100 for the Future: Building a Lasting Culture of Giving at Clark Atlanta University nailah@nailahh… Thu, 08/20/2026 - 22:47 At Clark Atlanta University, our students' future is strengthened by a community that invests in the next generation of Panthers. The 100 for the Future Campaign was created to inspire alumni, family, friends, and supporters to come together through accessible, collective giving in support of CAU students.

At Clark Atlanta University, our students' futures are strengthened by a community that invests in the next generation of Panthers. The 100 for the Future Campaign, an initiative led by the Beta Psi 1923 Foundation in partnership with the Clark Atlanta University Office of Institutional Advancement, was created to inspire alumni, family, friends, and supporters to come together through accessible, collective giving in support of CAU students.

For Darryl Johnson, chairman of the Beta Psi 1923 Foundation, Inc., and Clark College Class of 1983, the campaign centers on a simple question: How can the CAU alumni community be energized and mobilized to support students across the nation and throughout the broader CAU diaspora?

“We wanted to create a campaign in which everyone could participate,” Johnson said.

The rising cost of higher education underscores the need for collective support. When Johnson enrolled at Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University) in 1979, tuition, room and board totaled approximately $4,000. Today, that same educational experience costs more than $46,000. While a CAU education remains valuable, the financial burden on students and their families has changed dramatically.

The campaign’s ask–$100 per individual–is intentional, designed to make participation attainable for alumni and friends across generations, graduating classes, and cities. Johnson emphasized that the initiative is not about suggesting that one $100 gift can solve the cost of a college education. Instead, its impact comes through collective giving.

“Our goal was never about the size of one individual gift,” Johnson said. “The real power of this campaign is found in compound giving.”

A Legacy of Alumni Leadership

The Beta Psi 1923 Foundation, Inc.’s involvement reflects the chapter’s longstanding commitment to Clark Atlanta University and its students. As the first Greek-letter organization established on Clark College’s campus, the Beta Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., views that history as a call to lead and give back.

“For Beta Psi, leading this effort is consistent with our history,” Johnson said. “We were first on Clark’s campus, and we believe we should be among the first alumni to step forward when our university and its students need us.”

While the foundation helped launch the campaign, Johnson emphasized that 100 for the Future extends beyond Beta Psi, inviting alumni, family, friends, and supporters across the CAU community to invest in the university’s future.

Fred Mitchell, associate vice president of Development in the Clark Atlanta University Office of Institutional Advancement and vice chair of the Beta Psi 1923 Foundation, said the campaign grew from an effort to encourage alumni donors to support CAU students while strengthening the partnership between the university and the foundation.

Mitchell also pointed to the foundation’s previous Brick Campaign, which raised $135,000 and engaged 1,395 alumni across 214 cities, 36 states, and five countries. The 100 for the Future Campaign builds on that spirit of focused, collective participation.

Supporting Students Beyond the Classroom

For students, financial challenges can extend beyond major expenses. Sometimes, a relatively small financial gap can determine whether a student registers for classes, obtains required books, or completes a degree.

Mitchell said the funds raised through 100 for the Future are intended to help CAU address these needs through merit, gap, and general scholarships.

“We want students to come to CAU ready to learn without the burden of wondering if their classes will be dropped due to financial reasons,” Mitchell said. “We want students to get enrolled and stay enrolled.”

That goal reflects the campaign’s broader purpose: helping students stay focused on their education and reach graduation.

Investing in Potential

Horace Austin, senior director of the Beta Psi 1923 Foundation, Inc., and Clark College Class of 1980, offered an example of how scholarship support can extend far beyond a single academic year.

Austin highlighted Kailen Turner, the first recipient of the Dr. Gideon K. Mincey Memorial Biology Scholarship. As a senior biology student at CAU, Turner received scholarship support at a pivotal point in her educational journey. After graduating from CAU, she earned her medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine  and is now completing her residency at Emory Hospital.

“Kailen’s story represents what we hope to accomplish through all our fundraising efforts,” Austin said. “We are not simply raising money; we are investing in potential.”

Turner’s journey illustrates how supporting one student can create an impact that extends well beyond the university. It shows what can happen when students receive the financial support they need to keep pursuing their goals.

A Collective Investment in CAU’s Future

For Austin, the campaign represents an opportunity to foster a lasting transformation in how the CAU community approaches philanthropy.

“We hope 100 for the Future represents a fundamental shift in the culture of giving at Clark Atlanta University, one where supporting the next generation of Panthers becomes something we all see as our shared responsibility,” Austin said.

That spirit has already been reflected through participation from across the university community. President George T. French Jr., administrators, alumni, students, and supporters from around the country have helped amplify the campaign’s message.

Mitchell hopes that participation will continue beyond the campaign itself, creating a stronger and more sustainable culture of philanthropy at CAU.

“100 for the Future can be the beginning of that movement,” Mitchell said, “bringing Panthers together around the shared belief that every gift matters and that our collective support today can create greater opportunities for the Panthers of tomorrow.”

The campaign ultimately points to a shared responsibility: ensuring that financial barriers do not stand between CAU students and the opportunity to earn their degrees. Through collective giving, alumni and friends can help provide scholarships, strengthen student support, and invest in the university's future.

Give $100. Change a Life. Build the Future.

From June 1 through September 8, alumni, family, friends, and supporters are invited to give $100—just $1 a day for 100 days—to support CAU student-scholars. Make your $100 gift today.