Largest Private Gift in the University’s History Will Support Student Success Through Gap Scholarships
Clark Atlanta University (CAU) announced today it will receive $16.5 million as part of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation’s landmark $50 million, 10-year scholarship commitment to Atlanta’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This transformative gift, the largest private donation in CAU’s history, will provide critical financial support to help students overcome barriers to graduation.
The funding will establish gap scholarships primarily for junior and senior students in good academic standing who have exhausted all other financial resources. These scholarships will address a crucial need at a time when many students face increased financial pressure that can prevent them from completing their degrees.
“This transformative gift provides the critical resources our students need to graduate and prepare for leadership in the global marketplace,” said George T. French Jr., Ph.D., president of Clark Atlanta University. “Far too often, we see talented students forced to leave school not because of academic challenges, but due to financial constraints. We are profoundly grateful to the Arthur Blank Family Foundation for this historic investment in our students’ futures.”
Beginning in 2026, the scholarship program will help address financial barriers that often force promising students to abandon their education. Across the four Atlanta HBCUs receiving funding—Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morris Brown College, and Spelman College—the initiative is expected to support nearly 10,000 students over the next decade.
The scholarship initiative comes at a critical time when financial barriers disproportionately affect HBCU students. According to data cited by the Blank Foundation, HBCU graduates earn 57 percent more in their lifetimes than they would without a degree, with full-time workers earning over $1 million in additional income throughout their careers.
This gift builds on the Blank Foundation’s ongoing support of HBCUs, which has previously included funding for athletic field refurbishments at Clark Atlanta University and the provision of new football helmets for CAU student-athletes.
For more information, visit www.cau.edu.
About Clark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University was formed in 1988 through the consolidation of Atlanta University (1865) and Clark College (1869), both historically Black institutions. CAU is a private, research-intensive institution offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. The University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. For more information, visit www.cau.edu.