HBCU Student Scholarship

Pilot partnership of the Fitch Foundation with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund

Background

In 2020, The National Trust for Historic Preservation, through the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund launched the HBCU Cultural Heritage Stewardship Initiative to provide technical assistance and funding for the development of Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plans at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and in 2021, the Initiative awarded HBCU Cultural Heritage grants to eight (8) HBCUs to support preservation planning of their campuses and cultural resources.

Fitch Partnership

The Fitch Foundation was pleased to partner with the National Trust, African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund to complement this program by provide scholarships to several BIPOC students with a demonstrated preservation interest who were enrolled at the HBCUs that had received funding through the Trust’s Initiative.

Over three scholarship cycles, the Fitch Foundation awarded $5,000 scholarships and ongoing mentorship to seven students from Tuskegee University, Stillman College, Rust College, and Jackson State University, respectively. Several student scholars also participated in a capstone learning and networking trip to New York City funded by the Foundation. The multiyear pilot grant represents the Fitch Foundation’s intent to help cultivate and expand the next generation of preservation professionals and to grow a more diverse and equitable field of preservation practice.

Student scholars trip to NYC, April 2025