Nation’s Leading Employers to Provide Scholarships and Professional Development Opportunities, Increase Workplace Diversity
Washington – Today, Business Roundtable and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) announced a partnership to invest in students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and develop a pipeline of diverse talent for America’s largest companies. Through the partnership, Business Roundtable companies will provide scholarships, internships and professional development opportunities to HBCU students and open pathways to employment and advancement.
“Business Roundtable companies know that their success depends on investing in diverse workforces and on increasing diversity in corporate leadership. We are honored to partner with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which has a strong record of supporting and developing future leaders,” said Business Roundtable President & CEO Joshua Bolten.
“This partnership is an example of America’s largest employers moving the needle in the national dialogue on diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Thurgood Marshall College Fund President & CEO Dr. Harry L. Williams. “Now is the time to turn position statements into policies and action for change. We are proud to partner with Business Roundtable to support the next generation of leaders from HBCUs, institutions that play a critical role in ensuring young people of color are not left behind.”
The initiative announced today includes several Roundtable member companies with existing TMCF partnerships as well as companies developing new partnerships. To date, more than 50 Business Roundtable companies have partnered with TMCF, and some of the commitments they have made include:
- Providing financial contributions to support scholarships for students to attend HBCUs;
- Participating in professional development programs that equip students with the critical soft skills required for career success and help bridge the gap between post-secondary academic training and permanent job placement opportunities in corporate America; and
- Creating diverse talent pipelines through immersive experiences and internship opportunities, which help open doors to full-time employment.
Business Roundtable member companies with existing TMCF partnerships include: Amazon, American Express, American Tower, Apple, Bank of America, The Boeing Company, Boston Consulting Group, C.H. Robinson, Caterpillar, The Coca-Cola Company, Corning, CVS Health, Deere & Company, Eli Lilly and Company, FedEx Corporation, Ford, Goldman Sachs & Co., JPMorgan Chase & Co., KPMG International, Lowe’s Companies Inc., McDonald’s, Medtronic, Microsoft, Nasdaq, NextEra Energy, PepsiCo, Pfizer Inc., Stanley Black & Decker, UPS, Vanguard, Verizon Communications, Walmart and Wells Fargo & Company. Companies developing new partnerships with TMCF include: Alphabet, Anthem, Baxter International, Chevron, Chipotle, Eastman, Gap, Hanesbrands Inc., Hearst, KeyCorp, Kohler, McCormick & Company, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, S&P Global, Steelcase Inc., Synchrony, Truist Financial Corporation, Tapestry, Inc., Verisk and Visa. The Roundtable anticipates additional companies will launch partnerships with TMCF in the weeks and months ahead.
Last October, Business Roundtable CEOs announced corporate initiatives and public policy recommendations to advance racial equity and justice and address the racial wealth gap.
In addition to partnering with TMCF, many Business Roundtable member companies also work directly with and provide support to HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions in the communities where they are headquartered or operate.
For more information, visit www.businessroundtable.org/tmcfpartners.
About Business Roundtable
Business Roundtable CEOs lead America’s largest companies, employing 20 million workers. Their companies’ total value, over $20 trillion, accounts for approximately half of the value of all publicly-traded companies in the United States. They spend and invest over $7 trillion a year, helping sustain and grow tens of thousands of communities and millions of medium- and small-sized businesses.
About the Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.
TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit: www.tmcf.org.
