Donor Spotlight: Colonel Harold Hagans
COL Harold’s transition from a casual donor to a committed philanthropist did not occur until late in his military career as an Army Major—nearly 18 years after graduating from Norfolk State. While he did join the Norfolk Alumni Chapter around 1983, that affiliation only lasted while he was stationed at the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base. When he was reassigned to Germany in 1985, his involvement paused, and for the next three years, he was neither a member nor a contributor to NSU or the Alumni Association.
In 1988, Harold was reassigned to Fort Lee, Virginia, where he joined the newly established Military Alumni Chapter, an auxiliary arm supporting both Army and Naval ROTC leadership. During this time, he became an active and committed member of the Alumni Association, serving first as Vice President and later as President of the chapter. In these roles, he began contributing regularly, primarily through the Military Chapter and has continued in philanthropic efforts for more than 20 years.
What inspired you to start giving?
It was not until around 1995, while stationed in Hawaii as a Colonel, that my perspective on giving truly shifted. While attending a meeting of the National Naval Officers Association, I met a Black Navy Rear Admiral who shared how he began giving back to his alma mater, Prairie View A&M University. He explained that he started with a modest monthly payroll deduction of $25 and gradually increased it over the course of his military career. His transparency and consistency made a lasting impression on me, and I immediately set out to follow his example.
I began with a monthly donation of $30 and have steadily increased it over the years with each annual pay raise or promotion. If I can leave one lasting thought, it is this: giving is easier than you think—and you hardly miss what you never see at the end of the month.
If you could fund one bold, unconventional idea, what would it be?
This idea, while bold and unconventional, may not require significant funding—only the forward thinking of local, state, and national leaders willing to stand behind a transformative initiative at NSU. I do not claim this idea as mine alone; it has been discussed for some time within Military Alumni Chapter meetings.
Consider this: no HBCU currently offers Senior ROTC programs representing all branches of the Armed Forces, along with a U.S. Coast Guard commissioning program. Why shouldn’t NSU become the first—and only—to do so? There are many NSU alumni ready and willing to partner with university leadership to move this vision forward and place it in the right hands. Let’s get to work.
One misconception about giving you would challenge.
Many potential donors may believe they do not have the financial resources to make a legacy gift commitment to NSUF. While establishing an endowed scholarship fund does require a $25,000 initiation, it does not have to be paid in a single lump sum. Contributions can be made over a five-year period, making the commitment far more manageable. And if a $25,000 commitment is not feasible, give what you can. Every contribution matters—no amount is too small.
