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Supporting small businesses nationwide

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Making an impact through commercial loan opportunities

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Get to Know Self-Help

Explore why we do what we do

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See the numbers of how we supported our communities

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Connect with Our Team

Invest in the Self-Help mission and support local communities

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Check Out Our Member Stories

Supporting small businesses nationwide

Read More
Read Our Annual Report

See the numbers of how we supported our communities

Learn More
Invest in What We Do

Connect with our team to see how you can be a part of the mission

Reach Out

HBCU Promise+ Center of Excellence

Investing in the future of HBCUs

HBCU alumni

Make up 80% of Black judges, 40% of Black U.S. Congress members, and 50% of Black doctors and lawyers.

HBCUs support

Over 136,000 jobs nationwide

Applications and enrollments 

At HBCUs are on the rise, with many achieving record numbers of enrolled students in recent years

HBCUs have $16.5 billion+ 

In annual economic impact

The HBCU promise

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been pillars of education, opportunity, and community pride for over 150 years. That’s why Self-Help launched HBCU Promise+ to strengthen HBCUs and their communities via capital access, operational support, and financial education.

The HBCU promise

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been pillars of education, opportunity, and community pride for over 150 years. That’s why Self-Help launched HBCU Promise+ to strengthen HBCUs and their communities via capital access, operational support, and financial education.

HBCU alumni

Make up 80% of Black judges, 40% of Black U.S. Congress members, and 50% of Black doctors and lawyers.

HBCUs support

Over 136,000 jobs nationwide

Applications and enrollments 

At HBCUs are on the rise, with many achieving record numbers of enrolled students in recent years

HBCUs have $16.5 billion+ 

In annual economic impact

Building a connected ecosystem

Self-Help is laying the groundwork for a multi-year strategy that strengthens HBCUs.

Funds

Affordable capital and responsible lending for construction and operating needs

Collaboration

Innovative partnerships that diversify revenue and strengthen growth

Tailored support

Though leadership to support stability and community revitalization

Financial literacy

Community education for homeownership, wellness, and personal finance management

The Legacy Program: Extending our promise

In collaboration with HBCU presidents and leaders, we developed the HBCU Promise+ Legacy Program. The program focuses on providing institutional support for HBCUs to bolster their legacies for generations to come through three distinct pillars.

This fund provides direct lending for HBCU construction projects, expansion, and operating needs. It also provides access to innovative financial advising for operational excellence and strategic growth.

Participating HBCUs join a cohort to receive targeted support for campus needs. The program consists of:

  • Technical assistance: Monthly one-on-one technical assistance sessions with experts in financial resilience, real estate use support, and clean energy modernization.
  • Grant funding: Access to the Legacy Cohort Award — a grant-funded award of up to $50k.
  • Affordable financing: Priority access to low-cost loans to cover operating expenses or other needs.
  • Cohort community: Networking and connection with other cohort schools, including sponsored travel twice a year to in-person events.

We partner with HBCUs to provide key services to their community members. We offer financial literacy and mental health education, ongoing financial management advisement, and resources for home and business ownership equity.

Did you know...
Self-Help is a proud partner in deploying catalytic capital for HBCUs, and we're committed to a $200 million sector investment growth target within two years.
Invest in the Legacy of HBCUs

If you're interested in the long-term success and preservation of the legacy of HBCUs, consider becoming a values-aligned investor and taking advantage of one of our impact investment options:

  1. Unrestricted Capital & General Operating Grants: We're partnering with investors who can provide grants for myriad risk capital, equity, and operating needs.
  2. Program-Related Investment (PRI): This is a direct HBCU Legacy Fund investment that provides low-cost, patient capital with liquidity and flexibility.
  3. Mission Deposits: These are standard Self-Help term certificates that offer a variety of terms with minimal risk.
  4. Program Sponsorships & Partnerships: Connect with us to create a customized partnership that can provide targeted support for an event, program, or institution.

Reach out to discuss how you can support the legacy of HBCUs.

Become a member of our LAP Cohort

If you are coming to us from an HBCU, consider bringing your institution into the HBCU Legacy Accelerator Program to create a stronger financial future for your campus. You'll get targeted support for:

  • Preservation of real estate assets
  • Long-term financial resilience and growth
  • Access to low-cost financing
  • Customized financial literacy resources for staff, alumni and students

In addition to individualized support, you’re also joining a community of shared success. Together, we can strengthen the HBCU sector for everyone’s benefit.

Get Involved With HBCU Promise+

Whether you're part of an HBCU or exploring meaningful ways to invest, we want to hear from you.