HBCU Stations Receive $750K Support

• The HBCU Radio Preservation Project (HBCU RPP) has received $750,000 from the Ford Foundation, which has been used over the past year to support radio stations at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

The Ford Foundation funds enabled the HBCU RPP to provide unrestricted budget infusions to 14 HBCU radio stations through a non-competitive formula-based grant process. Grant funds have been used to stabilize operations; support essential staffing; sustain and expand programming; maintain and upgrade critical broadcast and digital infrastructure; cover carrier fees; address funding shortfalls due to the loss of funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB); and support community engagement and long term sustainability initiatives. The grant will also be used to provide travel stipends to radio station personnel to attend the 2026 HBCU RPP Symposium at Morgan State University in Baltimore on Nov. 12.

Radio stations that received grants include WNSB (Norfolk State University); KTSU (Texas Southern University); WCLK (Clark Atlanta University); WURC (Rust College); WESM (University of Maryland Eastern Shore); WPRL (Alcorn State University); WJSU ( Jackson State University); WEAA (Morgan State University); WNCU (North Carolina Central University); KJLU (Lincoln University); WRVS (Elizabeth City State University); WSSB (South Carolina State University); WJAB (Alabama A&M University) and WVAS (Alabama State University).

“We are grateful to the Ford Foundation for recognizing the critical needs and importance of supporting HBCU radio stations,” said HBCU RPP Director Jocelyn Robinson. “While the funds have been used to meet present day needs, they are also helping secure longevity and support the continued relevance of these stations to their communities.”