Historically Black colleges saw a significant uptick in donations last year, and several of the incoming president's campaign proposals pledged them additional funding. Higher education experts say these schools are poised to build on that momentum in 2021.

More than a dozen HBCUs recently attracted the interest of billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, who donated some $500 million to the sector. President-elect Joe Biden has also pitched billions in new funding for HBCUs, as well as other higher education policies that could benefit these schools.

Yet funding challenges remain. Like much of higher ed, the coronavirus pandemic is forcing HBCUs to pay for campus safety measures and invest in online learning. The health crisis has also sapped states' coffers, and some are looking to pull support from public colleges to fill their budget holes.

Here, we look at five HBCU funding trends to watch this year.

  1. Megadonors' interest in HBCUs grows
  2. MacKenzie Scott could inspire others
  3. Small campaigns are taking off
  4. Coronavirus relief is coming to HBCUs
  5. Biden's big plans for higher ed

Read the full article about funding HBCUs by Natalie Schwartz at Higher Education Dive.