Janice Bryant Howroyd: Donor Grants
/SOURCE OF WEALTH: ACT-1 Group
FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth
OVERVIEW: Janice Bryant Howroyd has made major donations to educational institutions with which she has a personal connection. She does not appear to have a formal family foundation through which they give.
BACKGROUND: Raised in North Carolina, Janice Bryant Howroyd graduated from North Carolina A&T State University in 1972 with a degree in English. She moved to Los Angeles and launched launched Act-1 in 1978 with $1,500, including $900 from her mother. Today, she serves as CEO of Act-1, a provider of workforce solutions including temporary staffing which has more than 17,000 clients and 2,600 employees in some 20 countries.
ISSUES:
EDUCATION & YOUTH: In 2004, Howard co-chaired a $100 million capital campaign at her alma mater, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, and pledged $10 million to the school, one of the largest alumni donations ever made to a HBCU. In 2005, Howard gave a $10 million gift to USC to support student aid programs and created an endowment for the Janice Bryant Howroyd Fund for Student Aid. Howard and her husband Bernard are USC parents. She’s also supported places like First Tee and UNC Greensboro.
LOOKING FORWARD: In her 60s, Howard is still very much engaged in business, but should be watched for greater giving down the line. Her support of HBCUs in particular should be noted. Finally, her husband Bernard had Alzheimer's disease before his death in 2020, so perhaps we may see some giving in the space as well.
