Tennessee State Alum Builds Platform to Fund HBCUs
- Casey Ariel Thobias
- Apr 24
- 2 min read
Updated: May 2
When we talk about community economics, it can sometimes feel abstract — a buzzword tucked into reports and panels. But Tennessee State University alum Dorsey West just gave us a masterclass in what it looks like in action.
After learning from a 2023 U.S. Department of Education analysis that HBCU land-grant institutions received approximately $12.6 billion less in state funding than their counterparts between 1987 and 2020 — with his alma mater, Tennessee State University, underfunded by $2.1 billion — West was compelled to act.
Recognizing the urgent need for increased financial support from both the private sector and alumni, West created HBCU$™. This innovative platform helps entrepreneurs earn income through free marketing support, and for every dollar they generate, a portion flows directly back to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
That’s regenerative finance.
That’s how we circulate dollars with purpose.
That’s what happens when we stop waiting for legacy systems to evolve and instead build our own.
Revenue generation is the most important capital strategy for entrepreneurs aiming to create something sustainable. And this model gets it right — aligning mission with margins in a way that benefits both the individual and the institutions that shape our communities.
West is incentivizing HBCUs to do what they do best: nurture thinkers, build visionaries, and graduate business owners who keep cultural and economic wealth alive in our communities.
This isn’t charity.
It’s a blueprint.
And we’re here for it.
The launch is May 1st. I’ve joined the mailing list — and I encourage you to do the same.
At Blaze Group, we champion entrepreneurs who not only build businesses — but reimagine the systems that shape them. Stay connected for more stories like these that inspire, instruct, and ignite.
Comments