DOVER — Delaware State University announced Wednesday that it has been selected to join a partnership with the Strada Education Network, along with 27 other historically Black colleges and universities.

Supported through a $25 million grant from Strada — described as a social impact nonprofit in a news release from DSU — the HBCU Initiative is a yearlong collaboration designed to listen, learn from and support the work of the nation’s HBCUs in developing the next generation of leaders.

“Over the last two years, we have seen an influx of philanthropic funds flow to HBCUs. Strada Education Network is one of the first organizations to approach us with the intent of not just understanding our needs but building up our successes and aspirations,” said Dr. Tony Allen, president of DSU. “When somebody asks me what’s special about Strada and this initiative, I always say, ‘They not only asked. They listened to the answers we gave.’”

Over the past year, Strada Education Network convened an advisory council of seven current and former HBCU presidents and led conversations with dozens of institutions to identify both needs and opportunities to accelerate economic mobility for HBCU students.

According to the release, the resulting initiative will focus on leadership development and provide students with scholarships and financial support to defray some of the costs of participating in internships. It also will help students build their professional networks and prepare them to launch careers or explore graduate schools.

Rather than establishing a new program, the initiative was designed to augment existing programs on HBCU campuses by providing experiences that marry a student’s academic learning with career goals and leadership aspirations.

Marshal Grigsby, Strada trustee and a former HBCU president, provost and faculty member, said the initiative will build the nonprofit’s “long-standing” dedication to identify systematic and sustainable strategies that will help more Americans form better lives for themselves and their communities.

“Black colleges have a profound, positive influence in communities, for alumni, and students who, in turn, have the potential to make a positive difference in our society,” Mr. Grigsby said. “We hope to expand this work with an even broader cohort of institutions in years to come.”

This year, 28 schools will participate in the inaugural HBCU Initiative cohort.

In future years, Strada plans to expand the program beyond the initial institutions to as many HBCUs as have interest.

Strada’s Senior Vice President of Philanthropy Daryl A. Graham and Vice President of Philanthropy Pat Roe will oversee the program.

“This partnership has been inclusive and collaborative from the beginning,” said Roslyn Clark Artis, president of Benedict College and member of the Strada HBCU Advisory Council. “Together, we have integrated feedback from nearly a third of the nation’s HBCUs in designing this student-centered program and convened a strong group of presidents to shape the relationship.”

Dr. Vita Pickrum, DSU’s vice president for institutional advancement, said in the release that scholarships with an emphasis on building leadership skills are “critical to our ability to change our students’ life trajectories.”

She praised Strada’s initiative for “literally intending to impact the entire HBCU sector,” she said. “We are thrilled to be part of that.”