UNCF

American organization

Also known as: United Negro College Fund

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June 18, 2026

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The UNCF, or United Negro College Fund, is an American organization founded in 1944 by Frederick Douglass Patterson. It is a prominent supporter of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The UNCF's mission is to help students from college preparation through graduation, strengthening academic offerings and keeping tuition low.12

The first HBCUs were established before the American Civil War due to racial discrimination that prohibited Black youth from attending exclusively white institutions. Today, there are about 100 HBCUs, serving diverse student populations and offering a range of programs, including those in STEM, law, medicine, and veterinary medicine. The UNCF plays a crucial role in providing scholarships and support to students attending these institutions.2

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Theodore Hesburgh
…Education, the Rockefeller Foundation, the United Negro College Fund, the U.S. Overseas Development Council, the U.S. Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, and the Harvard University Board of Overseers. He received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of…
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…Education, the Rockefeller Foundation, the United Negro College Fund, the U.S. Overseas Development Council, the U.S. Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, and the Harvard University Board of Overseers. He received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of…
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Frederick Douglass Patterson
…was the founder of the United Negro College Fund (1944).
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…was the founder of the United Negro College Fund (1944).
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Tuskegee University
…was the founder of the United Negro College Fund (1944).
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…was the founder of the United Negro College Fund (1944).
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