UNCF is a national nonprofit founded in 1944 that raises funds, awards scholarships, and provides operating support to historically Black colleges and universities. The organisation has distributed more than $6 billion in private support since its founding and has helped over 550,000 students earn college degrees.
The organisation operates through three main channels: direct scholarships to students, operating funds to 37 member HBCUs, and advocacy for minority education and college readiness. Annually, UNCF awards more than 11,000 scholarships worth approximately $62 million. The six-year graduation rate for UNCF scholarship recipients stands at 70 per cent. The organisation allocates 85 cents of every dollar raised directly to student support and scholarships.
UNCF serves as a bridge between individual and institutional donors and historically Black colleges and universities. Its work spans scholarship management, institutional funding, and policy advocacy aimed at improving educational access and outcomes for African American students.
