Dr. Gregory J. Vincent
The collaboration aims to strengthen Howard's ability to recruit and retain top athletic talent amid intensifying competition from other universities offering lucrative NIL deals to prospective student-athletes.
The partnership will begin with a short-term fundraising campaign, including a Day of Giving and targeted donor outreach, before expanding into a longer-term NIL strategy. The effort comes as Howard and other HBCUs face mounting pressure to compete with larger, better-funded athletic programs.
"At a time when HBCUs and other mission-driven institutions face fierce competition for top talent, it is imperative that we invest in scholar-athletes at institutions that value their futures," said Ludwig P. Gaines, president and co-founder of the 360 NIL Group.
The 360 NIL Group, a national consulting firm specializing in NIL strategies and fundraising, will work with the Mecca Society to develop sustainable funding mechanisms for Howard's approximately 400 student-athletes across 19 sports programs.
Dr. Gregory J. Vincent, CEO and co-founder of the 360 NIL Group, said the partnership reflects Howard's historic mission of developing leaders. The university, founded in 1867, has produced notable alumni including Vice President Kamala Harris, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and numerous Olympic athletes.
"This partnership with the Mecca Society is about investing in our scholar-athletes so they can remain at the forefront—academically, athletically, and civically," said Vincent, a prominent higher education leader who has held a variety of leadership posts at the University of Texas at Austin, Hobart and William Smith College, University of Kentucky and Talladega College.
