United Negro Fund for Afro-American: Apply Now

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is a philanthropic network/organization in the United state of America promoting and helping black Americans in terms of scholarship funding, which are meant for only 37 historically private-owned black colleges and universities in the U.S.

This organization was legally constituted on the 25th of April 1944 by the former president of Tuskegee University, “Frederick Patterson” alongside others such as Mary Mcleod Bethune and her associates.

The United Negro College organization has its main office located in the United States capital Washington D.C. at 1805 7th Street, NW.

In 2005, This organization aided about 65,000 black students in over 900 colleges and universities across the nation; with $113 million spent on grants and scholarships, about 60% of the beneficiaries were the first in their families to be privileged to attend a college. Also, 62% of them are entitled to a family stipend of a sum of money less than $25.000.

This scholarship focuses on addressing the funding complications and inequalities in educational resources among black Americans.

The United Negro college fund is currently available to all ethnicity; the highest beneficiaries of this scholarship are still black Americans; the UNCF also offers scholarships to its member’s colleges.

Successful graduates and beneficiary of these scholarships are many Black Americans in health care, Pharmacy, Medicine politics, finance, business, etc.

United Negro College Fund (UNFC) Alumni

Some of these well known and acknowledged united negro college fund alumni include:

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr (Civil right movement leader and a Nobel peace prize laureate

Alexis Herman

Spike Lee

Samuel L. Jackson

General Chappie James

David Satcher

United Negro College Fund History

In the early ’40s (1944), Willam J. Trent, an old black American activist, joined Frederick Patterson and Mary M Mcleod Bethum to form the organization. He was the pioneer director from 1944 till 1964.

William j. Trent raised $78 million, meant for historically black colleges to make them “Fortified in the wings and caprices of education, fulfilling the American dream, and an ambassador of the social evolution and revolution.”

While moving towards advancements, in 2008, The organization changed from using its full name to only making use of its initials alongside rebranding and releasing a new logo, having its initials on it alone, alongside their slogan.

Fundraising Activities at UNFC

The United Negro fund has received many supports, including charitable donations of its program. One of its first donations made by an influential person was the then-senator and former president of the United States of America “John F Kennedy.” He was said to have donated a sum of money from the Pulitzer Prize for his book “Profiles in Courage” to support and fund this organization’s program.

Another vital donation made by a renowned individual was that, which was made in the early ’90s (1990) by Walter Annenberg. He donated a whopping sum of $50 million to fund this organization’s program.

In the early ’80s, Louis Rawls launched the “Lou Rawls Parade of Stars” telethon to sponsor the United Negro college fund; This event consists of the tales of successful Negros (Black Americans), who were once beneficiaries of the many black colleges and universities nationwide. These successful persons have been once supported by the United Negro college fund.

The telethon comprises musical performances and comedy from different artists who support the organization and Rawl’s. However, with this event being hosted annually, he has raised over $200 million in 27 shows respectively for funding this program.

Also, in 2004. Rawl was warmly welcomed and entertained by the officials of the UNCF, for his tremendous works, on how he raised funds for the organizations. Rawl was awarded the seat of honour and was celebrated by his colleagues, which includes: Ashanti, Stevie wonder, Gerald Levert, The O’Jays and others.

There are also other fundraising activities for this organization, including the “Walk for Education,” Which is held yearly in Los Angeles, California. This peaceful movement/march entails a five-kilometer walk and run. Also, in Houston, Texas, the Cypresswood Golf Club hosts a yearly golf tournament every April.

Also, back in 2014, Koch Industries Inc, alongside Charles Koch Foundation, collectively tendered a $25 million grant to the UNCF.

Again in 2020, A well-known philanthropist donated $120 million to the organization, which will fund students’ scholarships who enrolled at the UNCF institutions.

List of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Member Institutions

• Allen University, Columbia
• Benedict College, Columbia
• Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach
• Bennett College, Greensboro
• Claflin University, Orangeburg
• Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta
• Dillard University, New Orleans
• Edward Waters College, Jacksonville
• Fisk University, Nashville
• Florida Memorial University, Miami Gardens
• Huston–Tillotson University, Austin
• Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta
• Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte
• Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins
• Lane College, Jackson
• Livingstone College, Salisbury
• LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis
• Miles College, Birmingham
• Morehouse College, Atlanta
• Morris College, Sumter
• Philander Smith College, Little Rock
• Paine College, Augusta
• Oakwood University, Huntsville
• Rust College, Holly Springs
• Texas College, Tyler
• Talladega College, Talladega
• Tougaloo College, Tougaloo
• Tuskegee University, Tuskegee
• Stillman College, Tuscaloosa
• Spelman College, Atlanta
• Saint Augustine’s University, Raleigh
• Shaw University, Raleigh
• Virginia Union University, Richmond
• Voorhees College, Denmark
• Wilberforce University, Wilberforce
• Wiley College, Marshall
• Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans

United Negro College Fund President

The United Negro College Fund is the nation’s largest private provider of scholarship and other education grants and supports to Afro-American students.

Dr. Michael L. Lomax has served as president and CEO of UNCF since 2004. Dr Lomax launched an institute for capacity building to help UNCF member HBCU become more effective, stronger, and self-sustaining. He oversees the organization’s 400 scholarship programs, which award 10,000 scholarships a year.

He was the founder of the National Black Arts Festival, former president of Dillard University in New Orleans, and professor of literature at UNCF-member institutions Morehouse and Spelman Colleges before joining UNFC.

What is the role of the UNCF?

UNCF advocates for policies to remove barriers to higher education, with great efforts to bring affordable college education to all American students.

UNCF aims to increase the total annual number of African American college graduates by focusing on activities that ensure more students are college-ready, enroll in college, and persist to graduation. This is achieved through a three-pillar strategy—positioning member institutions as a viable college option for students and investing in institutional capacity to improve student outcomes; creating transformational support programs to ensure students are enrolling and persisting through college completion; building awareness of educational attainment and cultivating college-going behaviors within the African American community.

Who Is Eligible for the United Negro College Fund?

• The eligibility criteria for the UNFC scholarship is summarized below
• Full-time enrolment in a college or university
• Minimum CGPA of 2.5 on a scale of 4.0
• Financial need must be verified by the director of the aid of the university you wish to attend
• Filing of FAFSA application

What is the UNFC STEM Scholarship and how do I apply?

The UNFC STEM scholars program I an initiative specially designed to identify a total of 500 African American high school students who aspire to study stem degrees.

The program will provide scholarship and academic support for the selected students to progress their careers in a STEM field.

Eligibility Criteria for UNFC STEM program

Applicants must fulfill the listed criteria to be eligible for the program

• Must be an African American
• Have CGPA pf 3.0 on a scale of 4.0
• Must be legal permanent resident, a citizen, or national of the United States of America
• Must be ready and Show commitment to pursue STEM degrees
• Have demonstrated an unmet financial need verified by the student College or University
• Completion of all the application essays
• Must submit letters of recommendation through the UNFC application portal
• Be enrolled for the first time at the U.S accredited college or university, the only exception is for students concurrently pursuing a high school diploma while taking college-level courses in the fall as a full-time, degree seeking, first-year student.

How To Apply for UNFC Scholarship Program

The UNFC promotes numerous scholarship programs, each unique eligibility criteria, application opening dates, and deadlines. It is recommended that the applicants for the UNFC Scholarship complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The application for UNFC scholarship is online-based and available: Apply here