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(TULSA – February 24, 2025) – I’m currently researching the financial positions of major Black organizations—including the NAACP, Urban League, NSBE, NPHC organizations, NBMBAA, UNCF, and others—as well as HBCU endowments. My intent isn’t to be confrontational; rather, this is an offer to help. Many people in leadership roles may not fully grasp the broader systemic challenges at play, and it’s important to recognize that these financial struggles aren’t isolated to individual organizations.
The reality is that resources are limited, underscoring the need for reparations. However, even without them, there’s a lot we can do. While the combined assets of these organizations may seem relatively small, the bigger issue lies in allocation. I’ll be sharing a table that highlights Investment Income as a percentage of Cash/Investments—a key indicator of fiscal sustainability. Anyone with a basic understanding of finance will immediately recognize the problem. That said, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) stand out as positive examples.
It’s also likely that some organizations aren’t tracking these metrics or considering them as key performance indicators, despite their significance. Another critical measure is Investment Income as a percentage of Total Revenue, an area where all these organizations are underperforming.
The situation with HBCU endowments is similarly concerning, but detailed financial data is harder to obtain—so I’ll address that in a future post. If you’re in a leadership position within one of these organizations, are aware of these challenges, and need support in making the case to your board or other decision-makers, feel free to use me as an “expert witness” to help advocate for necessary changes.
