Press Releases

4.10.2024

Student Freedom Initiative Announces a New Student Loan Program

WASHINGTON, DC [April 10, 2024] – Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) is proud to announce its new loan program offering accessibility, flexibility, low cost, and low risk. The Student Freedom Loan Agreement (SFLA) provides the funding students...

4.4.2024

Student Freedom Initiative, CISCO, and Wells Fargo Sponsor “A Different World” Tour Stop At Howard University on April 9th to Release “The HBCU Shift from Survival and Sustainability to Competitiveness and Transformation”

The new report outlines meaningful steps to foster collaboration and build support for our nation’s HBCUs and MSIs WASHINGTON, DC [April 3, 2024]--Student Freedom Initiative (SFI), a non-profit founded by Robert F. Smith,...

4.3.2024

Student Freedom Initiative and Fusion Cyber Proud to Offer STEM Certification Funding through Denmark Technical College

WASHINGTON, DC [April 3, 2024] – Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) is proud to announce a partnership with Fusion Cyber to help students at Denmark Technical College in South Carolina achieve STEM certifications that will propel them...

2.29.2024

Student Freedom Initiative and Clearloop Are Proud to Support HBCU’s Receiving Monetary Awards through the Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Education Prize

WASHINGTON, DC [Feb. 29, 2024] - Today, Student Freedom Initiative is pleased to announce that 10 schools were awarded $100,000 each from the Department of Energy through its HBCU Clean Energy Education Prize—Partnership...

2.6.2024

Robert F. Smith’s Student Freedom Initiative Announces Collaboration with the Steinbridge Group on its $100 Million Capital Commitment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority Serving Institutions

SFI will help Steinbridge Group to select the HBCUs and MSI institutions for its $100 million capital commitment announced in November 2023 January 24, 2024 09:30 AM Eastern Standard Time PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today,...

2.6.2024

Virginia Union, Steinbridge Group Announce Largest Investment in University’s History

February 02, 2024 11:00 AM RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Virginia Union University announced today that impact investing firm Steinbridge Group will invest approximately $40 million to enable Virginia Union to unlock the value...

2.5.2024

Student Freedom Initiative’s Commitment to Tribal Colleges Continues with Iḷisaġvik College in Alaska

WASHINGTON, DC [Feb. 5, 2024] - Student Freedom Initiative is pleased to announce a partnership with Iḷisaġvik College located in Utqiaġvik (Barrow), Alaska, as part of the Tribal Colleges and Universities portfolio. This partnership is...

11.28.2023

Student Freedom Initiative, Clear Channel Outdoor Connect MSI Students with Career Development Opportunities and Resources to Fund Their Education

New partnership will cultivate diverse talent, focused on marketing and advertising, and promote outreach to students attending Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Student Freedom Initiative announced a long-term strategic partnership with Clear...

9.28.2023

Expanding Affordable Broadband Access Takes Center Stage in Hampton, VA

Hampton University to serve as host for a Broadband Community Meeting Town Hall on Monday, October 2nd, at 6:00 PM at Student Center HAMPTON, VA - The Student Freedom Initiative (SFI), in collaboration with...

8.17.2023

Stats Perform Partners with the Student Freedom Initiative and Morehouse College to Train the Next Generation of Artificial Intelligence Professionals from HBCUs

Creating diverse talent, focused on Artificial Intelligence, at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC) WASHINGTON, DC – August 17, 2023 – Today, Student Freedom Initiative announced a long-term strategic partnership...

8.7.2023

Student Freedom Initiative Expands to Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) and Aims to Support Underserved Native American Students

WASHINGTON, DC [Aug. 7, 2023] - Today, Student Freedom Initiative is pleased to announce the historic memorandum of understanding with Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, located in Hayward, Wisconsin, as part of the Tribal Colleges...

7.2.2023

Statement From Mark A. Brown, Executive Director, Student Freedom Initiative, Regarding the Supreme Court’s Ruling Against Affirmative Action

Today's decision by the Supreme Court to ban the use of affirmative action is a devastating blow to the hard-fought progress made over the last several decades. Affirmative action has been an effective tool in...

7.2.2023

Statement From Mark A. Brown, Executive Director, Student Freedom Initiative, Regarding the Supreme Court’s Ruling Striking Down President Biden’s Student Debt Forgiveness Plan

After almost four years of forbearance on student loan payments and numerous discussions of loan forgiveness, Americans still owe over $1.6 trillion in federal student loans. This is collectively owed by more than 40...

4.26.2023

The Student Investment Program Announces Successful Registration of its First Cohort of Students

Today, Student Freedom Initiative (SFI), Stackwell, and Prudential Financial announced that the Student Investment Program (SIP), a multi-year strategic partnership granting $500,000 in funding to students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and...

4.21.2023

Student Freedom Initiative Instrumental in Helping HBCUs Apply and Receive Important Broadband Grants from Federal Government

(Washington)—In February 2023, 61 colleges and universities were awarded more than $175 million as part of the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program (CMC). Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) was instrumental in helping 19 HBCUs apply...

1.4.2023

Student Freedom Initiative Announces Cisco’s Deployment of Wireless 5G Service at Claflin University

With Claflin currently residing in a broadband desert, this initiative will provide the campus and the immediate surrounding community with reliable connection to the internet Orangeburg, SC –January 4, 2023 – Today, Student Freedom Initiative (“SFI”...

12.1.2022

Student Freedom Initiative, the Orangeburg, South Carolina Department of Public Utilities and Connect Humanity Partner to Bring Affordable Fiber Optic Internet Services to the Region

The Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities will begin the implementation of the city’s strategic Digital Access Infrastructure Plan to create an open-access network for the community’s residents Orangeburg, SC – December 1, 2022 – Today,...

11.30.2022

Student Freedom Initiative Announces $1.1 Million Grant from the Capital One Foundation to Expand HELPS (Handling Everyday Life Problems for Students) Program

Expansion will provide students at ten additional Student Freedom Initiative institutions the ability to apply for emergency funding that will allow them to continue pursuing their degrees. WASHINGTON, DC – November 30, 2022 – Today, Student Freedom...

11.16.2022

Student Freedom Initiative, Stackwell, and Prudential Financial Launch First Ever Student Investment Program to Increase Investor Confidence and Financial Wellness of Current HBCU and MSI Students

Prudential Financial to grant $500,000 to seed the Stackwell investment accounts of up to 500 students within the Student Freedom Initiative Network Washington, D.C. (November 17, 2022) – Today, Student Freedom Initiative (SFI), Stackwell,...

10.21.2022

Student Freedom Initiative Expands Partnership with Cisco to Bolster Cybersecurity Infrastructure for HBCUs

The partnership will expand its reach through partnerships with three prominent Certified Minority Business Enterprises—Procellis Technology, Sology Solutions, IPC Consulting—to reach more HBCUs October 20, 2022 Today, Student Freedom Initiative and Cisco announced...

8.23.2022

Student Freedom Initiative Expands to 34 Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) Across 18 States; and Aims to Support Hispanic and Asian American Students

Program continues to build on its collaborative, holistic approach to increase students’ economic and social mobility and expands to Hispanic and Asian American students WASHINGTON, DC – August 23, 2022 – Today, Student Freedom Initiative announced the...

8.10.2022

Lawrence Bancroft Joins Student Freedom Initiative® Board In The Furtherance of Common Vision

Board expanded with Billion Dollar Manager with 23 years of experience August 10, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Student Freedom Initiative unanimously selected Lawrence Bancroft as a member of the...

7.27.2022

Saint Augustine’s University Partners with Student Freedom Initiative to Receive $1.6 Million in Software and Services

July 27, 2022 Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) has signed Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) Cybersecurity memorandum of understanding to participate in Student Freedom Initiative’s HBCU Capacity Building Effort. Student Freedom Initiative, along with its...

7.25.2022

Black Billionaire Philanthropist Launches Internship Platform For HBCU Students

Monday, July 25, 2022 Nationwide — Internships have proven to be a game-changer, helping college students, better determine their career path and providing a chance to gain invaluable hands-on experience in their field of interest. In...

6.14.2022

Base10 Partners Joins Forces with Robert F. Smith's Student Freedom Initiative to Grow the Endowments of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

June 14, 2022 SAN FRANCISCO and WASHINGTON, June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Base10 Partners, the world's largest Black-led venture capital fund, announced today that it has entered into a formal partnership with Student Freedom Initiative...

11.18.2021

Student Freedom Initiative Announces $1.8 Million Grant from Prudential Financial to Launch the Handling Everyday Life Problems for Students (HELPS) Program

Nov. 18, 2021 WASHINGTON, November 18, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As resources are directed towards Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across America, there remains an ongoing crisis among HBCU students of failing to matriculate due...

11.4.2021

Student Freedom Initiative Expands to 29 HBCUs and Partners with The Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation

Nov. 4, 2021 WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the Student Freedom Initiative announced the next round of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that will participate in its program. The selected institutions include: Alabama A&M...

9.23.2021

Student Freedom Initiative Announces $10 Million Gift from Members of Jane Street

Sept. 23, 2021 WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Student Freedom Initiative today announced a $10 million gift from members of Jane Street. The gift will support Student Freedom Initiative’s Income Contingent Agreements (ICAs), an alternative...

9.7.2021

Student Freedom Initiative Launches Inaugural Program at HBCUs Across U.S.

Sept. 7, 2021 WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Student Freedom Initiative (SFI), an organization that provides science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors income-contingent funding in lieu of traditional college loans that have...

8.30.2021

Student Freedom Initiative Inaugurates Launch at HBCU Campuses Across U.S.

Aug. 30, 2021 WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Student Freedom Initiative today announced their official launch for the Fall 2021 semester across campuses of the initiative’s initial cohort of nine Historically Black Colleges and Universities...

5.21.2021

Student Freedom Initiative announces $150 million partnership

May 21, 2021 WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) today announced a strategic partnership with Cisco and AVC Technologies, with Cisco committing $100 million in networking, security and collaboration technologies to further SFI’...

3.11.2021

Student Freedom Initiative Names Mark A. Brown Executive Director

March 11, 2021 WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) today announced the selection of Mark A. Brown to serve as Executive Director. Having served as the Chief Operating Officer for Federal Student Aid...

2.1.2021

The Walmart.org Center for Racial Equity Awards Over $14 Million in First Round of Grants

Feb. 1, 2021 BENTONVILLE, Ark., Feb. 1, 2021 — Walmart and the Walmart Foundation pledged to contribute $100 million over five years through a Center for Racial Equity to help address racial disparities in the U....

11.23.2020

Student Freedom Initiative Announces Participating HBCUs For Fall 2021 Academic Year

Nov. 23, 2020 Student Freedom Initiative Announces Participating HBCUs For Fall 2021 Academic Year Program will provide an alternative to high-cost college loans and empower students for success November 23, 2020 07:00 AM Eastern...

10.22.2020

Black Billionaire Robert F. Smith to Donate $50 Million to Support STEM Students at HBCUs

Oct. 22, 2020 WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Student Freedom Initiative announced today a $50 million personal gift from Robert F. Smith, philanthropist and Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners. This gift matches the...

6.23.2020

Announcing a design and analytics partnership for a higher education fund at HBCUs

June 23, 2020 Announcing a design and analytics partnership for a higher education fund at HBCUs The Jain Family Institute (JFI) is partnering with the Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) to design analytics for SFI’s...