About Howard University
Prepare men and women to advance social justice and the preservation of human liberty through education, research, and service; eliminate inequities related to race, color, social, economic and political circumstances.
Focus Areas
higher educationundergraduate and graduate educationhealthcare/medicineSTEMhumanities and social sciencescareer development
Who They Fund
students (K-12 and higher education)academic researchers and research institutionseducators and teacherseducational non-profits
Funding Style
research funding
About Howard University
A defining feature of The Howard University’s recent grantmaking is the repeated use of large, research-and-education awards to universities, health institutions, and mission-aligned nonprofits. In the current grant list, the largest award goes to Gilbane Building Company for $1,661,236 to support research and education, followed by $1,402,422 to University of Maryland Global Campus for the same purpose. The pattern continues across higher education, medicine, and scholarly infrastructure, with grants to Georgetown University, the University of Puerto Rico, and MedStar Health Research Institute Inc. That mix fits the organization’s stated mission to advance social justice and human liberty through education, research, and service. Recent awards also show attention to Black history scholarship, maternal and child care, and economic development in Washington, D.C., suggesting that the foundation supports both academic work and institutions tied to community outcomes. Several recipients appear more than once in the recent grants list, including MedStar Health Research Institute Inc, University of Maryland Global Campus, Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care Inc, Anacostia Economic Development Corp, and Georgetown University, indicating repeated relationships rather than one-off support.
What Howard University Funds
Higher education and research are central to the foundation’s giving. It awarded $1,661,236 to Gilbane Building Company and $1,402,422 to University of Maryland Global Campus, both described as support for research and education. Healthcare and medical research also appear prominently: Mercy Medical Center Inc received $719,246 in 2024 for the same purpose, while MedStar Health Research Institute Inc received $543,711 in 2024 and $805,318 in 2023. The foundation also backs scholarship in African American history, giving $501,269 in 2023 and $407,411 in 2024 to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Community-serving institutions show up as well, including Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care Inc and Anacostia Economic Development Corp, both funded for research and education.
How Howard University Gives
Typical grant size centers around the mid-five-figure range: the p25 is $26,775, the median is $57,386, and the p75 is $135,400. The recent list shows both repeat recipients and repeat-purpose support, with several organizations appearing in more than one year, including MedStar Health Research Institute Inc, University of Maryland Global Campus, Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care Inc, Anacostia Economic Development Corp, and Northeastern University. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Its active programs also accept unsolicited requests in several cases, including HU CARES, STEM Summer Camp & Verizon Innovative Learning, Upward Bound Programs, 100 Women for Howard, the Arts, Health & Well-Being Initiative, the College of Medicine Bridge Fund, the Daniel Endowed Education Research Fund, and the Advanced Placement Summer Institute for Teachers.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$7.6M
Total Assets
$3B
Total Revenue
$1.4B
Total Expenses
$1.4B
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $27K and $135K, with a median of $57K.
25th Percentile
$27K
Median
$57K
75th Percentile
$135K
Geographic Reach
National25 states funded
About 19% of grants go to recipients in MD.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
STEPHEN GRAHAM
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Where Howard University Funds
Top 3 recipient countries by grant volume for Howard University.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 234 | $33.6M | 99.2% |
| 2 | Canada | 1 |
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