UNCF explained

UNCF should not be confused with UNICEF.

United Negro College Fund
Abbreviation:UNCF
Employees:281[1]
Employees Year:2017
Volunteers:2,584
Volunteers Year:2017
Revenue:$89,277,523
Revenue Year:2018
Expenses:$171,722,769
Expenses Year:2018
Endowment:$103,734,086 (2018)
Purpose:To build a pathway of educational support from K–12 through college and career.
Type:Educational
Founder:Frederick D. Patterson
Mary McLeod Bethune
Headquarters:1805 7th Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
Area Served:United States
Tax Id:13-1624241
Status:501(c)(3)[2]
Leader Name:Dr. Michael L. Lomax[3]
Leader Title:President, Chief Executive Officer

UNCF, the United Negro College Fund, also known as the United Fund, is an American philanthropic organization that funds scholarships for black students and general scholarship funds for 37 private historically black colleges and universities. UNCF was incorporated on April 25, 1944, by Frederick D. Patterson (then president of what is now Tuskegee University), Mary McLeod Bethune, and others. UNCF is headquartered at 1805 7th Street, NW in Washington, D.C.[4] In 2005, UNCF supported approximately 65,000 students at over 900 colleges and universities with approximately $113 million in grants and scholarships. About 60% of these students are the first in their families to attend college, and 62% have annual family incomes of less than $25,000. UNCF also administers over 450 named scholarships.

UNCF's president and chief executive officer is Michael Lomax. Past presidents of the UNCF included William H. Gray[5] and Vernon Jordan.[6]

Scholarships

Though founded to address funding inequities in education resources for African Americans, UNCF-administered scholarships are open to all ethnicities; the great majority of recipients are still African-American. It provides scholarships to students attending its member colleges as well as to those going elsewhere.[7]

Graduates of UNCF member institutions and scholarships have included many Black people in the fields of business, politics, health care and the arts. Some prominent UNCF alumni include: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and leader in the civil rights movement; Alexis Herman, former U.S. Secretary of Labor; movie director Spike Lee; actor Samuel L. Jackson; General Chappie James, the U.S. Air Force’s first black four-star general; and Dr. David Satcher, a former U.S. Surgeon General and director of the Centers for Disease Control.[8]

History

In 1944 William J. Trent, a long-time activist for education for black people, joined with Tuskegee Institute President Frederick D. Patterson and Mary McLeod Bethune to found the UNCF, a nonprofit that united college presidents to raise money collectively through an "appeal to the national conscience". As the first executive director from the organization's start in 1944 until 1964, Trent raised $78 million for historically Black colleges so they could become "strong citadels of learning, carriers of the American dream, seedbeds of social evolution and revolution".[9] In 2008, reflecting shifting attitudes toward the word Negro in its name, the UNCF shifted from using its full name to using only its initials, releasing a new logo with the initials alone and featuring their slogan more prominently.[10] [11]

Fundraising and the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars

The UNCF has received charitable donations for its scholarship programs. One of the more high-profile donations made was by then-senator and future U.S. President John F. Kennedy who donated the money from the Pulitzer Prize for his book Profiles in Courage to the Fund. Another significant donation was made in 1990 by Walter Annenberg, who donated $50 million to the fund.[12]

Beginning in 1980, singer Lou Rawls began the "Lou Rawls Parade of Stars" telethon to benefit the UNCF. The annual event, now known as "An Evening of Stars", consists of stories of successful African-American students who have graduated or benefited from one of the many historically black colleges and universities and who received support from the UNCF. The telethon featured comedy and musical performances from various artists in support of the UNCF's and Rawls' efforts. The event has raised over $200 million in 27 shows for the fund through 2006.[13]

In January 2004, Rawls was honored by the United Negro College Fund for his more than 25 years of charity work with the organization. Instead of Rawls' hosting and performing, he was given the seat of honor and celebrated by his performing colleagues, including Stevie Wonder, The O'Jays, Gerald Levert, Ashanti, and several others. Before his death in January 2006, Rawls' last performance was a taping for the 2006 telethon that honored Wonder, months before entering the hospital after being diagnosed with cancer earlier in the year.[13]

In addition to the telethon, there are a number of other fundraising activities, including the "Walk for Education" held annually in Los Angeles, California, which includes a five kilometer walk/run. In Houston, Texas, the Cypresswood Golf Club hosts an annual golf tournament in April.[14]

In 2014, Koch Industries Inc. and the Charles Koch Foundation made a $25 million grant to UNCF.[15] In protest of the Kochs, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, a major labor union, ended its yearly $50,000–60,000 support for UNCF.[16]

In June 2020, Netflix founder Reed Hastings donated $120 million to the UNCF to be used as scholarship funds for students enrolled at UNCF institutions. His donation was the largest in UNCF history.[17] [18]

The UNCF motto

In 1972, the UNCF adopted as its motto the maxim "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." This maxim has become one of the most widely recognized slogans in advertising history.[19] The motto was notably mangled in a 1989 address to the organization by then–Vice President of the United States Dan Quayle, who stated: "And you take the U.N.C.F. model that what a waste it is to lose one's mind or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is."[20] The motto, which has been used in numerous award-winning UNCF ad campaigns, was created by Forest Long, of the advertising agency Young & Rubicam, in partnership with the Ad Council.[21]

A lesser-known slogan the UNCF also uses, in reference to its intended beneficiaries, points out that they're "not asking for a handout, just a hand."[22]

UNCF member institutions

Alabama

Arkansas

Florida

Georgia

Louisiana

Mississippi

North Carolina

Ohio

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Virginia

Member HBCUs (tabular)[23]

!Name!City!State!Established !Endowment!Students!Religious affiliation!Sporting affiliations
Allen UniversityColumbiaSouth Carolina1870$0.31 million817 African Methodist Episcopal ChurchNAIA, AAC
Benedict CollegeColumbiaSouth Carolina1870$21.6 million2,040American Baptist Churches USANCAA Division II, SIAC
Bennett CollegeGreensboroNorth Carolina1873 $13.7 million311 United Methodist Churchunaffiliated
Bethune-Cookman UniversityDaytona BeachFlorida1904$28.9 million2,901United Methodist ChurchNCAA Division I FCS, SWAC
Claflin UniversityOrangeburgSouth Carolina1869$28.6 million2,070United Methodist ChurchNCAA Division II, CIAA
Clark Atlanta UniversityAtlantaGeorgia1865$72.5 million3,920United Methodist ChurchNCAA Division II, SIAC
Dillard UniversityNew OrleansLouisiana1869$94.2 million1,225United Church of Christ,

United Methodist Church

NAIA, GCAC
Edward Waters CollegeJacksonvilleFlorida1866$1.68 million3,085African Methodist Episcopal ChurchNCAA Division II, SIAC
Fisk UniversityNashvilleTennessee1866$25.5 million874 United Church of ChristNAIA, GCAC
Florida Memorial UniversityMiami GardensFlorida1879$4.0 million1,097American Baptist Churches USANAIA, TSC
Huston–Tillotson UniversityAustinTexas1875$10.9 million1,121United Methodist Church,

United Church of Christ

NAIA, RRAC
Interdenominational Theological CenterAtlantaGeorgia1958$7.68 million265n/an/a
Jarvis Christian CollegeHawkinsTexas1912$10.7 million867 Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)NAIA, RRAC
Johnson C. Smith UniversityCharlotteNorth Carolina1867$69.0 million1,494Presbyterian Church (USA)NCAA Division II, CIAA
Lane CollegeJacksonTennessee1882$4.9 million1,267Christian Methodist Episcopal ChurchNCAA Division II, SIAC
LeMoyne-Owen CollegeMemphisTennessee1968$52 million835 United Church of ChristNCAA Division II, SIAC
Livingstone CollegeSalisburyNorth Carolina1879$4.97 million1,122African Methodist Episcopal Zion ChurchNCAA Division II, CIAA
Miles CollegeBirminghamAlabama1898$23.3 million1,456CME ChurchNCAA Division II, SIAC
Morehouse CollegeAtlantaGeorgia1867$156.0 million2,238n/aNCAA Division II, SIAC
Morris CollegeSumterSouth Carolina1908$10.3 million600 Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South CarolinaNAIA – Independent
Oakwood UniversityHuntsvilleAlabama1896 $19.7 million1,526Seventh-day Adventist ChurchUSCAA Division I
Paine CollegeAugustaGeorgia1882$12.1 million448 United Methodist Church,

Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

NCCAA
Philander Smith CollegeLittle RockArkansas1877$9.28 million996United Methodist ChurchNAIA, GCAC
Rust CollegeHolly SpringsMississippi1866$37.0 million738United Methodist ChurchNAIA, GCAC
Saint Augustine's UniversityRaleighNorth Carolina1867$20.6 million899 Episcopal ChurchNCAA Division II, CIAA
Shaw UniversityRaleighNorth Carolina1865$10.9 million1,291National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., American Baptist Churches, USANCAA Division II, CIAA
Spelman CollegeAtlantaGeorgia1881$390.0 million2,120n/an/a
Stillman CollegeTuscaloosaAlabama1876$19.1 million861Presbyterian Church (USA)NAIA, SSAC
Talladega CollegeTalladegaAlabama1867$2.59 million1,239United Church of ChristNAIA, SSAC
Texas CollegeTylerTexas1894$5.43 million940 Christian Methodist Episcopal ChurchNAIA – RRAC, SAC
Tougaloo CollegeTougalooMississippi1869$17.6 million716United Church of Christ,

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

NAIA, GCAC
Tuskegee UniversityTuskegeeAlabama1881$129.0 million2,876n/aNCAA Division II, SIAC
Virginia Union UniversityRichmondVirginia1865$33.4 million1,451American Baptist Churches USANCAA Division II, CIAA
Voorhees CollegeDenmarkSouth Carolina1897$8.06 million510 Episcopal ChurchNAIA – Independent
Wilberforce UniversityWilberforceOhio1856$6.71 million566 African Methodist Episcopal ChurchNAIA – Independent
Wiley CollegeMarshallTexas1879$6.17 million712 United Methodist ChurchNAIA, RRAC
Xavier University of LouisianaNew OrleansLouisiana1925$171.0 million3,325 Catholic (Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament)NAIA, RRAC

Notes and References

  1. "Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax". United Negro College Fund Inc. Guidestar. March 31, 2018.
  2. "United Negro College Fund Inc". Tax Exempt Organization Search. Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  3. "Dr. Michael L. Lomax". United Negro College Fund. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  4. "Contact Us ". United Negro College Fund. Accessed October 8, 2013.
  5. Web site: 2019-03-14 . 75+ Years Strong: Highlights from UNCF's History . 2022-03-30 . UNCF . en.
  6. Web site: UNCF Mourns the Passing of Vernon Jordan, Former Executive Director . March 2, 2021 . 2022-03-30 . UNCF . en.
  7. Web site: UNCF Faq . UNCF . 2008-11-07 . 2013-10-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131002142851/http://www.uncf.org/sections/WhoWeAre/SS_AboutUs/faqs.asp . 2013-10-02 .
  8. Web site: UNCF . UNCF . 2008-11-07 . 2013-10-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131002142108/http://www.uncf.org/sections/WhoWeAre/SS_AboutUs/aboutus.asp . 2013-10-02 .
  9. Wharton Alumni Magazine, Spring 2007
  10. Web site: Revising a Name, but Not a Familiar Slogan . Quenqua . Douglas . January 17, 2008 . The New York Times.
  11. Web site: United Negro College Fund Decides Its Great Tag Line Is a Terrible Thing to Waste . Schmidt . Peter . January 17, 2008 . The Chronicle of Higher Education.
  12. http://www.liu.edu/cwis/cwp/library/african/2000/1990.htm B. Davis Schwartz Memorial Library
  13. Web site: United Negro College Fund :: An Evening of Stars Continues in Memory of Lou Rawls . www.prnewstoday.com . 15 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070313124917/http://www.prnewstoday.com/release.htm?cat=music&dat=20060106&rl=DCF04006012006-1 . 13 March 2007 . dead.
  14. Web site: UNCF Events . UNCF . 2013-10-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131002142226/http://www.uncf.org/sections/Events/Events.asp . 2013-10-02 .
  15. News: Koch brothers donate $25 million to United Negro College Fund. Sullivan, Sean. June 6, 2014. August 26, 2014. Washington Post.
  16. News: Union halts support for United Negro College Fund over Koch brothers' grant . 2014-07-10 . 2014-07-11. Associated Press. New York Post.
  17. Web site: Bursztynsky. Jessica. 2020-06-17. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings donating $120 million to historically Black institutions. 2021-02-17. CNBC. en.
  18. Web site: June 17, 2020. Netflix CEO is donating $120 million to HBCUs, wants it to celebrate "great black achievement". 2021-02-17. www.cbsnews.com. en.
  19. http://www.verdant-systems.com/Mind.htm
  20. Dowd, Maureen. "The Education of Dan Quayle". The New York Times. June 25, 1989.
  21. See the UNCF website.
  22. Gasman, Marybeth (2007). Envisioning Black Colleges: A History of the United Negro College Fund (page 192). Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
  23. Web site: Member Colleges . 2022-02-27 . UNCF . en.

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