Donors

Student Freedom is Made Possible by Visionary Donors Like You

Every name below chose to put capital behind the belief that a degree shouldn’t cost a family its future. Together they’ve made the Student Freedom Loan, the HELPS microgrant, and our institutional programs real for students at HBCUs nationwide. We’re grateful, and we’re not done.

Anchor Donors

Cisco

Cisco is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco’s networking solutions connect people, computing devices and computer networks, allowing people to access or transfer information without regard to differences in time, place or type of computer system. Cisco’s mission is to power an inclusive future for all.

FUND II FOUNDATION

Fund II Foundation was established to rekindle hope and economic success. We have doubled down on our investments in preparing and supporting students studying in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.

ROBERT F. SMITH

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Robert F. Smith has long supported educational opportunities for students, as he’s been aware since his childhood in Denver, CO, of the value of a quality education. He’s also been a vocal advocate for limiting the impact of crushing student loan debt on college graduates.

In 2019, he announced he would pay off all of the student loans of the entire graduating class of Morehouse College— a gift of over $34 million. That act inspired a plan for even greater impact to create generational change for college students, who can overcome huge obstacles to advance their own education and careers. His $50 million donation, which matched that of the nonprofit Fund II Foundation (of which Smith is the founding director and President), provided the initial endowment for Student Freedom Initiative.