The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Initiative launches to help build fundraising capacity at five HBCUs. The five-year program runs through 2005 and awards $18 million. Participating institutions include Bethune Cookman College (Daytona, Florida), Dillard University (New Orleans, Louisiana), Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, North Carolina), Meharry Medical College (Nashville, Tennessee), and Xavier University (New Orleans, Louisiana).