• About UNCF
• Mission & Annual Report
• Management Team
• Board of Directors
• The UNCF Brand
• Fund-Raising and Efficiency Facts
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Contact Us

About UNCF

Use this page to understand more about the United Negro College Fund.

Q: How long has UNCF been in existence?
A: UNCF was founded 64 years ago on April 25, 1944, by Dr. Frederick Patterson, president of Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University), Mary McLeod Bethune, president of Bethune-Cookman College (now Bethune-Cookman University), and others. The organization was founded with 27 member schools.

Q: What is the relationship between UNCF and its member colleges?
A: UNCF was founded by the presidents of private historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to make a collective appeal for support to the nation on their behalf. Today, 39 HBCUs belong to UNCF. UNCF provides member institutions with operating support that (a) enables them to keep academic programs strong and tuitions affordable, and (b) provides last-dollar scholarships to help students overcome the financial barriers to attending college.

Q: How many students does UNCF support?
A:UNCF supports about 60,000 students a year at 900 schools, including students at UNCF member colleges and UNCF scholarship recipients.

Q: How many students have graduated from UNCF member colleges since UNCF was founded?
A:Over the six decades since its founding, UNCF support has enabled more than 350,000 students to earn their degrees at UNCF colleges and universities.

Q: When was "A mind is a terrible thing to waste" ® created?
A:Young & Rubicam advertising executive Forest Long coined the phrase, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste" ®, in 1971 as part of a UNCF fundraising and public awareness campaign. Since that time, it has become one of the most recognized phrases in American advertising history.

Q: Do students have to attend a UNCF-member college to receive financial support?
A:No. UNCF provides support to students at approximately 900 colleges across the country—including almost all public and private historically black colleges and universities—and other schools including Harvard, Princeton and MIT.

Q: Does UNCF only support undergraduate education?
A:No. UNCF provides millions of dollars each year to support students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees.

Q: Does UNCF only support African American education?
A:UNCF was founded to address inequities in the educational opportunities afforded to African Americans. UNCF believes in higher education opportunities for all Americans. UNCF-member schools do not discriminate and UNCF-administered scholarships are open to all.

Q: Does UNCF provide internships?
A:Hundreds of students receive internship and fellowship opportunities through UNCF Corporate Scholars Programs and science fellowship initiatives.

Q: How can I volunteer to help?
A:UNCF-area offices host fundraising, awareness and other types of events throughout the year. To volunteer to help with an event or fundraising campaign, contact your local area office which can be found at UNCF.org

Q: What is the difference between An Evening of Stars® and The Lou Rawls Parade of Stars®?
A:The Lou Rawls Parade of Stars® was a live telethon that began in 1979. In 1998, the format was changed to make the show more dynamic and the title was changed to An Evening of Stars®: A Celebration of Educational Excellence.

Q: How long was Lou Rawls featured on the show?
A:Lou Rawls participated on An Evening of Stars® each year for 26 consecutive years. In early 2006, Lou Rawls passed away.

Q: How many people watch An Evening of Stars®?
A:An Evening of Stars® was seen in 3.17 million households in 2007, generating the show's largest audience to date.

Q: What stations air An Evening of Stars®?
A:Each year, An Evening of Stars® airs around the country on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and CW affiliates. In addition, it airs nationally on BET and Superstation WGN.

Q: What is new about the brand identity?
A:UNCF's new logo features a redesigned torch, the use of color and the use of the organization's initials, UNCF, rather than its full name. The forward-moving torch and vibrant colors represent the momentum and acceleration of a forward moving organization. The use of initials gives the new logo a more contemporary look. Our iconic motto, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste" ® , will remain as we leverage our heritage to continue our mission of providing financial support to our 39 member institutions, increasing minority degree attainment by reducing financial barriers to college and serving as a national advocate for minority education.

Q: Why are you changing the look?
A:UNCF's last logo was designed more than 30 years ago. The world—especially the worlds of education and the economy, our primary concerns—have undergone great change. UNCF and our member schools have changed as well, and we feel that the more contemporary new look better reflects UNCF's mission and activities. Symbols such as those in the logo are a part of our history. Previous logos have been only in black and white and have consisted of lamps and torches, which both symbolize UNCF's conviction that education lights the way to a better life. The new logo symbolizes our movement forward into the future while still touching our past.