City Fund and Bloomberg Philanthropies Commit $20 Million to Transform Public Education Through HBCU-Charter School Partnerships

New York, NY (December 4, 2025) City Fund and Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced a fund to support the creation of new public charter schools in partnership with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). City Fund and Bloomberg Philanthropies are committing $10 million each, marking one of the largest coordinated efforts to foster K-12 and higher education partnerships with HBCUs. Long-standing HBCU champion, UNCF, will serve as a key partner in advancing this effort and supporting new K-12 collaborations.

HBCUs’ legacy of educating and empowering students and building deep community trust, along with their proven record of preparing future leaders, make them essential partners in creating pathways for student achievement. By combining the operational expertise of charter leaders, the institutional support and advocacy of HBCUs, and the broader backing of local communities, access to rigorous, high-quality education and strong pipelines for college and career success can be expanded.

“Our work is all about empowering local leaders who are transforming education in their communities. We're launching this fund with Bloomberg Philanthropies because we're hearing directly from these communities about the urgent demand for more high-quality public school options,” said Marlon Marshall, CEO of City Fund, a national nonprofit that partners with local education leaders to transform public school systems in America's cities. “HBCUs are natural partners in this work—they've been engines of excellence and innovation for generations, and these partnerships represent exactly the kind of bold, locally-driven solutions that can help improve entire city school systems.”

“Bloomberg Philanthropies has a long history of supporting public charter schools because we know they can provide students with the rigorous and engaging education they deserve,” said Howard Wolfson, who leads the Bloomberg Philanthropies education program. “We’re proud to partner with City Fund and UNCF on this innovative initiative that brings together the proven success of HBCUs with the strong results of public charter schools to expand opportunity and improve outcomes for more students across the country.”

The first two charter schools supported by this initiative are already underway in Alabama. I Dream Big Academy—Tuscaloosa’s first tuition-free charter school—opened in August 2025 in partnership with Stillman College and currently serves students in grades 6 through 8, and will add a grade each year. Through its collaboration with Stillman, the school will operate as a lab school, providing a pipeline for teacher development and early access to college and career opportunities. D.C. Wolfe Charter School in Shorter, AL—formerly D.C. Wolfe Elementary School—will re-open in the fall of 2026 as a conversion charter school serving students from pre-K through sixth grade in partnership with Tuskegee University. Both schools aim to equip students with the academic rigor, skills and support needed to succeed in higher education and the modern workforce.

“UNCF welcomes this incredible opportunity to partner with Bloomberg Philanthropies and City Fund, both dynamic organizations deeply committed to creating pathways for student achievement through the expansion of our HBCU-Charter School Partnerships initiative,” said Sekou Biddle, vice president, advocacy, UNCF. “This partnership reflects a growing understanding that HBCUs can play a powerful role in reimagining public education, anchoring schools in academic excellence and deep community connection. By working hand-in-hand with HBCU leaders, we can ensure our students are not only prepared for higher education but also equipped with the skills and confidence to succeed in today’s competitive world."

These charter school–HBCU partnerships are intentionally flexible and tailored to the unique needs of each institution, while also addressing the pressing priorities of K-12 education including college readiness and workforce preparation. Collaborations may involve co-locating a charter school on an HBCU campus, creating dual enrollment opportunities, establishing automatic admission pathways to the partnering HBCU, or sharing governance structures with board members from both institutions. Programs may also provide teaching fellowships and internship experiences for HBCU students in K-12 classrooms.

Through this innovative initiative, City Fund and Bloomberg Philanthropies aim to create a sustainable model for expanding educational access, elevating HBCUs’ role in shaping K-12 education and preparing students to thrive academically and professionally.

About City Fund
City Fund is a national nonprofit organization that partners with local education leaders to transform public school systems in America's cities. Our ultimate goal is to dramatically change life outcomes for students in poverty in every large city across the country. City Fund is currently investing in two dozen cities to expand access to high-quality public school options and create the conditions for great schools to thrive. To date, we have helped to open more than 200 new urban public schools and create 112,500 new public charter school seats, and our work reaches more than 1.3 million students in cities across the country.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the
world. In 2024, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3.7 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

About UNCF
UNCF is one of the nation’s largest and most effective supporters of higher education and serves as a leading advocate for college-bound students. Since its founding in 1944, UNCF has raised more than $6 billion to support students' access to higher education, provide scholarships and strengthen historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Each year, UNCF awards more than 11,000 scholarships totaling more than $62 million. The scholarships support students attending more than 600 US-based colleges and universities including 37 UNCF-member HBCUs. Through its efforts, UNCF has helped generations of students to get to and through college. We believe a college education plays a vital role in fortifying the pipeline of leaders and professionals who contribute to the advancement of our society. Our logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and our widely recognized trademark is, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Instagram.

Media Contact:
Kristen Forbriger, City Fund, kristen@city-fund.org
Sneha Choudhary, Bloomberg Philanthropies, snehac@bloomberg.org