Miles College Receives $1 Million Endowment Investment Through UNCF and the James and Judith K. Dimon Foundation

FAIRFIELD, Ala. [August 20, 2026] — Miles College will receive $1 million in permanent endowment capital as one of 12 UNCF member institutions selected to benefit from a historic $12 million gift from the James and Judith K. Dimon Foundation.

The gift establishes the Dimon Fund to Advance Economic Opportunity and places resources directly into the permanent endowments of the selected HBCUs. For Miles College, this investment extends well beyond the present. At an HBCU, an endowment is essential. It enables long-term planning, timely responses to needs, investment in students and programs, and safeguards the institution for future generations. While the impact of a stronger endowment may not be immediately visible, its value endures year after year.

“This investment represents more than a generous gift to Miles College; it is an investment in our ability to serve generations of scholars yet to come, ” said Bobbie Knight, J.D., President of Miles College. “Building a strong endowment gives institutions like ours the capacity to think beyond the needs of today, expand opportunity, strengthen academic pathways, and prepare our students to lead in fields where their talents are deeply needed. We are grateful to the James and Judith K. Dimon Foundation and UNCF for recognizing Miles College's strength and believing in the lasting impact of HBCUs. Their commitment allows us to continue building with intention, with confidence, and with our scholars’ futures at the center of everything we do.”

This investment comes as Miles College expands its academic offerings, partnerships, and opportunities for scholars, while maintaining a focus on long-term institutional strength. This investment also reflects a responsibility familiar to HBCUs. Miles College exists because previous generations gave, served, taught, led, and built for those they would never meet. Growing the College’s endowment ensures this legacy continues.

“Strengthening our endowment is part of building the Miles College we want future generations to inherit,” said Dr. Erskine Faush, Jr., Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Development at Miles College.

“We are grateful to UNCF for its continued advocacy, diligence, and commitment to creating opportunities that strengthen HBCUs. It is President Knight’s vision for Miles College, that is producing investments such as this to give us greater capacity to continue rising, growing, and building an institution positioned to serve our scholars for generations to come.”

1Miles College also acknowledges the effort required to achieve an announcement of this magnitude. For decades, UNCF has supported HBCUs by advocating for our institutions where resources and decisions are determined. Its efforts have connected colleges like Miles with partners who recognize that supporting an HBCU is an investment in students, families, communities, and the workforce.

This work requires persistence, strong relationships, and intentional advocacy for institutions whose impact extends far beyond their campuses. Miles College thanks UNCF leadership and staff for their ongoing dedication to HBCUs and our students. We recognize that opportunities like this result from years of advocacy, relationship-building, and a steadfast commitment to ensuring HBCUs remain strong. We also thank the James and Judith K. Dimon Foundation for investing in the lasting strength of these institutions.

For Miles College, this $1 million becomes part of a legacy that extends beyond any single announcement.

It contributes to the legacy we leave for future generations.

More than 128 years into the Miles College story, we continue to build for those who will follow.