In July, Dominion Energy pledged to give $35 million to 11 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The donation is part of the company’s six-year “HBCU Promise” program, which allocates $25 million to select institutions and $10 million to a scholarship fund that will support African American and underrepresented students throughout the company’s service areas.

Dominion Energy is an electric and power company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, that serves more than 7 million customers in 20 states.

“We have all been witness to our country’s evolving conversation on race and social justice. The country is changing, and we have been looking for ways that we can make a difference,” Thomas F. Farrell, II, Dominion Energy chairman, president, and chief executive officer, said in a press release.

“Investing in these important institutions — which serve as a springboard for social and economic mobility for so many — is one way we can help. We have actually partnered with HBCUs for nearly 40 years, offering volunteer and financial support. As I have said before, we are humbled and honored to continue supporting them with this current initiative,” he stated.

When selecting institutions for the gift, Dominion considered factors such as locations with a significant customer presence, past partnerships, and opportunities to make immediate impact, according to the press release.

Each university will receive between $500,000 to $6 million in funding, which will go toward operations, urgent capital needs, endowments, and scholarships. The HBCUs receiving the grants are as follows:

Ohio
Central State University
Wilberforce University

North Carolina
North Carolina A&T State University

South Carolina
Allen University
Benedict College
Claflin University
South Carolina State University

Virginia
Hampton University
Norfolk State University
Virginia State University
Virginia Union University