Overview
the ELDP Black Executive Leadership Legacy Scholarship is a principled, community-funded, permanent endowment for Black post secondary students, built to serve generations of students and leaders long after our cohort of the Executive Leadership Development Program has moved on.
The Background
The vision is to establish a permanent, community-funded endowment that provides sustainable financial support for Black post-secondary students while advancing educational equity and leadership development. Guided by clear principles of inclusion, stewardship, and intergenerational impact, the endowment is structured to serve as a lasting institution rather than a short-term initiative. Through responsible management and ongoing community investment, it will create a reliable source of support that continues long after the founding contributors and current cohort have moved on. The endowment represents a commitment to building enduring pathways to success, helping future Black students access higher education and realize their potential as leaders in their communities and professions.
The Rollout
This endowment is more than financial support. It is an investment in the future of Black leadership. By helping Black students access and succeed in post-secondary education, the fund will empower future leaders, innovators, and changemakers to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to their communities. As each generation benefits and gives back, the endowment will create a lasting cycle of opportunity, leadership, and impact for decades to come.
Once we reach our goal, the scholarship will be awarded annually on the recommendation of the Director, Student Affairs and Student Life, providing $1000 to outstanding Black undergraduate students entering or continuing in any Bachelor’s degree program at Carleton. Eligible recipients should demonstrate leadership through commitment to advancing Black communities.
The Impact
This scholarship will create a lasting impact by empowering Black students to pursue their educational goals, develop their leadership potential, and contribute meaningfully to their communities and professions. By reducing financial barriers to post-secondary education, recipients will have greater opportunities to focus on academic excellence, participate in research and experiential learning, and engage in leadership and community-building initiatives both on and off campus.
Beyond supporting individual students, the scholarship will help cultivate a growing network of Black leaders, innovators, scholars, and changemakers whose contributions will enrich institutions, strengthen communities, and inspire future generations. As recipients succeed and become mentors, advocates, and leaders in their respective fields, the impact of the scholarship will extend far beyond the classroom, creating a cycle of opportunity and achievement that endures for years to come.