timing, and institutional trust played in Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s recent investment in HBCU medical schools.
“Will philanthropy finally fund historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs)?” That question, posed in the ABFE/Candid report Philanthropy and HBCUs, was discussed during ABFE’s 2023 Harambee Conference. As a Black woman, I felt deep pride in the powerful legacy of HBCUs and the vibrant role they continue to play today, but as a grantmaker, great concern.
In my seven years of grantmaking at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), I’ve always believed RWJF should support HBCUs—but we haven’t done as much as we could. The ABFE panel and report, combined with a contentious political environment, sparked new urgency for RWJF to invest in HBCUs. Three factors came together to move an insight into action: compelling data, strategic timing, and institutional trust.
Making the case for investment in HBCUs with data
Data provided compelling evidence to make the case for our investment in HBCUs as a philanthropy dedicated to transforming health:
- HBCUs consistently advance Black excellence—their medical schools educate more than 70% of Black physicians—despite having access to fewer resources than non-HBCU counterparts.
- HBCU medical schools represent only 3% of U.S. medical schools but graduate a disproportionate share of the health care workforce serving primary care and medically underserved areas.
- HBCU graduates lead the workforce in combatting health disparities and health justice challenges nationally. These outcomes are possible largely because HBCUs are institutions where belonging is central to the culture.
Despite these contributions, HBCUs receive disproportionately fewer philanthropic dollars. The ABFE/Candid report found the average Ivy League school received 178 times more funding than the average HBCU.
The right timing created opportunity for investment in HBCUs
The timing was right. I launched internal discussions about ABFE’s challenge to philanthropic organizations to align dollars with our values. The report supported my team’s evolving strategy to advance diversity in the health professions by shifting institutional structures. Our aim is to support a game-changing increase in diverse leaders in academic medicine and resource those focused on dismantling racism in health professional training. Investing in HBCU medical schools is a logical step toward a system that provides equitable care and is accountable to the communities it serves.
The strategic alignment created a natural opening for the conversation about how RWJF can boost its investment in HBCU medical schools. We began building a unique approach to institution-wide support and grantmaking that I hope will become a comprehensive institutional strategy to champion HBCUs.
Prioritizing HBCUs’ institutional trust
What I envisioned was more than a grant; it was to be a test of what it looks like to embed justice and trust in how philanthropy operates. Based on the data-based evidence I presented to RWJF colleagues, I secured buy-in for flexible funding and general operating support—a departure from traditional, restrictive grant structures.
How funders show up—with humility, trust, and consistency—is as important as grant amounts. That’s why we intentionally designed the grantmaking program to prioritize institutional trust from HBCUs and center the leadership of these institutions. The schools are positioned to set their own priorities and use funds flexibly, and they’re treated as partners—not grantees to be “managed.”
Early insights from investing in HBCUs
In 2024, RWJF announced plans to increase our investments toward advancing diversity in the health professions by 60% over three years—starting with grants to six HBCU medical schools. This pivot has led to many learnings about what this work requires and considerations that should drive our processes. We’re already gaining insights from the funded institutions, including:
- HBCU grantees want to convene to share learning and enable collective leadership.
- HBCUs are committed to interprofessional education—sharing learning among different health-related fields of study—to prepare students for future collaboration across health professions.
- It’s important to support HBCUs in navigating the multi-step and multiyear accreditation process.
- HBCUs seek to partner with communities beyond career pathway programs.
- HBCUs hope for increased awareness of the schools’ research excellence.
These early insights highlight the unique context, history, and vision of each institution, reinforcing that HBCUs are not monolithic. As our understanding of their needs deepens, we’re committed to adapting our approach accordingly. For example, while we initially considered equal funding levels, we shifted to a two-tier model of support: $1 million for existing medical schools and $1.75 million for schools that are forthcoming.
This is the time to be bold
The landscape has shifted dramatically since I began this work. HBCUs, like all colleges and universities, now face unprecedented threats, and needs far exceed our budget. In the face of anti-blackness and politicization, I am proud to continue supporting this important work that will improve health outcomes for people of all races and backgrounds.
RWJF’s answer to the question posed in the ABFE/Candid report is, “Yes, we will fund HBCUs,” but we know more work is needed. Our support is modest, but we’re committed to acting boldly and equitably with HBCUs as our partners in the fight for health equity and justice.
Photo credit: FatCamera via Getty Images
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