Investing in HBCU & HBCC Research, Workforce Development, and Institutional Innovation
HBCU C.A.R.E.S. Impact Grants provide $5,000–$25,000 in strategic investment to Alabama's HBCUs and HBCCs for initiatives that strengthen workforce development, collaborative research, and talent pipelines. Each grant supports innovative, measurable projects that connect students, institutions, employers, state agencies, and Alabama's growing industries — turning strategic ideas into real impact for the state's workforce, research, and economic priorities.
Award Range
$5,000 – $25,000
Project Period
12 months
Eligible Institutions
Alabama HBCUs and HBCCs
Reporting
Six-month interim and 12-month final report
Workforce Development & Career Readiness
Industry-aligned training and credentials, career readiness, experiential learning, internships and apprenticeships, employer engagement.
Talent Pipeline Development
Intentional pathways between campuses and employers, industries, agencies and workforce partners, including strategies that retain graduates in Alabama.
Collaborative & Applied Research
Multi-institution and applied research, faculty and student research, institutional data capacity, and pilot work positioned for larger federal or industry investment.
State Agency & Public-Sector Talent Initiatives
Agency career awareness, internships and experiential learning, recruitment pipelines, and programs addressing hard-to-fill state positions.
Statewide Workforce & Economic Development
Alignment with Alabama’s priority sectors: advanced manufacturing, healthcare, technology and cybersecurity, logistics, infrastructure, education, public service, entrepreneurship.
Funding Priorities
Special Consideration
Select applicants may be invited to be considered for enhanced funding and/or an extended project period. Priority is given to:
Collaborative research across two or more institutions
Initiatives addressing documented state or regional talent shortages
Projects developed in partnership with Alabama state agencies
Multi-institution talent pipeline programs
Work positioned to attract future federal, philanthropic or industry funding
Initiatives with potential for statewide replication
Eligibility Requirement
Alignment with consortium priorities, demonstrated institutional, research or workforce need, feasibility of the proposed approach, student and institutional impact, measurability of outcomes, strength of partnerships, sustainability, and reasonable use of requested funds.
Institutions that have previously received funding from HBCU C.A.R.E.S. must be in good standing to be eligible for a new Impact Grant. This means:
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All required reports from previous HBCU C.A.R.E.S. funding must be completed and submitted; and
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All previously awarded funds must be fully expended in accordance with the approved purpose of the award.
Institutions with outstanding reports or unspent funds from a previous award will not be eligible for consideration during the current funding cycle.
Applications close: October 4, 2026 · 5:00 PM CT
Our goal is to invest in projects that begin on a campus, connect institutions and partners, strengthen Alabama’s workforce, and create models with the potential for broader impact. The application begins on the following page.