This Isn’t DEI — It’s a Blueprint: Inside Elara, the Nonprofit Replacing Performative Equity with Infrastructure
May 15, 2025
By Jamaal Burton, Founder & CEO, Elara Institute
There’s no shortage of praise for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. During Black History Month, on campaign trails, or in cultural speeches, HBCUs are often applauded for producing some of the greatest minds in our country’s history — from Thurgood Marshall to Toni Morrison to Vice President Kamala Harris.
And yet, when the applause fades, the funding rarely follows.
At Elara Institute, we believe in something simple but radical: HBCUs don’t need more celebration. They need infrastructure — and they need it now.
The Myth of “Resilience”
For too long, Black institutions have been expected to operate under the myth of resilience — to “do more with less,” to produce excellence against the odds, to survive rather than thrive. But resilience, without resourcing, is exploitation by another name.
While Predominantly White Institutions receive billions in endowment support, research grants, and federal alignment, most HBCUs are left competing for piecemeal donations, outdated buildings, and short-term partnerships that don’t move the needle.
The issue isn’t talent. It’s traction.
Infrastructure > Inspiration
At Elara, we define infrastructure as the systems, relationships, and capital that make success sustainable — not accidental. That means:
Scholarships that lead to paid internships and job pipelines
Fellowships that develop not just skills, but long-term influence
Convenings that don’t end in selfies — but in funding, hires, and appointments
Networks that are intergenerational, strategic, and high-trust
Alumni support that extends 5, 10, 20 years beyond graduation
Inspiration is powerful. But without infrastructure, it evaporates.
A New Mandate for Philanthropy and Partnership
The future of HBCUs — and of Black leadership — demands more than applause from the balcony. It requires strategic investment from the boardroom. It requires funders, universities, and policymakers to treat HBCUs not as charitable causes, but as co-architects of the future.
At Elara, we’re not asking for access to someone else’s table. We’re building our own — with blueprints in hand, partners at our side, and legacy as our foundation.
The case is clear. The time is now.
If you're investing in what's next — invest in what's always been here.
