T.D. Jakes Foundation and Wells Fargo in Action: $18 Million Over Two Years to Transform Communities

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The T.D. Jakes Foundation (TDJF), with funding from Wells Fargo, proudly announces more than $9 million in grants to 13 organizations across the United States. This funding marks the next phase of a transformative 10-year, up to $1 billion collaboration aimed at empowering communities and driving lasting change.

Building on an initial $9 million philanthropic investment announced in 2024, which funded 16 organizations, this new cycle reaffirms TDJF’s commitment to economic empowerment through innovative solutions. These initial grants created measurable impact by supporting financial literacy programs, affordable housing projects, and career development opportunities, among other initiatives. This second round of funding seeks to strengthen and expand that legacy.

“We are deeply committed to supporting organizations that are making tangible differences in communities,” said Kelley Cornish, President and CEO, T.D. Jakes Foundation. “Through this partnership with Wells Fargo, we are investing in innovative solutions that align with our mission to promote financial inclusion, educational access and workforce readiness, and community transformation and well-being. This milestone is a testament to the power of collaboration and our shared vision for a brighter future.”

“We believe philanthropy can be a catalyst for positive change,” said Darlene Goins, head of philanthropy and community impact at Wells Fargo. “With these grants, we are excited to work with the T.D. Jakes Foundation to expand the impactful work and capacity of local and national organizations that focus on economic empowerment and community transformation.”

This second $9 million in funding is more than a continuation—it’s a bold statement of the T.D. Jakes Foundation’s belief that access to opportunity can change the trajectory of communities for generations to come.

Organizations that are receiving grants:

• Wiley University – $1,500,000
• Develop property near campus for homeownership, entrepreneurship, and integrated learning experiences.
• Paul Quinn College – $1,500,000
• Address housing, transportation, and food insecurity for students.
• Morehouse College – $1,500,000
• Transform mental health services on campus.
• 2025 International Leadership Summit – $1,500,000
• Hosted by the T.D. Jakes Group, empower leaders worldwide by offering workshops, keynotes, and panel discussions focused on leadership, innovation, and social impact.
• Lightship Foundation – $500,000
• Enable entrepreneurs to raise venture capital and scale their businesses.
• Power52 Foundation – $500,000
• Engage 200 community members in educational workshops on energy and disaster preparedness.
• Kingdom Cares Center – $500,000
• Nurture small businesses with mentorship and programs in business planning, financial management, marketing, legal compliance, and more.
• Bonton Farms/Grocery Connect – $500,000
• Improve health outcomes and empower the community by teaching essential online skills and expanding access to broader resources.
• United MegaCare – $500,000
• As part of T.D. Jakes Group, it will host events supporting food security in local communities.
• Joint Center – $500,000
• Develop a long-term plan for economic mobility that can be executed at the community level.
• Operation Hope – $450,000
• Combine policy analysis with community engagement to elevate the national conversation on economic empowerment and drive policy solutions.
• Milken Institute – $250,000
• Offer an intensive educational course, industry conferences, as well as competitive internships and professional development.
• Green Teen Summit – $100,000
• Prepare a new generation of leaders by equipping them with essential workforce readiness skills in a growing economy.

About T.D. Jakes Foundation

The T.D. Jakes Foundation, founded in 2020, is dedicated to advancing financial inclusion, educational access and workforce readiness, and community transformation and well-being in communities. Through innovative programs, the Foundation creates pathways to economic mobility, including affordable housing, financial education, and workforce training. Our collaborative efforts enhance community well-being by promoting access to health services, supportive environments, and comprehensive support systems. Guided by our founder’s vision, we connect underserved populations with career opportunities and help corporations build diverse, skilled talent pools. For additional information visit: https://tdjfoundation.org/.

Morris Brown College received a huge surprise from Pastor T.D. Jakes, during its 2025 commencement ceremony after he announced a donation of $100,000, Atlanta News First reported.

The Potter’s House leader made the pledge towards the end of his moving speech geared toward resilience, legacy, and leadership, securing payment for more than 150 workforce certification exams that will help students with credentials in high-demand fields. “The surprise announcement underscores a key theme from his commencement address: That legacy is not what we inherit but what we invest forward,” a Potter’s House representative said in a statement.

The HBCU’s commencement ceremony, held on May 17, took place at Atlanta’s Saint Philip A.M.E. Church, where 58 students crossed the stage from college students to students of the real world. According to 11 Alive, the donation was made through the T.D. Jakes Foundation as Jakes drew a correlation between the graduation and Morris Brown’s legendary comeback. “This gift is not about what we’ve inherited, but what we invest forward,” Jakes said, who walked away with an honorary degree.

With funding from Wells Fargo, the Dallas-based T.D. Jakes Foundation announced more than $9 million in grants to 13 organizations across the U.S., marking the next phase of a transformative 10-year, up to $1 billion collaboration aimed at empowering communities and driving lasting change.

The foundation said that building on an initial $9 million philanthropic investment announced last year, which funded 16 organizations, this new cycle reaffirms its commitment to economic empowerment through innovative solutions.

“We’re deeply committed to supporting organizations that are making tangible differences in communities,” Kelley Cornish, president and CEO of the T.D. Jakes Foundation, said in a statement. “Through this partnership with Wells Fargo, we’re investing in innovative solutions that align with our mission to promote financial inclusion, educational access and workforce readiness, and community transformation and well-being. This milestone is a testament to the power of collaboration and our shared vision for a brighter future.”

The foundation said that these initial grants created measurable impact by supporting financial literacy programs, affordable housing projects, and career development opportunities, among other initiatives. It said the second round of funding seeks to strengthen and expand that legacy.

“We believe philanthropy can be a catalyst for positive change,” said Darlene Goins, head of philanthropy and community impact at Wells Fargo. “With these grants, we’re excited to work with the T.D. Jakes Foundation to expand the impactful work and capacity of local and national organizations that focus on economic empowerment and community transformation.”

The foundation said this second $9 million in funding is a bold statement of the T.D. Jakes Foundation’s belief that access to opportunity can change the trajectory of communities for generations to come.

Grants awarded
Per the foundation, here are the organizations receiving grants:

Wiley University – $1,500,000
Develop property near campus for homeownership, entrepreneurship, and integrated learning experiences.

Paul Quinn College – $1,500,000
Address housing, transportation, and food insecurity for students.

Morehouse College – $1,500,000
Transform mental health services on campus.

2025 International Leadership Summit – $1,500,000
Hosted by the T.D. Jakes Group, empower leaders worldwide by offering workshops, keynotes, and panel discussions focused on leadership, innovation, and social impact.

Lightship Foundation – $500,000
Enable entrepreneurs to raise venture capital and scale their businesses.

Power52 Foundation – $500,000
Engage 200 community members in educational workshops on energy and disaster preparedness.

Kingdom Cares Center – $500,000
Nurture small businesses with mentorship and programs in business planning, financial management, marketing, legal compliance, and more.

Bonton Farms/Grocery Connect – $500,000
Improve health outcomes and empower the community by teaching essential online skills and expanding access to broader resources.

United MegaCare – $500,000
As part of T.D. Jakes Group, it will host events supporting food security in local communities.

Joint Center – $500,000
Develop a long-term plan for economic mobility that can be executed at the community level.

Operation Hope – $450,000
Combine policy analysis with community engagement to elevate the national conversation on economic empowerment and drive policy solutions.

Milken Institute – $250,000
Offer an intensive educational course, industry conferences, as well as competitive internships and professional development.

Green Teen Summit – $100,000
Prepare a new generation of leaders by equipping them with essential workforce readiness skills in a growing economy.

Founded in 2020, The T.D. Jakes Foundation is dedicated to advancing financial inclusion, educational access and workforce readiness, and community transformation and well-being in communities.

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The 2025 Good Soil Forum, one of the nation’s premier gatherings for fostering entrepreneurial success, returns to Dallas June 12-14, 2025, at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, presented by Wells Fargo. This year, Oprah Winfrey joins T.D. Jakes for a one-on-one fireside chat, as a powerhouse lineup of business icons are featured throughout the event–including Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE, John Hope Bryant; fashion designer and founder of Fear of God, Jerry Lorenzo; financial educator, Wallstreet Trapper; CEO and founder of Camille Rose, Janell Stephens and entrepreneur and TV host, Mahisha Dellinger. The Forum’s convergence of minds and missions champions a business ecosystem built on access to capital and sustainable growth, bringing together visionary leaders committed to empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs.

This year’s theme, “Transformation Agenda,” is more than a discussion. It offers access to capital, inspiring keynotes, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities. It’s a movement uniting thought leaders, business pioneers, and innovators to break barriers, create pathways, and accelerate economic progress for small businesses. Winfrey’s involvement reinforces the mission to equip small business owners with the resources, capital, and connections needed to build lasting generational wealth.

A Movement Rooted in Economic Empowerment

The Good Soil Movement is one of the nation’s fastest-growing small business ecosystems, creating pathways for entrepreneurs to succeed. It provides access to startup capital, resources, and connections from the ground level to the boardroom. Over the past two years, it has invested nearly $1 million in small businesses through its Seed Capital Pitch competition. The 2025 Good Soil Forum builds on this momentum, offering small business owners access to strategic partnerships, investors, and industry-leading insights.

With approximately 65% of business owners relying on personal or family savings to fund their businesses,* The Good Soil Forum aims to bridge this financial gap by providing tangible funding opportunities, mentorship, and essential resources to help entrepreneurs scale without solely depending on personal assets. This event is a gathering and a movement dedicated to ensuring capital and opportunity reach those who most need it.

As one of the nation’s most significant forums focused on small business ownership, the event will feature:

Educational Fireside Chats & Breakout Sessions – interactive panels with top executives and entrepreneurs sharing insights on growth strategies, leadership, and financial empowerment.
The $500K Capital Pitch Competition – presented by Wells Fargo, the Title Sponsor of the Seed Pitch Capital Competition and Good Soil Forum, this expanded competition awards $500,000 seed grants to entrepreneurs.
Networking & Marketplace Opportunities – a curated space for entrepreneurs to connect with investors, business leaders, and innovative vendors showcasing new products and services.
“For too long, entrepreneurs—especially those from undercapitalized communities—have been left without the support and access they need to thrive. The Good Soil Forum is about more than ideas—it’s about action. We’re convening power to ensure today’s dreamers have the capital, mentorship, and networks to turn their visions into sustainable enterprises.”
— T.D. Jakes, Chairman of the T.D. Jakes Group and Founder of the Good Soil Movement

The 2025 Good Soil Forum promises to be a landmark event in Dallas, bringing together visionaries and changemakers to build a future where small businesses can thrive at the highest levels. As the event continues to expand its reach, its mission remains clear: to plant the seeds of opportunity, cultivate innovation, and yield lasting economic empowerment.

Sponsorship and Tickets are available now; visit Good Soil Forum at https://www.goodsoilforum.com/

About The Good Soil Movement:

Good Soil Movement empowers entrepreneurs by networking, resources, and solutions for growing and scaling businesses. With a mission to help one million entrepreneurs generate $1 million in revenue over the next ten years, Good Soil is fostering economic stability and generational wealth. Since its inception, the movement has grown to a thriving network of over 26,000 members, equipping small business owners with tangible tools for success. Every conversation plants a seed for growth, turning every moment into an opportunity to bloom. Learn more at www.goodsoilforum.com. Follow @goodsoilforum for updates.

*2019, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation published Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs: Removing Barriers, a report which presented a landscape analysis of the capital ecosystem.

ORLANDO, Fla., March 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The world is transforming at a breakneck pace, disrupting every sector from technology to finance to politics and communications. As Generation X brings initiative and experience to the table and Gen Z drives innovation in the workforce, never has there been a greater need for leaders to engage in cross-generational collaboration.

To be future-ready for a dynamic shift in the way leaders lead, T.D. Jakes’ annual International Leadership Summit, presented by Wells Fargo, will focus this year on the theme, “Changing of the Guard” — concentrating on advancing a new generation of ministry and business leaders as they continue to glean wisdom from past generations. The International Leadership Summit will return to Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center, April 10-12, 2025, featuring business and spiritual leaders from around the world who will discuss topics ranging from faith to finance. Media credentialing is now open, and applications may be submitted online.

Topics presented at the 2025 International Leadership Summit will reflect national conversations in today’s culture: navigating challenging times, leadership and wealth generation, turning technology into a competitive edge, and the changing of the guard.

Launched in 2011, the International Leadership Summit remains a crucial gathering of business and spiritual leaders discussing the most pressing issues of today while working together to solve society’s most complex problems. The summit is one of the most transformative leadership conferences as a standard-bearer for values-based business learning and professional development.

The International Leadership Summit will be the first of three conferences the T.D. Jakes Group will host in 2025. Presented by Wells Fargo, each of the three conferences aim to empower leaders and communities around the world. Following the International Leadership Summit, Good Soil will take place June 12-14, 2025, at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas to catalyze and support a broad range of business owners. Sarah Jakes Roberts’ Woman Evolve is set to host its next conference at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, July 31-Aug. 2, 2025. Woman Evolve’s mission is to equip women through spiritual and practical development with the tools necessary to evolve into the highest version of themselves.

The International Leadership Summit will welcome these key industry leaders.

WHO:

T.D. Jakes, CEO of the T.D. Jakes Group
Steven Furtick, faith leader and author
Cindy Trimm, founder and CEO, Trimm Institute of Global Leadership + Trimm Global Charities
Carla Harris, senior client advisor, Morgan Stanley
Dr. Myron Rolle, pediatric neurosurgery fellow at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
Joel Tudman, senior pastor, The Faith Center
James Meeks, CEO, Hope Center Foundation
Lambert Gates, president, L.W. Gates Ministries
John Hope Bryant, founder and CEO, Operation Hope
Courtney McBath, Courtney McBath Leadership and president of Virginia Christian College
… and more leaders of business and faith found on the website.
WHERE:
Orange County Convention Center
9800 International Dr.
Orlando, FL 32819

WHEN:
April 10-12, 2025

Media Credentials:
All members of the media – reporters, photographers, videographers and crew – are required to have and display credentials in order to cover events within the conference. Press may request media credentials for the International Leadership Summit by filling out this form. Applicants will be notified via email whether they are approved or declined for credentials. Information regarding where to pick up credentials, parking, facility access, interviews and other details will be sent, pending approval of credentials.

About the International Leadership Summit
Founded by T.D. Jakes – real estate mogul, New York Times bestselling author, pioneering CEO and entrepreneur, global humanitarian, devoted philanthropist, senior pastor of The Potter’s House – the International Leadership Summit is an annual transformative conference. Since 2011, the conference has cultivated aspiring and tenured entrepreneurs and leaders with the tools to become successful in for-profit and not-for-profit industries.

SOURCE International Leadership Summit

The Potter’s House, a Dallas-based megachurch with a campus in Los Angeles, is collecting essential items through Wednesday and loading them onto trucks bound for those affected by wildfires in California.

Wildfires in the Los Angeles area have killed at least 25 people, displaced thousands of others and destroyed more than 12,000 buildings as of Tuesday night, according to the Associated Press.

The Potter’s House, which is led by senior pastor T.D. Jakes, said it was delivering aid to Los Angeles residents in a video posted to Facebook and Instagram Sunday.

“Bring essential items such as bottled water, non-perishable food, baby supplies, blankets, flashlights, and personal hygiene items to The Potter’s House of Dallas,” text displayed in the video read.

The video said donation hours were from Sunday at 8 a.m. through Wednesday night after a 7 p.m. Bible study at the church at 6777 W. Kiest Blvd.

“With over 350 volunteers mobilized and more than $100,000 in supplies being sent from Dallas, alongside critical relief efforts here in LA, we are determined to be the hands and feet of Christ to those in need,” pastor Touré Roberts told The Dallas Morning News in an emailed statement Tuesday.

Roberts is the husband of T.D. Jakes’ daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts, and the couple lead ONE | A Potter’s House Church in Los Angeles. Roberts also said in the statement that he is a Los Angeles native.

“To our Dallas community, your generosity is making an eternal impact — let us continue to rally together to bring hope and healing to those facing unimaginable loss,” Roberts said. “The Potter’s House of Dallas is fueling relief efforts by loading trucks with life-saving supplies, while here in Los Angeles, we’re providing shelter, transportation, and counseling to families facing uncertainty,” Sarah Jakes Roberts also wrote in the Tuesday email.

The church’s email said that since Sunday, it has been loading 18-wheelers in Dallas that will head to Los Angeles. It said nearly 200 volunteers have registered to help unload trucks in Los Angeles, and it has so far paid for nearly 150 nights of emergency hotel accommodations.

Taking into consideration its network of entrepreneurs, T.D. Jakes Enterprises has launched an accessible marketplace.

In 2023, the social impact holding company set out to support underrepresented entrepreneurs by addressing a critical gap. Despite the efforts of stakeholders driving meaningful change, there were no centralized systems or platforms to provide comprehensive resources. This need inspired the launch of the Good Soil Movement in April 2023.

“What we didn’t find was one centralized space where entrepreneurs can not only network but actually get access to capital, access to back office support, legal help, accounting support, business plan development, understanding where they fall on the capital continuum… So out of that, we created Good Soil,” Michael Phillips, chief operations officer of T.D. Jakes Enterprises, told AFROTECH™.

“We acquired this company with the intent and understanding that we believe that our destiny is to help small businesses with theirs,” Phillips explained.

“We are huge on AI over at Good Soil and at Nourysh…We think it is going to be a very effective tool for our future,” Phillips said. “But also, also while AI has captured our attention, humans are always gonna capture our heart. And so we have some phenomenal people who work in both Nourysh and Good Soil and, and they are connected to the community, always talking to the community and always there to help those businesses grow.”

For those interested in onboarding to Nourysh, they can also expect to be connected to a network of like-minded business owners, competitive pricing, and decreased fees in comparison to competitors.

“Why buy a platform that’s gonna be out of reach for many,” Phillips mentioned. “And so what we were able to do was make a price point that was accessible to most. It’s extremely affordable to get your product on here, and the support that you’re getting is just a no-brainer, end-to-end services and support for you.”

He added, “Nourysh is really an answer to a prayer for somebody because that platform provides for people to have their dreams take root and actually flourish because we are nourishing it every day through our content that we’re putting out, as well as across our multiple platforms that we can continue to create. And so leveraging the massive amount of eyeballs that come from our platform to your product, that’s the benefit of being on Nourysh.”

Paul Quinn College has been awarded $1.5 million grant from the T.D. Jakes Foundation, in partnership with Wells Fargo, to fund a pioneering housing and mixed-use development project. This ambitious initiative will expand housing capacity at the Texas-based HBCU by an astounding 300% while creating a dynamic community hub for students, their families, and the surrounding Southern Dallas neighborhood.

“This is so much more than a traditional real estate project or campus housing development—it’s a statement about what higher education can be for all of us,” said Dr. Michael J. Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College. “We are building a city within our campus walls. It will be a community that inspires, innovates, and invests in its people.”

The project, designed to address critical needs such as housing, food security, and transportation, will feature student and family housing, retail and restaurant spaces, parks, outdoor meeting areas, and classrooms. It will also serve the broader Highland Hills community and the schools located on the Paul Quinn campus, including KIPP Oak Cliff Academy and Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III Global Preparatory Academy, according to a release shared with ESSENCE.

The T.D. Jakes Foundation sees this initiative as a potential game-changer. “This $1.5 million grant will lay the groundwork for an innovative mixed-use development that not only provides essential services and resources but also strengthens the college’s long-term vision for community impact,” said Kelley Cornish, President and CEO of the foundation.

Paul Quinn College is also breaking new ground academically, partnering with Jakes Divinity School to launch its first-ever graduate program: the T.D. Jakes MBA. As the only accredited MBA offered by an HBCU in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, this program equips students with the skills needed for leadership roles in business and entrepreneurship.

These efforts are a part of Paul Quinn’s broader mission to eradicate generational poverty. “This is about creating opportunities and investing in people,” said Dr. Sorrell. “With partners like T.D. Jakes Foundation and Wells Fargo, we’re taking bold steps to ensure our students and community thrive.”

DALLAS—November 22, 2024 — In a significant strategic move into the technology sector, T.D. Jakes Enterprises, (TDJE), a social impact holding company, announced the acquisition of Castiron, a leading e-commerce technology startup. This acquisition enables the launch of Nourysh. Powered by the Good Soil Movement, Nourysh is an innovative all-in-one e-commerce platform designed to empower underrepresented and under-resourced entrepreneurs nationwide.

With the support of a vibrant community of more than 27,000 Good Soil entrepreneurs, Nourysh provides access to marketplace resources just in time for the holidays—a bold move to provide affordable, all-in-one e-commerce solutions for the nation’s most overlooked entrepreneurs.

“Small businesses make America grow,” said T.D. Jakes, Chief Executive Officer of T.D. Jakes Enterprises. “We know all too well that building your own business is difficult. To help simplify this for many small and underrepresented entrepreneurs across the country, we have created an all-in-one e-commerce platform to help small businesses across the country scale up and create the access needed to their products, further helping nourish the dreams of entrepreneurship.”

Castiron, renowned for its pioneering e-commerce solutions tailored for artisans and small-scale producers, brings advanced technological capabilities to Nourysh. The integration of Castiron’s technology allows Nourysh to offer features previously unattainable to many small businesses due to cost or complexity, leveling the playing field and fostering a more inclusive online marketplace.

Nourysh provides entrepreneurs with a comprehensive suite of tools, including:

• AI-powered analytics and personalized marketing tools that enable entrepreneurs to understand customer behavior deeply and optimize their outreach efforts effectively.
• Inventory management, customer relationship management (CRM), email and SMS marketing, pre-built drip campaigns, and online and offline payment processing.
• User-friendly storefront creation and robust security measures, allowing seamless online store setup and management.

By leveraging state-of-the-art technology, Nourysh provides small businesses with advanced operating systems necessary to reach more customers in a substantially more cost-effective manner, disrupting the traditional e-commerce landscape dominated by platforms such as Amazon or Etsy. Nourysh offers competitive pricing and lower fees than many leading platforms, enabling entrepreneurs to reinvest savings back into their businesses.

“In today’s digital era, providing accessible technology solutions is crucial for equitable economic growth,” said Michael Phillips, Chief Operations Officer of T.D. Jakes Enterprises. “Our mission with the Good Soil Movement is to empower one million businesses to reach at least $1 million in revenue on their entrepreneurial journey. By spearheading the acquisition and launching Nourysh, we’re not just offering a platform—we’re positioning TDJE at the forefront of tech innovation to empower entrepreneurs nationwide.”

Leah Whitten, owner of QTP Foods, is one of countless entrepreneurs who have leveraged Nourysh to transform their businesses. Initially lacking an online presence, she discovered Nourysh’s suite of tools after winning the Wells Fargo-sponsored capital seed pitch competition at the recent Good Soil Forum. The platform provided her with a digital storefront, marketing support, and inventory management. These resources empowered her to grow QTP Foods and reach a broader customer base—an opportunity now available to millions of business owners seeking to scale and thrive.

This acquisition is the first of several strategic moves as TDJE plans to invest in more tech startups that align with our mission to democratize access to advanced business tools. Looking ahead, TDJE intends to continue enhancing Nourysh with additional features and technologies to further support entrepreneurs in the digital marketplace.

As the country looks to bring together support for small businesses during Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, under-resourced and historically marginalized people are often excluded from the conversation. That’s precisely why the Good Soil Movement has quickly become the leading platform for small business empowerment.

Entrepreneurs interested in leveraging Nourysh can visit www.nourysh.com for more information. Investors and partners interested in collaborating with TDJE on future tech initiatives are invited to reach out through our corporate website.

About T.D. Jakes Enterprises
Part of the T.D. Jakes Group, T.D. Jakes Enterprises is a social impact holding company with an innovative portfolio steeped in content creation, cultural change, community development and capital investments. The mission is to create high impact content and opportunities that disrupt convention and culture. T.D. Jakes Enterprises includes work in television, film, books, mentorship, real estate, music and entrepreneurship. Visit https://tdjenterprises.com to learn more.

Texas based HBCU Paul Quinn College has received a generous $1.5 million grant from the T.D. Jakes Foundation along with Wells Fargo. With this donation, Paul Quinn will create innovative campus housing in addition to a mixed-use community development model.

With the goal of enhancing the campus and the surrounding community, the grant will start off with a dynamic campus housing initiative that will eventually be followed by a larger mixed-use development that includes parks, outdoor meeting spaces, student and family housing, retail and dining establishments, and classroom facilities. As Paul Quinn looks to accommodate its growing student body, this ground-breaking initiative will increase the school’s student housing capacity by 300 percent.

“This is so much more than a traditional real estate project or campus housing development—it’s a statement about what higher education can be for all of us—those who attend our schools and those who do not,” said Dr. Michael J. Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College. “We are building a city within our campus walls. It will be a community that inspires, innovates, and invests in its people. This will only be possible due to the vision of our partners at T.D. Jakes Foundation and Wells Fargo. And for that, we are incredibly grateful.”

Prior to the partnership with the T.D. Jakes Foundation, Wells Fargo had a pre-existing relationship with Paul Quinn. The Wells Fargo Foundation donated $100,000 to support the establishment of scholarships for the school’s Corporate Work Program, which offers workforce opportunities that help students pay for their education while gaining the experience, habits, and skills they need to compete in the job market after graduation. The initiative is part of the school’s plan to end poverty across generations. To help provide accommodation for students who would not have access to it during the off-season, additional generous funds helped set up an emergency housing fund.

The school also has previous history with T.D. Jakes. Paul Quinn has been a partner of the Jakes Divinity School since 2023. This partnership created the T.D. Jakes Master of Business (MBA), which was the first graduate program in the school’s history and the only accredited MBA program of its kind at an HBCU in the Dallas-Forth Worth area.

In addition to this housing initiative, the T.D. Jakes Foundation and Wells Fargo donated an additional $236,000 earlier this year to fund the Corporate Work Program and housing security funds.