Founded in 1944, UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the largest minority education organization in the United States. The organization operates through three main channels: awarding more than 11,000 scholarships worth approximately $62 million annually to students, providing critical operating funds to its 37 member historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and serving as the nation's leading advocate for minority education and college readiness.
Since its founding, UNCF has raised more than $6 billion in private support, helping more than 550,000 students earn degrees. The organization allocates 85 cents of every dollar raised directly to student support. UNCF African American scholarship recipients achieve a six-year graduation rate of 70%.
The organization's mission is rooted in educational equity, captured by its well-known motto: "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." UNCF operates across the United States, working within the education sector to expand access to higher education for minority students.