Giving Compass' Take:
- LISC reports on the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation's $6.5 million donation to football field refurbishments at four HBCUs.
- How can donors and funders help ensure that HBCUs have equitable access to up-to-date athletic facilities and equipment?
- Learn more about key issues in education and how you can help.
- Search our Guide to Good for nonprofits focused on education in your area.
What is Giving Compass?
We connect donors to learning resources and ways to support community-led solutions. Learn more about us.
Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) often have smaller endowments than large universities, which can limit athletic facility upgrades. That's why $6.5 million in funding from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation for HBCU football field refurbishments is such a big deal. Thanks to this funding, along with support from the NFL Foundation and expertise from LISC, four HBCUs in Georgia and Alabama will kick off their football seasons this fall with refurbished fields.
Four HBCUs will debut refurbished football fields this fall through grants totaling more than $6.5 million from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
The HBCU Invitational Field Refurbishment Program was an invitational grant program designed to improve field quality, safety and accessibility for students and local community groups serving youth through football. The program, funded by the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and supported by the NFL Foundation, was open to select HBCUs in Georgia and Alabama. The program was managed by Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the nation’s leading community development support organization which, with the NFL, has refurbished hundreds of community football fields throughout the country over the course of the last 25 years.
The HBCUs Given the Football Field Refurbishment Grant
- Albany State University in Albany, Georgia, to convert the natural grass football and soccer field at Albany State University Coliseum to turf.
- Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, to replace the current turf at Panther Stadium.
- Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama, to convert the natural grass at its practice facility to turf.
- Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia, to replace the turf at the current football and soccer field at Ted Wright Stadium.
Grants were awarded following a request for proposals. The Land Tek Group, Inc. – with more than 40 years of sports facility development experience – managed construction using local contractors engaged by the universities.
Read the full article about HBCU football field refurbishments at LISC.