Annual Report 2019

UNCF: Building a Pathway of Educational Support from K-12 through College and Career

Welcome to UNCF‘s annual report for the 2019 fiscal year. We are often asked the secrets behind UNCF’s success: 75 years and counting, more than $5 billion in contributions and 500,000 graduates from UNCF-member HBCUs with UNCF scholarships. “No secret,” we reply, “It’s all in the Annual Report.”

READ THE LETTER

Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D.
President and CEO UNCF

William F. Stasior
Chair, UNCF Board of Directors

READ THE LETTER

Impact

The scholarship is a “tremendous blessing because it helps supplement tuition and the cost of living. I am so thankful and appreciative, and I will never forget the lifeline that this scholarship has given me.”
—Candyce White, Student, Morehouse School of Religion

CHANGING LIVES

42 Years and Counting: Anheuser-Busch

With passionate desire and fervor of vision, Anheuser-Busch and its foundation have gotten behind UNCF’s efforts, making investing in better futures a priority.

“Our Aspiration is to Lead, Not to Follow”

Despite obstacles and barriers, assaults and attacks, underinvestment and devaluation, the state of HBCUs is resilient.

Herbert Horner and Johnnie Lester Seals Horner

A Legacy of Education: Herbert Horner

A mother and son left a long-sought-after gift of impact ...

HBCUs produce

16%

percentage of all African American college graduates

Vernon Jordan speaks at UNCF 75th anniversary gala

75 Years of Schools, Students and Stewardship

What do you do when you hit an anniversary of major importance?

Group shot of students at Voorhees College

Why UNCF Matters Now More Than Ever

In today’s unique landscape, UNCF’s relevance is as important as ever.

How We Make a Difference

$ M+

In scholarships awarded to students by UNCF each year

Our Reach is Far and Wide

Member Colleges Scholarships Fundraising Events Local Offices

+ SHOW STAT

37

Historically Black colleges and universities belong to the UNCF network of member institutions. UNCF provides these colleges and universities with a range of support that enables them to keep their academic programs strong and their tuitions affordable.

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+ SHOW STAT

7,062

Students received scholarships during fiscal year 2019 across the United States from UNCF.

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+ SHOW STAT

75

Fundraising events were conducted during fiscal year 2019 to help UNCF support its mission of getting as many students to and through college as possible.

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+ SHOW STAT

23

UNCF local offices are located throughout the United States, which help provide organizational fundraising support, mission awareness and HBCU representation in local communities across the country.

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Innovate

I do believe that new and innovative delivery and implementation models being offered by new, young presidents to support student success can prove to be highly effective in translating to greater student retention and enrollment outcomes.”
—Dr. A. Zachary Faison, President, Edward Waters College

SMART STEPS FORWARD

A Scholarships Scoop: Three New Named Scholarship Programs

In 2018, UNCF landed three new well-funded programs to help more students of color earn their college credentials.

Frederick Douglass Scholarship banner image

UNCF.org serves

1.2M+

visitors per year

STEM Scholars Update

When Fund II Founding Director and President Robert F. Smith and the Fund II Foundation's Executive Director Linda Wilson committed to changing the lives...

banner image of A Seat at the Table report

“A Seat at the Table”: K-12 Advocacy Report

Getting students to and through college is the primary mission of UNCF.

A New Generation of UNCF Presidents

A new growing group of younger UNCF-member presidents is making an impact.

Inspire

Education is the key to success, but it costs. More often than not funds are not there or readily available for our children. Most of us did not have the opportunities that are afforded today.”
—Lady Drema Woldman, Former President, Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Strength Through Numbers Saved Bennett College When it was Most Needed

When then-Bennett College President Dr. Phyllis Dawkins visited UNCF in early 2018, she had no idea how strong an ally...

More Women Presidents Leading Member HBCUs

Many of these women leaders are breaking barriers, serving as their institutions’ first female president.

HBCUs Awarded

20%

of all bachelors degrees in STEM fields received by African American students

Sen. Doug Jones with Dr. Lily D. McNair, president of Tuskegee University

Senator Doug Jones: A Hero of HBCUs

Heroes often come from the most unlikely places and face insurmountable odds.

Billy Hawkins talks to students on campus at Talladega College

A “Moses” Among HBCU Leaders: Dr. Billy C. Hawkins

His experience and talents are helping to transform UNCF.

In Memoriam: Oswald Bronson

A renowned educator, visionary administrator, well-respected theologian and celebrated community leader...

Invest

We had to tell it like it is. Our HBCUs needed more funding. Period. And, though, we had little time to get this done because of the two funding cycles colliding, we were diligent and pressed our points with staffers and members of Congress on both sides.”
—Lodriguez V. Murray, Senior Vice President, Public Policy and Government Affairs, UNCF

WINNING STRATEGIES

HBCU Funding Increased

Finding support to keep a college degree affordable and available to as many deserving students as possible, yet...

Group shot of UNCF congressional awardees

UNCF HBCUs awarded more than

8,000

college degrees during the academic 2018-2019 year

75th Anniversary Gift by AKAs

What do you do when you hit an anniversary of major importance?

Top Ladies of Distinction presents check to UNCF's Maurice Jenkins

Top Ladies of Distinction Lend Distinctive Touch to Workplace Fundraising

When two graduates of UNCF-member HBCU Texas College joined forces to begin a service organization for...

Band performing at New Orleans Mayor's Masked Ball

Five Fundraisers in Five States Across Two Nights

The end of any year is always exciting, especially when the countdown is to the launch of UNCF’s 75th anniversary..

Two Women Smiling focused on object off screen

“Since our founding in 1944, UNCF has had two major constituent groups—our historically Black colleges and universities and our students. We are more determined and more committed than ever, believing as we do, in the power of our cause and our shared belief that ‘a mind is a terrible thing to waste,’ but a wonderful thing to invest in.^®”
—Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO, UNCF

Financial Highlights

Charitable Income

Assets and Liabilities

VIEW FINANCIALS

Three bethune cookman students talking on campus

Officers and Directors

The men and women who guide the actions of the organization are a diverse group of people, and with their help, the organization ensures as many students as possible make it to and through college successfully.

MEET THE BOARD

Our Mission

UNCF envisions a nation where all Americans have equal access to a college education that prepares them for rich intellectual lives, competitive and fulfilling careers, engaged citizenship and service to our nation.

UNCF’s mission is to build a robust and nationally recognized pipeline of underrepresented students who, because of UNCF support, become highly qualified college graduates and to ensure that our network of member institutions is a respected model of best practices in moving students to and through college.

UNCF’s North Star is to increase the total annual number of African American college graduates by focusing on activities that ensure more students are college-ready, enroll in college and persist to graduation. This is done through a three-pillar strategy:

• Positioning member institutions as a viable college option for students and investing in institutional capacity to improve student outcomes.

• Creating transformational support programs to ensure that students are enrolling and persisting through college completion.

• Building awareness of educational attainment and cultivating college-going behaviors within the African American community.

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