Washington, D.C., October 9, 2024—For more than five decades, the Black Student Fund has quietly transformed lives by breaking barriers to educational access for Black students in the nation’s capital.
Founded in 1964 after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic March on Washington, the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit was created to address the glaring lack of Black students in independent schools across the metropolitan area. At the time, Black enrollment in these elite institutions was less than 1%, according to the Fund. Today, under the leadership of Executive Director Leroy Nesbitt, the Fund is a driving force for educational equity, providing financial assistance, academic support, and critical resources that help students thrive.
Historical Context: Bridging the Divide
The Black Student Fund emerged in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. However, a decade later, many private schools in D.C. and across the nation remained largely segregated. Advocates for racial equity envisioned the Fund as a means to address this disparity.
“Achieving the ‘Beloved Community’ Dr. King spoke of requires equitable access to education,” Nesbitt explained. The Fund sought to bridge this gap by counseling families, guiding students through admissions processes, and providing tuition assistance.
One such success story is Angela McLean’s son, Jeremiah, who attended the prestigious Landon School in Bethesda, Md., from third through twelfth grade. “Leroy Nesbitt and the Black Student Fund were invaluable in helping our family navigate the private school process,” McLean shared. “With everything the Black Student Fund has given to my son, I am forever thankful. It’s the reason he received a Posse Scholarship.”
The Posse Foundation, which has awarded more than $2 billion in scholarships since 1989, helped Jeremiah attend Bucknell University. McLean recalls how the Fund stepped in during a critical moment: “When Jeremiah needed a computer for schoolwork, Mr. Nesbitt made sure he had one. Their support extended beyond tuition—it gave my son the tools to succeed.”
Programs and Support: A Comprehensive Approach
The Black Student Fund provides a variety of services designed to support both students and families. These include workshops on school readiness, academic tutoring, youth development initiatives, STEM programs, and an annual school fair that connects Black and Latino families with independent schools in the region.
The Fund partners with several prestigious institutions, including the Beauvoir School, Edmund Burke School, Episcopal High School, Georgetown Day School, Landon School, National Cathedral School, St Andrew’s Episcopal School, and the Washington International School.
Michelle Wilson, whose daughter graduated from St. Andrew’s in 2024 and now attends Syracuse University, praised the Fund’s impact on local schools. “Partnerships with the Fund are about more than recruitment,” Wilson said. “They’re about opening doors, fostering mutual respect, and creating environments where every student’s potential is nurtured. Schools like St. Andrew’s are shaping future leaders while contributing to a national movement for educational equity.”
The Fund’s mission extends beyond enrollment. It emphasizes long-term success, with many alumni returning as mentors. According to Nesbitt, former students have gone on to attend prestigious universities like Brown University, Columbia University, Howard University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College.
Broadening Diversity in Education
The Black Student Fund’s work is especially relevant in light of sobering statistics on academic achievement in D.C. public schools. Of the district’s nearly 50,000 students, about 60% are Black, yet only 22% are proficient in math, and 35% meet reading benchmarks. By providing access to private schools, the Fund not only opens new opportunities but also helps dismantle stereotypes about Black academic performance.
“Representation matters,” Nesbitt said. “By supporting Black students in independent schools, we’re creating visible examples of why equity is essential. These students aren’t just succeeding—they’re leading, inspiring, and changing perceptions.”
A Legacy of Transformation
The Black Student Fund remains committed to its founding mission of advancing educational equity. Reflecting on the organization’s broader significance, Nesbitt said, “From our inception during the Civil Rights Movement, our goal has been clear: to provide every child with access to the educational opportunities they deserve. Education is a civil right, and as we face pivotal decisions about equity and justice, it’s crucial to invest in the next generation of leaders. The legacy we leave depends on it.”
Through its tireless advocacy, financial support, and community partnerships, the Black Student Fund continues to shape a more inclusive and equitable society—one student at a time.
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